The UNC Charlotte SIFE Team Works with a Local Restaurant and Sam’s Club to Reduce Waste, Water and Electrical Usage
The Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team at UNC Charlotte is working with a local restaurant, Casablanca Café, to make the restaurant more environmentally friendly. The project is funded by a $1,000 grant from the Sam’s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge.
SIFE teams from around the nation applied for the Sam’s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge. The applications were submitted last October; the grants were awarded on December 3rd; and the projects are designed to be completed by March 4th. UNC Charlotte partnered with a Moroccan restaurant, Casablanca Café, located at 9609 North Tryon Street.
“Sam’s Club has enabled us (SIFE) to make a substantial difference in the consumption of resources by the Casablanca Café” said Khalil Khouy, our Sam’s Club ESC project leader. Khouy continued, “We have been given this unique opportunity to improve the environment around us through engaged community service.”
The local Sam’s Club Associate Manager, Youssef Boutaleb, stated that “Sam’s Club is dedicated to working with the UNC Charlotte SIFE team to enhance the environment and our local businesses alike. Khalil has stepped-up and effectively managed this project, which improves our local community.”
Khouy and his project team decided to install low flow water valves in the kitchen, sensory LED lights in the bathroom, motion-driven paper towel dispensers, motion-driven faucets, toilet paper dispensers/holders, and recycling bins. The motion-driven faucets will reduce water usage in the kitchen by 40% per day, states the manufacturer. The LED lights are 75% more electrically efficient than normal light bulbs.
In order to promote green transportation, a 10% discount is being offered by the owner for those individuals who ride bikes to the restaurant. A bike rack that holds six is also being installed by our SIFE team.
UNC Charlotte SIFE arranged a partnership with Republic Services to deliver the restaurant’s garbage and waste for recycling at FCR in Charlotte. The restaurant’s owner, Sam Roussi, agreed to extend his vegetarian menu and purchase 100% fully organic dishes.
SIFE Profile
Students in Free Enterprise is an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills needed to become socially responsible business leaders. There are approximately 1,500 active SIFE teams in about 40 different countries around the world. The UNC Charlotte SIFE team’s mission is to continuously inspire students of all ages to impact the community through projects based on free enterprise that promote literacy and leadership.
No comments:
Post a Comment