Taco Bell's Green Prototype Unit To Open In W. Va.

A new Taco Bell restaurant in Kenova, W. Va., features numerous green elements including LED lamps, a recirculating waterfall in the drive-thru and insulating Comfort E2 glass.

According to the Herald-Dispatch, these eco-friendly features are being tested at the location with a goal of reducing energy use.

Architect Eric Clevenger told the newspaper that the chain has green initiatives in place at other locations, but the Kenova unit is the first time they've all been implemented in one store.

Some of the features include: Comfort E2 glass, which insulates during colder months and helps cool during the summer; LED lamps in the dining room, in the menu boards and in the parking lot; Solar tubes, a system used to harness daylight; Occupancy sensors in the restrooms; Dyson Airblade touch hand dryers; Energy Star appliances; Tankless water heaters; A roof with white rubber interior that deflects the sun's heat to reduce energy use; A concrete parking lot, which reflects heat unlike asphalt; and Bike racks.

Clevenger said the LED features specifically should yield an energy savings of at least 80 percent.

The restaurant is expected to open in August.

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