Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. has announced that it will work with Ecova, a total energy and sustainability management company, to create a comprehensive Strategic Energy Plan that will provide a short- and long-term roadmap for actionable energy savings and measurement.

Ecova will support Arby's to identify opportunities, set goals, guide the development of a corporate energy policy, establish priorities for implementation, and develop a timetable for achievement.

Energy represents Arby's fourth largest controllable expense. Making changes through employee behavior and operational protocols represents the first step to allow savings to be reinvested in capital expenditures.

The relationship between Arby's and Ecova began in 2009 when Ecova began managing Arby's utility expenses. This new initiative deepens the relationship to cover demand-side energy management and allows Ecova to draw extensive insight and data from the restaurant chain's existing energy use gathered through the utility expense management work.

"Arby's is undertaking a major initiative to make a real difference in our energy use," said Dave Conklin, senior vice president of development at Arby's. "After building one of the industry's first LEED-certified buildings, this is the logical next step in advancing our programs. Having worked for the past few years with Ecova, we understand the company's expertise in energy efficiency and the restaurant industry."

Upon creation of the Strategic Energy Plan, Ecova will recommend energy and water conservation initiatives, along with the information needed to deploy and measure the solutions. Tools that will guide Arby's energy and sustainability efforts will include:

• Operational and behavior modifications;
• Lighting, HVAC and water heating systems, restaurant equipment and building shell recommendations;
• Rebate and incentive opportunities;
• Expected energy and water savings, carbon reduction and financial return;
• Equipment procurement strategies;
• Demand response opportunities; and
• Energy management technology options

Arby's celebrates Facebook milestone

Throughout the past year, Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. sold more than 682 million sandwiches, 282 million orders of Curly Fries and 52 million Jamocha Shakes. Last week, Arby's celebrated another milestone – 1 million Facebook fans.

Arby's is rewarding these fans with a chance to win a limited edition "Born to be Roasted" T-shirt. More information is available on Arbys.com or Facebook.com/arbys.

"We are thrilled that Arby's has generated so many Facebook 'likes,' and want to thank our fans by giving away our newly designed Arby's t-shirts so they can proudly wear their love of roast beef on their chests," said Bob Kraut, senior vice president, Advertising and Marketing Communications, Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. "As our fan base continues to grow across all of our social media platforms, we will offer more great deals and giveaways."

Arby's also has more than 46,000 Twitter followers and more than 15,000 views on their branded YouTube channel.

Read more about sustainability efforts or social media marketing.