Harry’s Roadhouse is proud to have earned the 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant^® seal, an award that also makes them the first ever Certified Green Restaurant^® in the state of New Mexico! Harry’s Roadhouse began working with the Green Restaurant Association, a national non-profit organization, in October ’09 to earn the Certification. The GRA specializes in helping restaurants become more environmentally sustainable through their Certification program and consulting services.

Environmental responsibility is a burden that we all share. Government action is essential, but personal and corporate responsibility are equally important.  We are lucky to be part of a great neighborhood and community and feel an obligation to give back to those who have supported us through our 18 years. We want to do our part to conserve water and energy, reduce our waste, and provide a green dining option to our customers.

We had been working towards the goals for a number of years when we came across the Green Restaurant Association, the only organization of its kind for restaurants. They have a demanding set of standards that helped us find ways to become more efficient and environmentally responsible.  Now, when customers see the Certified Green Restaurant^® seal in the window, they’ll know that we’ve gone through a credible, transparent program.

The 2 star certification is a start.  We plan to continue to evolve and to work with the Green Restaurant Association to meet more exacting standards for higher levels of certification.  Some of what we have done includes:

Providing compostable cutlery, to-go containers, straws and cups made from potato starch and corn

Installing an energy efficient hand dryer and a waterless urinal in our restroom

Using non-toxic cleaning chemicals

Starting a full-scale recycling programs

Use of 100% recycled paper products

Using low-flow faucets in their kitchens, which are 75% more efficient than conventional options and help conserve water

Providing Reverse Osmosis water for drinking, to eliminate the need for bottled water

Growing many our own greens, herbs and lettuces in our garden and in our hydroponic greenhouse.

Improved water catchment for irrigation

Composting program for kitchen scraps

“Harry’s Roadhouse has made great strides toward becoming more environmentally sustainable, and we commend them for their commitment to these initiatives,” says Michael Oshman, Executive Director of the Green Restaurant Association. “We look forward to helping them make more changes in years to come.”

For more information about the GRA’s Certification program, visit www.dinegreen.com.

About the Green Restaurant Association

The Green Restaurant Association (GRA) is the only official certifier of Green Restaurants^® in the country. The national non-profit organization was founded in 1990 to shift the restaurant industry toward ecological sustainability. For 20 years, the GRA has pioneered the Green Restaurant^® movement and currently works with over 650 restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada.  With a transparent and turnkey Certification system, the GRA has made it easy for thousands of restaurants to profit and become more environmentally sustainable.  As the industry standard for Greening restaurants, the GRA has the world’s largest database of environmental solutions for the foodservice industry. In 2009, the New York State Restaurant Association announced its official endorsement of the GRA, joining EPA Energy Star for Small Business, Environmental Defense Fund, and several other national environmental groups. The GRA has been featured on CNN, NBC Nightly News, NPR, and in The New York Times, and The Washington Post. For more information visit www.dinegreen.com.