Eat Green, Drink Local
Diners all over the metro area are seeking something more when they decide where to eat. In addition to wanting good food at the right price, more Atlantans want to know they are supporting restaurants that care about the environment. Now they can visit HalfOffGreen.com.
HalfOffGreen.com offers discount coupons to diners for Atlanta restaurants that are committed to becoming more sustainable. Participating restaurants include Java Vino, Miltown Tavern, Moe’s on Ponce, Radial Café, Repast and Wasabi. HalfOffGreen.com will be adding more restaurants to the coupon program in coming weeks.
The program is simple. Customers log on to HalfOffGreen.com and buy discount certificates that they redeem at their favorite green businesses for half their retail value. For example, a $10 discount certificate can be purchased for just $5. The customer receives their certificates by mail, which can then be redeemed at specific locations all over Atlanta.
“We are genuinely excited to be part of HalfOffGreen.com,” said Barbara Keeney, one of the owners of Miltown Arms Tavern. “We knew we wanted to more than just offer great food in a great atmosphere. But we weren’t sure exactly how to make our location more sustainable. Since we committed to participating in the HalfOffGreen program, their staff has shown us several practical ways we can save energy, produce less waste and do our part to make Atlanta a healthier, greener community.”
Part of the value of every coupon offered in the HalfOffGreen program help support the efforts of GreenPlate, Inc., an Atlanta-based non-profit created by Polly Sattler, which offers consulting, research, education and practical solutions to help businesses go green. Sattler has partnered with Montine Blank, who is overseeing HalfOffGreen.com.
GreenPlate consults with local eateries and businesses on how to become greener in a cost neutral and financially sustainable way. GreenPlate asks new participants in the program to commit to recycling efforts; banning polystyrene and finding replacements for petroleum based take-out or packaging materials, Sattler said. Additional greening goals may encompass energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, pollutants and product sourcing.
“We helped The Shed restaurant in Glenwood Park save $600 a year on their power bill,” Sattler said, “and we’ve offered other solutions to further cut their energy consumption.”
Radial Café near Candler Park was one of the first to utilize GreenPlate’s services last year. “We’ve been dedicated to recycling, saving energy and avoiding plastic products for several years,” said owner Phil Palmer.
“We know that many of our best customers make a special effort to visit us because they agree with our green values. As far as we’re concerned, the more restaurants participating in HalfOffGreen and support the work of GreenPlate, the better for all of us.”
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