Tips for Constructing Eco-Friendly Outdoor Restaurant Spaces

Eco-friendly contractors have a number of projects that they might come across. One of the types of eco-friendly construction projects that they might work on involves creating eco-friendly outdoor spaces for restaurants. Since a growing number of restaurants are trying to be eco-friendly, sustainable contractors can work on these projects to grow their business.

If you own a restaurant and want to make it eco-friendlier, then you may want to hire an eco-friendly contractor to assist you. Keep reading to learn more.

What Sustainable Restaurant Owners Must Understand About Constructing Green Outdoor Spaces

As a restauranteur, your main priority is to ensure that your restaurant is worthy of your initial investment. Thus, you must adopt an outdoor dining area that’ll allow your customers to dine outside so they can feel nature while enjoying their meals. Doing so might create positive experiences that encourage them to return to your commercial area. 

One of the benefits of creating outdoor spaces is that they can help strengthen your brand as a sustainable restaurant. One survey found that 43% of customers would pay more to support a sustainable restaurant over one that is less friendly to the environment. You will have an easier time reaching these customers if you create both indoor and outdoor spaces that are eco-friendly.

However, you must ensure that your outdoor space stands out from the competition to gain the loyalty of your customers. Therefore, you should create a greener outdoor space that’ll help you attract more consumers to your restaurant business. Aside from that, you’ll be able to reduce your brand’s carbon footprint, enabling you to stay ahead of your local competitors. 

You must consider these six-item guides in developing a green outdoor area for your restaurant. 

1.     Adopting Dining Tents 

The outdoor dining experience is a vital part of your restaurant operation. If you provide a positive experience, it can enhance customer satisfaction and retention. On the other hand, failing to do so can lead to negative word-of-mouth reviews and lost sales. 

You can significantly improve the outdoor dining experience of your consumers by using eco-friendly outdoor dining tents like from WeatherPort and others. These structures create an intimate space for patrons while protecting them from the sun and rain that might ruin their day at the restaurant. By adding dining tents in your outdoor space, your food and beverage establishment will generate more positive reviews and attract more customers. 

This method requires you to choose a dining tent that will work best for your restaurant. You may choose from different types of tents, including: 

• Pop-Up Tents are recyclable and reusable, which means that you can use them over and over again without having to worry about adding to landfills. Aside from that, they’re made from lightweight materials like nylon, which doesn’t require much power to operate them. In turn, they can cut down your energy costs while still providing high levels of protection from wind and rain.
• Deluxe A-Frame Tents are ideal for any outdoor restaurant setting as they provide a waterproof covering that blocks out the rain and wind while still allowing light in through the top opening of the tent. This allows patrons to enjoy their meal while remaining dry and comfortable inside the tent.

2.     Installing LED Lights 

One of the most vital factors in designing an eco-friendly outdoor space is lighting, especially for commercial areas like restaurants. A great way to achieve this goal is to install light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, an efficient way to save energy while reducing carbon emissions. Aside from that, you can easily install them with little-to-no maintenance required, helping you save repair costs in the long run. 

As you shop for LED light bulbs, you must consider the installation cost to ensure you have enough budget for this eco-friendly project. Next, assess how often you’ll be using each bulb and how long it’ll take for them to generate a return on investment (ROI) by reducing energy costs compared with traditional bulbs.  

3.     Investing In Solar Panels 

Installing solar panels in your outdoor space will help reduce your energy consumption because they use natural sunlight. Instead of relying on electricity from the grid or coal-fired power plants that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, you can help minimize global warming. As a result, you protect the environment while saving money on your energy bills. 

When installing solar panels, keep in mind that they need sunlight. So, rather than randomly placing them on the roof, ensure they have an unobstructed view of the sky and trim trees that might block their path. The best place for them would be on flat roofs, but if yours isn’t flat, then you could always ask a professional to install them anyway. 

4.     Picking Eco-Friendly Furniture 

Eco-friendly furniture is made from recycled materials and biodegradable products. Aside from that, these elements are also affordable, and they’re also easy to maintain in the long run. In turn, you’ll be able to minimize your restaurant’s carbon footprint while your customers enjoy their food. 

When looking for furniture, look for products made of recycled materials or with natural dyes and fabrics, such as cotton. Alternatively, you can build a restaurant patio using sustainable materials like harvested wood and bamboo. Flowering plants like bamboo are fast-growing and don’t require pesticides, which boosts your eco-friendly initiative for your restaurant.

5.     Using Green Cleaning Products 

Green cleaning products have many advantages over traditional cleaning products. These alternatives are better for your customers and the environment, meaning they’re less likely to cause health issues or damage the surroundings. 

Additionally, green cleaning products are often more effective than traditional cleaners and cost less than conventional items. In the long run, you’ll be able to save money while contributing to the planet. 

The first step in choosing green cleaning products for outdoor areas is to evaluate your restaurant’s cleaning needs. This strategy helps you determine which products are the most suitable for your commercial space.  

After that, look for environmentally-friendly products that are safe for use around food. For instance, you may choose natural solutions like vinegar or baking soda, plant-based options like essential oils, or even plain old water. Selecting these items ensures that you don’t cause harm to your staff and consumers while keeping your outdoor area clean. 

6.     Getting Rid Of Plastic And Investing In Glass 

Plastic can be an excellent material for many uses, but glass is often a better choice when it comes to your restaurant’s green outdoor areas. For instance, glass is much less likely to break down and be released into the environment than plastic. If you choose glass for your green outdoor areas, you’ll be helping to protect the environment by preventing waste from being released into it. 

The best way to get rid of plastic and invest in glass is by switching from single-use plastic containers like straws, cutlery, and cups to reusable glass containers. Similarly, you may use glass bottles instead of plastic water bottles. Glass bottles are easy to recycle and won’t leak harmful chemicals into your food or drinks like plastic. In turn, you’ll be able to prevent your consumers from food poisoning, which protects your restaurant from costly complaints. 

Key Takeaway

As you run your restaurant business, you must still ensure that you don’t abuse the environment to meet your customers’ demands. Henceforth, creating a green outdoor space for your restaurant is vital with these six design and layout strategies. Doing so can help improve the environment while saving costs and leaving positive impressions on your clients.