Sustainability
Did you know that the carbon footprint of the average commercial kitchen is five times larger than that of the average office?
By design Hopkins has long known how to protect the environment with creative ways to minimize waste and to cut energy and water use in commercial kitchens. Now, as more clients seek LEED building certification, smart architects work with Hopkins to gain as many points as possible from food service areas.
Richard Hopkins has been in the forefront of sustainable food service design for more than twenty years. He knows how to work with manufacturers to modify their food service equipment so that energy consumption is minimal and exhaust management is optimal. Because he talks with manufacturers about his ideas for innovation and because he always requests the most intelligent design features, Richard creates a demand for finely engineered equipment. Higher demand increases supply, broadens options, and lowers costs.
Hopkins is also in the forefront of sustainable food service design education. In 2009, the American Institute of Architects approved Hopkins as an authorized provider of continuing education credits for their program entitled, Greening Food Service: The Point and Beyond. Those who attend Hopkins’ program learn how to identify, compare, specify, and design elements of food service spaces that help projects achieve LEED ratings. Even more, they learn how to help heal the planet, clean and improve the earth’s watersheds, control landfill growth, curb global warming, and conserve energy resources.
Green Credentials
- Member of the U.S. Green Building Council
- LEED-accredited food service designers
- Contributed to the first federal LEED-certified project, Social Security Administration Headquarters Office, Woodlawn, MD
- Helped achieve numerous commercial LEED ratings, including 3 Platinum, 2 Gold, 17 Silver, and 8 basic certifications
- Writers/producers of the AIA/CES approved, sustainable food service design education program, Greening Food Service: The Point and Beyond
- Writers/producers of FYI , a newsletter that offers advice regularly on green kitchen design
