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Vista, Calif. — Sept. 7, 2015 — The Green Restaurant Association has developed a program in which restaurants can earn points for energy efficiency; waste, chemical, and pollution reduction; and water efficiency, as well as other metrics.
Referred to as the GRA Standards, the goal of the program, the association said, "is to provide transparent ways to measure a restaurant's environmental accomplishments (and provide) a pathway for steps each restaurant can take toward increased environmental sustainability."
Similar to LEED certification, for each green or sustainable step taken a restaurant is awarded points, with 205 points required for GRA certification.
"The program is also similar to LEED in that restaurant owners use it as a guide to become more environmentally responsible, even if they are not seeking certification," said Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co. Inc. "This is especially true when it comes to water efficiency."
For instance, some of the top ways restaurants can earn GRA points when it comes to water efficiency are the following:
• Installing a pre-rinse sprayer for rinsing dishes before washing — up to 7.5 points
• Graywater reuse where possible — 7.25 points
• Installing an Energy Star dishwasher — 4.25 points
• Installing composting toilets — 4.25 points
• Installing waterless urinals — 4.25 points
• Installing high-efficiency urinals using .5 gallon per flush — 1.5 points.
"What we are seeing, especially as a result of the drought in California and the higher costs to purchase and install high efficiency urinals, is that most restaurant owners are selecting no-water urinals," Reichardt said. "The fact that these systems also earn more GRA points is a reflection of their greater contribution to sustainability."
Waterless Co. Inc. has established a well-respected reputation as being an innovative manufacturer of no-water urinal systems. Based in Vista, Ca, the 25 year-old company is the oldest manufacturer of waterless urinals in North America. For more information, visit www.waterless.com.
