Net Zero McDonald’s

by Marcy Marro | June 1, 2021 12:00 am

On-site renewable energy design aims to cover 100% of the restaurant’s energy needs

The newly remodeled building is located near Disney’s All-Star Resorts. Taking advantage of Orlando’s subtropic climate, the restaurant can be naturally ventilated approximately 65% of the year. Jalousie windows, which are operated by outdoor humidity and temperature sensors, close automatically when air conditioning is required. To create an extension of the indoor dining room, there’s a 6,000-square-foot outdoor porch with wood louvered walls and fans.

The steel-framed building features a variety on on-site energy generation strategies, including 18,727 square feet of photovoltaic panels on a v-shaped roof, 4,809 square feet of glazing integrated photovoltaic panels (BiPV), and 25 off-the-grid parking lot lights, which help offset more than 9,000 kWh per year. There’s also 1,766 square feet of a living green wall, which absorbs CO2, promoting biodiversity and retaining water. The landscape features all-native species, and to mitigate runoff, permeable paving is used for the entry plaza and outdoor dining area. Additionally, stormwater from the 1.5-acre site drains to two adjacent ponds before going through the resort’s water-management system.

The global flagship restaurant also serves as a learning hub for McDonald’s to test solutions for reducing energy and water use. The company will be pursuing the International Living Future Institute[1]’s Zero Energy Certification[2], and the data and learnings will inform McDonald’s global sustainability efforts, including its progression toward its science-based target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 36% in restaurants and offices by 2030.

McDonald’s Net Zero Quick Service Restaurant Rebuild, Orlando, Fla.

Award:: Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS2) Merit Award for less than$15 million from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Owner:: McDonald’s Corp., Chicago
Architect:: Ross Barney Architects, Chicago,
www.r-barc.com [3]
Architect of record/structural engineer:: CPH Inc., Sanford, Fla.,
www.cphengineers.com [4]
General contractor:: Southland Construction Inc., Apopka, Fla.,
www.southlandconstruction.com [5]
Steel fabricator:: P&A Welding and Machine Inc., Mulberry, Fla.,
www.pandawelding.com [6]
Building integrated photovoltaics:: Onyx Solar, New York City,
www.onyxsolar.com [7]
Curtainwall:: Kawneer Inc., Norcross, Ga.,
www.kawneer.com [8]
Glass:: Vitro Architectural Glass, Cheswick, Pa.,
www.vitroglazings.com [9]
Operable louvers:: Moffitt Corp., Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
www.moffittcorp.com [10]
Photovoltaics:: Sunpower, San Jose, Calif.,
us.sunpower.com [11]

Endnotes:

International Living Future Institute: https://living-future.org/
Zero Energy Certification: https://living-future.org/zero-energy/certification/
www.r-barc.com : https://www.r-barc.com
www.cphengineers.com : https://www.cphengineers.com
www.southlandconstruction.com : https://www.southlandconstruction.com
www.pandawelding.com : https://www.pandawelding.com
www.onyxsolar.com : https://www.onyxsolar.com
www.kawneer.com : https://www.kawneer.com
www.vitroglazings.com : https://www.vitroglazings.com
www.moffittcorp.com : https://www.moffittcorp.com
us.sunpower.com : https://us.sunpower.com

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/articles/net-zero-mcdonalds/