The next time you get a craving for a lobster roll or crab sandwich this side of the coast, you might want to try one of San Mateo County’s certified green businesses, New England Lobster Market & Eatery, in Burlingame. The company started selling lobsters wholesale and to the public across the Bay Area in 1987.
After its success with the “We’re On A Roll” food truck in South San Francisco in 2011, New England Lobster opened an eatery and market in Burlingame the following year.
The restaurant offers a “crack-it-yourself” crustacean experience, with lobster served right out of the pot, says owner Marc Worrall.
The New England Lobster Market & Eatery earned its Green Business Certification in October 2017, thanks to its efforts to save energy and water, which include:
- Upgrading all pumps and refrigeration to new energy-efficient models
- Replacing lighting with LEDs and energy-efficient fixtures through San Mateo County Energy Watch’s turnkey, direct-install lighting program for small businesses and nonprofits
- Painting its roof white and installing insulation and ceiling fans to reduce the use of air conditioning
- Installing low-flow toilets in customer restrooms
The eatery has also reduced its waste stream by:
- Reusing all of its packaging for incoming and outgoing shipments of shellfish
- Packing to-go orders in compostable take-out containers
- Composting food scraps from its kitchen and eatery
- Purchasing benches and tables for the eatery from reclaimed wood
“New England Lobster has been practicing green ever since green was [just] a color,” Worrall says. “It’s important to participate in protecting the environment as best we can. We all need to do our part and reuse resources whenever possible.”
The County’s Green Business Program recognizes small-to-medium sized local businesses that operate in an environmentally responsible way. To become a certified green business, organizations must receive audits from, and consultations with, the County and other local agencies to make sure they not only comply but also exceed environmental regulations. Many businesses adopt new programs or undergo retrofits to attain Green Business Certification, such as establishing a food scrap composting program or replacing their lighting with more efficient bulbs. Certification lasts three years.