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McDONALD’S® RESTAURANT IN SAVANNAH “LEEDS” THE WAY IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

Savannah, GA (December 20, 2005) – The menu is the same and many attributes that make The Golden Arches® shine are still there, but at its core, the McDonald’s restaurant opening today in the Abercorn Common shopping center in Savannah, GA, is a model for a more sustainable, energy-efficient building.

The McDonald’s restaurant located at 7979 White Bluff Road is anticipated to be the first-ever to be LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The energy efficient design and construction of the new restaurant was facilitated by Savannah-based sustainable real estate developer Melaver, Inc., who anticipates LEED certification for the entire Abercorn Common project early next year.

Some features of the new restaurant include: bike racks for employees and customers, preferred parking for low emission hybrid vehicles, a porous pavement, which allows storm water to benefit the soil instead of draining into the sewer system, a reduction in water use, a white roof that reflects heat, keeping the building cooler in the warmer months and reducing energy costs, and windows that allow daylight to reach 75 percent of the interior of the restaurant, reducing lighting costs.

Additionally, more than 20 percent of the construction material is made from recycled content and manufactured locally. More than 50 percent of the wood used in the restaurant comes from sustainable managed forests, as identified by the Forestry Stewardship Council.

“I am really excited to be opening my doors to the residents of the Savannah community,” said Gary Dodd, McDonald’s Owner/Operator. “Now I will be able to provide my valued customers with a relevant, inviting, memorable dining experience in restaurant that has a reduced impact on the environment,” added Dodd.

“While there is more than 300 million square feet of commercial building space in the U.S. that has been LEED certified, when McDonald’s constructs a more sustainable building, it demonstrates even more the mainstream potential of these collective technologies,” said Randy Peacock, project manager for Melaver, Inc.

About LEED

The LEED Green Building Rating System® is the U.S. Green Building Council’s voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, green buildings. The LEED standard has been adopted nationwide by federal agencies, state and local governments, and private companies as the industry standard of measurement for green building design and construction. LEED standards focus on five primary categories: site selection, construction materials, indoor environmental quality and water and electricity use.

About Abercorn Common

A recent $30 million, environmentally sustainable renovation of this 169,000 SF shopping center has created a gathering place and shopping destination that is fresh and modern, yet resonates deeply with old Savannah charm.

About McDonald’s

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information on McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com.