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MOBILE – As part of the Obama Administration's effort to cut energy waste in the nation's restaurants and buildings, today the Energy Department's Better Buildings Challenge recognized the Wendy's Company and its franchisee, Wendco Group, for leadership in energy efficiency. This local restaurant achieved a 37 percent total energy reduction or more than 50 percent energy savings per sales transaction, and nearly $8,000 in savings annually.

Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Wendy's has committed to achieving 20 percent energy savings over 10 years, across 1.5 million square feet of building space at company-owned restaurants. It's also the first restaurant company to include franchisees in the Better Buildings Challenge. To date, six franchisees have joined, adding an additional 270 restaurants (nearly 700,000 square feet) to the collective Wendy's footprint.

Wendy's joined the Better Buildings Challenge in January of this year and was so inspired by the program that the company started its own program called the Wendy's Energy Challenge. The program is modeled after the Better Buildings Challenge and encourages Wendy's franchisees across North America to be good stewards of energy usage.

The leadership demonstrated by this corporation and its franchisee is tremendous,†said Maria T. Vargas, U.S. Department of Energy, Better Buildings Challenge director. Not only is The Wendy's Company focused on improving corporate-level energy efficiency, it is doing so in a way that reaches thousands more restaurants. This approach with the Wendco Group is exemplary of a commitment to continuous improvement, a dedication to greater savings, and proof that partnerships extend energy savings.

Wendco Group operates 43 restaurants in Alabama and Florida and has made a long-term commitment to energy efficiency as a business strategy.  The group actively develops and pursues strategies for lowering energy use across their building portfolio, including ongoing equipment maintenance, strategic energy upgrades and high efficiency equipment installation.

Upgrades to the Wendy's location in Mobile, Alabama include exterior LED lights, all-LED interior lights, an ultra-high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and a new, efficient commercial kitchen hood.

We're proud to be among the first restaurant companies to join the Challenge,†said Abigail Pringle, chief development officer for the Wendy'...