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GREEN INITIATIVES

Change Blows Through Coastal Breeze at LuLu’s

Known for its fried green tomatoes, LuLu’s at Homeport Marina is now green in another way thanks to the installation of a wind turbine in September 2008. Generating power for the outdoor kitchen/bar appropriately named Bama Breeze, this turbine saves between 25 and 40 percent on the restaurant’s energy costs.

Also, LuLu’s legendary cheeseburgers is a step closer to paradise as these tasty creations are now made from grass-fed beef raised at Boutwell Farms in Dothan, Ala. In addition to numerous health benefits, this beef is part of the restaurant’s long-term goal of reducing energy consumption by buying and serving local food.

Recognizing these green efforts, LuLu’s received the first-ever Seventh Generation Award from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. This honor is awarded annually to the person or business that demonstrates sustainability, stewardship and pro-active practices, which will help conserve natural resources for the seventh generation.

For more information, visit www.lulusathomeport.com.

Small Town Restaurant Goes Green in a Big Way

Located in the Mayberry-like town of Magnolia Springs, Jesse’s Restaurant has developed a reputation for fine southern cuisine throughout the last decade. Now under the management of Nicole Houser (daughter-in-law of restaurant founder Charlie Houser), the team has implemented numerous green efforts.

Most notably, a 3,120-gallon water tank was installed on part of the restaurant’s roof to gather solar-heated water. Other items include converting much of the indoor and all of the outdoor lighting to LED lights, using the out-of-date menus as memo pads and recycling the packaging and plastics.

For more information, visit www.jessesrestaurant.com.

2010 by 2010

To fulfill its mission of encouraging everyone to contribute a small amount of time to green practices, the Clean Coast Partnership hopes to reach 2010 new green efforts by January 2010. Once a Pleasure Island business or resident implements a new environmentally sensitive practice – whether big or small, he or she is invited to post this partnership’s website.

In addition to launching a new website and kicking of its 2010 by 2010 campaign, on Earth Day the Clean Coast Partnership also held its inaugural Clean Coast Expo, sponsored by the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. The expo featured informative presentations about local recycling efforts, various environmental programs and green building. Venders were also on hand to discuss products and services that would be more efficient.

Created in 2008, the Clean Coast Partnership coordinates city, state, business and individual efforts and resources for recycling and other environmentally friendly practices island-wide. Partners in this effort include the Alabama Coastal Foundation, Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of Gulf Shores, City of Orange Beach and the Gulf State Park. Website funding is made possible through funding from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration to the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, administered by the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

For more information on this partnership, visit www.cleanisland.org.

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