NCS Dining Hall Re-Certified as a Green Restaurant
NCS's Davis Dining Hall has been honored by the Green Restaurant Association since 2013 in recognition of its environmentally friendly practices.
National Cathedral School's dining room has been re-certified as a Green Restaurant, one of only two independent schools in the Washington, D.C., region so recognized by the Green Restaurant Association.
The Davis Dining Hall has been a two-star Green Restaurant since 2013, and the GRA's announcement means that designation will continue through the 2020-2021 school year. The association evaluates restaurants and food service providers on environmentally friendly practices. It found that, under the leadership of Director of Dining Services Juliana Grayson, NCS has implemented 45 environmental steps.
NCS earned particularly high marks for providing sustainable food and for waste reduction. A quarter of NCS's main dishes are vegan, and another 14% are vegetarian—requiring significantly less energy and water to produce than meat-based dishes. The school recycles food waste, cardboard, paper, plastics, glass, and aluminum, which keeps these materials out of landfills. Similarly, reusable dishes, glasses, and utensils have also reduced the use of disposable materials. The school also scored well in its usage of energy, chemicals, and water.
A commitment to environmental sustainability is a strategic priority at NCS, and it began pursuing GRA certification in 2013. Some of the changes made to the dining hall have included installing energy-efficient light bulbs and kitchen equipment and water-saving devices. The school also started a composting program for all food waste, thereby keeping about 85% of dining hall trash out of landfills.
Congratulations to the entire Dining Services staff and FLIK Independent School Dining for this recognition and for contributing to the ongoing greening of NCS. We are very grateful for all they do daily in providing us with delicious, healthy, and environmentally friendly meals.