"burger king germany" news and stories

At a new Burger King in Waghäusel, Germany, you can get your Whopper with a side of environmentally responsible energy. The store, developed with the help of a solar energy company called Wirsol Solar AG, uses more than 700 solar panels and other renewable energy sources to supply a third of the restaurant's power.

The green restaurant is part of the burger chain's program of "social responsibility," a push they're calling BK Positive Steps. The company believes strongly that these environmentally friendly stores -- along with their much-touted, high-power broilers already in place in U.S. stores -- are the cornerstone of the chain's future.

The Waghäusel location boasts some pretty impressive stats: The 720 solar panels will generate the equivalent of 53,500 kWh of electricity per year, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, is the annual power consumption of five U.S. households. A ventilation system captures excessive heat loss and uses it to generate hot water, which conserves 50 percent of annual energy consumption per year. The outdoor Burger King logo has been modified to include a wind turbine, which supplies 2500 KWH of the restaurant's power supply, while LED bulbs cut energy use by more than 55 percent. It's even got a solar paneled recharging station for electric cars.