Leading the fast-food chain's green building effort is John Rockwell, the sustainability manager for McDonald's USA.
Rockwell works to reduce the environmental impact of McDonald's restaurants by using low-flow toilets to save water and energy-efficient lighting.
Some efforts may not be apparent to customers, says Rockwell. For example, the company is retrofitting most of its exterior signage -- think all those golden arches -- to glow using LED lights instead of higher wattage bulbs. They'll still shine brightly, but use less energy.
Other green projects will be easier to spot. Look for a plaque at the three LEED-certified restaurants McDonald's has opened in the U.S. since 2008. (To get certified, a building must efficiently manage resources such as water and energy.) A fourth McDonald's is up for LEED certification in Riverside, Calif -- it's expected to get approval by this summer.
"It's already open, but it'll be an exciting development to get that fourth one certified," says Rockwell.
More galleries
