Commercial, Energy Efficiency  -  September 11, 2017

McDonald's energy upgrade met with local opposition

A McDonald's restaurant in Libertyville, Illinois, is facing opposition from some local leaders who are resistant to its plans to upgrade its design, including energy efficiency. 

The Daily Herald reported Sept. 11 that a group of local leaders has recommended against any changes, saying they would not match the restaurant's "throwback design." McDonald's has appealed the recommendation, and the matter will soon be heard by a broader group of local officials, according to the newspaper. 

"Exterior changes to commercial buildings are considered by the five-member appearance review commission, which voted 3-0 last month against the proposed new building facades, lighting and signage," the Herald reported. "The current building fits Libertyville's character, Chairman John Robbins said then, also noting the historic nature of Libertyville and its downtown make changes hard to support." 

McDonald's officials reportedly said the company is in the process of modernizing all its buildings with updated technology. In its appeal, the company said it wants to replace existing neon lights with LEDs and address energy efficiency issues. 

"It is important to understand that the building is 15 years old," a construction manager for McDonald's wrote in the appeal. "Many of the existing facade materials are no longer available and the existing lighting elements are extremely inefficient."

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