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Elevation Burger, the rapidly growing, national fast-casual burger restaurant, announces that its Dallas location (8611 Hillcrest Ave.) has become the first restaurant in Dallas to be awarded the prestigious LEED-Silver Certification. Elevation Burger joins an elite group of only 38 restaurants in the nation to become LEED-Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized certification that a building meets high standards for energy savings, water efficiency, emissions reduction, and other environmental attributes. Of the 38 restaurants to have received LEED certification, approximately 40 percent of those are chain restaurants.
“We have always wanted to build our restaurants in an environmentally responsible way, so achieving LEED certification is a huge validation for Elevation Burger and expect this to be the first of several certifications,” says founder and CEO Hans Hess. “There’s no reason we can’t reduce our carbon foot print both by the way our beef is raised and in the way our stores are built.”
Elevation Burger franchisee David Barleggs cites many factors which led to the LEED certification, an 18-month process. He notes that during design and build out of the Dallas location, which opened in January 2011, he adhered to recycling of all construction materials. He also uses renewable bamboo flooring, compressed sorghum for tables and paneling from KireiUSA, compact fluorescent bulbs, and light sensors, stainless steel, low VOC paints, and sealants to reduce indoor air pollution, tankless instant-on hot water heaters, energy-efficient rooftop heating and cooling units, and Dyson Airblade hand drying fans in the restrooms.
Elevation Burger prides itself on an “elevated” experience and a fresh approach that puts people and product ahead of profit. The franchised chain offers many healthier alternatives to standard fast food choices, including two variations of a veggie burger, lettuce-wrapped burgers, non-processed six month aged cheddar cheese, and cookies made with organic butter and eggs. Elevation Burger is also the only better burger restaurant to feature organic, hardwood-smoked uncured bacon on its menu.
Elevation Burger has been recognized by Saveur magazine as the nation's first organic hamburger chain since opening its original location in 2005. It has been recognized as one of the most innovative burger chains in the country, with AOL Small Business calling Elevation Burger the “Next Big Chain,” and The Food Channel dubbing it one of the “up and comers” in the emerging better burger category.
Of the 36 Elevation Burger locations, 29 are located in the U.S. and seven are located internationally. Domestic: California – Carlsbad; Florida – Coral Springs, Downtown Dadeland, Pembroke Pines, Naples, Miami Lakes, Fort Myers; Indiana – Indianapolis; Maine – S. Portland; Maryland – Hyattsville, National Harbor, Potomac, Bowie, Wheaton; New Jersey – Moorestown; New York – Rye Brook, Ridge Hill; Pennsylvania – Collegeville, Willow Grove, Wynnewood; Texas – Austin Great Hills, Austin, Dallas, Houston; Virginia – Arlington, Fairfax(2), Falls Church, Tysons Corner; International: Kuwait (3), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Quatar, and Dubai.
