Texas’ first 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant will open Sugar Land location in August 2012
SUGAR LAND, TX - Ruggles Green, a Certified Green Restaurant™, is proud to announce that its new Sugar Land, TX, location will run entirely on renewable energy provided by Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions. This is the third location for Ruggles Green, which is scheduled to open in early August (location: 15903 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX, 77479).
Ruggles Green is purchasing 100% renewable energy from Green Mountain under a two-year contract for this new location. In addition, the restaurant wanted to go above and beyond, so it purchased 10% more renewable energy than they expect to consume in the form of additional renewable energy certificates (RECs) which are a standard way to offset an operation’s carbon footprint by investing in environmental projects like wind farms. Ruggles Green in Sugar Land is expected to purchase over 600,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy over the next two years, which will avoid over 590,000 lbs pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the equivalent of not driving 660,000 miles.
“We are fully committed to green living,” said Federico Marques, Co-Owner and Director, Ruggles Green. “Partnering with Green Mountain to purchase renewable energy is another step forward in maintaining our name as one of the greenest restaurants in the country, as seen in both our menu and business practices.”
Ruggles Green chooses environmental commitments that align with guidelines from the Green Restaurant Association, an organization which established and evaluates sustainability practices in the food service industry. Guidelines include energy and water conservation; extensive recycling; composting; use of sustainable materials; public education and outreach; and use of local, organic, and vegetarian menu items.
Certification requires an accumulation of 100 points across a variety of environmental categories, including establishing a full-scale recycling program, eliminating the use of styrofoam, and creating an annual education program. Not only has Ruggles Green met these requirements-- they have surpassed them with over 300 points and counting, making Ruggles Green the first 4-Star Green Restaurant in Texas and only the second in the nation.
“Green Mountain is happy to provide clean energy for a business like Ruggles Green, which has similar environmental values to our own,” said Scott Martin, Vice President of Commercial Sales, Green Mountain Energy Company. “With this purchase of 100% wind power, Ruggles Green demonstrates that its commitment to sustainability extends far beyond the food served to its other business practices, as well.”
Green Mountain and World Energy, a leading energy management company, worked together on the Ruggles Green contract. “Green Mountain was selected because of its competitive rate and leadership in the renewable energy category,” said Steven Varghese, Energy Manager, World Energy. “The two companies are like-minded and will make great partners.”
Ruggles Green
Formed in 2008, Ruggles Green is Houston’s first Certified Green Restaurant. In 2011, Ruggles Green at CityCentre also became the first 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant in Texas, the Green Restaurant Association’s highest level of certification. Ruggles Green was launched with the goal of providing local, organic, and gluten free options to customers via a premium fast casual restaurant. The vision of the founders was to lead the industry in sustainability, while still offering healthy and great tasting food. Federico Marques and Robert Guillerman are cofounders and are responsible for the operations of the business.
Ruggles Green stores conform to guidelines set by the Green Restaurant Association. Guidelines include energy conservation, water conservation, extensive recycling, composting, use of sustainable materials, public education and outreach, and use of local, organic, and vegetarian menu items. Green Café Management owns Ruggles Green. For more information, visit www.rugglesgreen.com.
World Energy Solutions, Inc.
World Energy Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: XWES) is an energy management services firm that brings together the passion, processes, and technologies to take the complexity out of energy management and turn it into real bottom-line impact for the businesses, institutions and governments they serve. For more information, visit www.worldenergy.com or contact Energy Manager Steven Varghese at svarghese@worldenergy.com.
Green Restaurant Association
The Green Restaurant Association℠ (GRA), a national non-profit organization, helps the restaurant industry improve its environmental practices through research, environmental consulting, education, and certification. Founded in 1990, long before green was cool; the GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, community organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. For more information, visit www.dinegreen.com.
Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain, the nation’s leading competitive retail provider of cleaner energy and carbon offset solutions, was founded in 1997 with the mission to “change the way power is made.” The company is the longest serving green power marketer in the U.S. and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. One of Green Mountain’s largest customers is the “world’s most famous office building,” the Empire State Building in New York City. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid over 19.4 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. As a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG), Green Mountain is backed by one of the nation’s largest renewable power producers. Visit us online at www.GreenMountain.com and learn more about our campaign for good at www.greenmountain.com/forgood.
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