Sugarland, TX (PRWEB) July 11, 2012
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 nations 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 operations 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 (CO), 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 Houstons first Certified Green Restaurant. In 2011, Ruggles Green at CityCentre also became the first 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant in Texas, the Green Restaurant Associations 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 Caf