Founding Farmers is Good and Green

Being green is gold these days, and with the additional environmental focus of the current Administration, expect Earth Day Celebration 2009 to be wind-turbine blowin’ big time!

Here in the District, we have such a grand sustainable story to tell – not the least of which is the latest and greatest on the ‘food front.’ Did you know DC had the nation’s first certified organic restaurant? (Restaurant Nora is YUM!) And more are adding to the mix every day.
Earth Day 2009 marks a very special and very significant occasion for Founding Farmers . Wednesday, April 22, the restaurant will be officially certified as the first LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) restaurant in the District of Columbia, and the first full-service, upscale-casual restaurant in the entire United States to achieve LEED® Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

“We have set a new benchmark for restaurants to be more environmentally friendly with LEED Gold certification of Founding Farmers,” said Dan Simons, Principal of Vucurevich Simons Advisory Group, the management and operations company for the restaurant. “This is an important achievement, not only for the hospitality industry, but for the ownership collective of more than 42,000 American family farmers whose food we bring directly to Founding Farmers,” added fellow VSAG Principal Michael Vucurevich.

“The certification of Founding Farmers is a prime example of how, through buildings, human systems integrate with natural systems,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The LEED credits are designed to address environmental, social and economic imperatives, and Founding Farmers should be commended for striking that dynamic balance with each meal they serve.”

LEED certification of Founding Farmers was based on a variety of green design and construction features that provide sustainability to the community and surrounding environment, including:
Energy Star appliances for over 80% of all eligible appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, dish machines, cooking appliances and 4 LCD televisions; an efficiency exceeding HVAC System that monitors indoor air quality; the purchase of green power credits for 50% of electricity consumption; waterless urinals and low flow lavatories; and reclaimed and recycled materials and finishes.

And that’s not all the green they’ve got. Founding Farmers has the best fried green tomatoes in town.

Check out Founding Farmers at 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Reservations available on Open Table.