CARY - An environmentally friendly redo of a McDonald's franchise in Cary's Saltbox Village shopping center has earned a coveted seal of approval from the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable building design and construction.

The store at 1299 Kildaire Farm Road, which is owned by franchisee Ric Richards, is the first McDonald's in North Carolina and the third in the nation to meet the USGBC's gold standard under the organization's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, rating system established in 2000.

The gold certification is the second-highest of four possible ratings on the LEED scale.

The other two McDonald's restaurants that have met the stringent LEED certifications are in Savannah and Chicago.

"We're ecstatic," Richards said. "It just goes to show you that when you collaborate with your partners and stay focused on what you want to achieve, it works."

Under the LEED system, developers earn points toward certification by incorporating innovations such as recycled materials and systems that conserve water and energy and lighting that reduces dependence on heating and air conditioning systems.

The 25-year-old building that once stood at the Kildaire site was torn down last March. It was replaced four-and-a half months later by a greener version that includes high-efficiency kitchen equipment, low-flow toilets and drought-tolerant landscaping, among other features.

The McDonald's in Cary is at least the second Triangle fast-food joint to seek LEED certification. In September 2008, Subway opened a restaurant on Market Street in Chapel Hill that features recycled floor tile, high-efficiency heating and air-conditioning systems, low-flow faucets and lots of natural light.

Richards expects to recoup at least some of the cost of the $2 million renovation project over time through savings in water and electricity costs. But he said the only way for the general public to appreciate the significance of the LEED certification is to see it for themselves.

"The only way to enjoy the features is to come and try them out," he said.

Gov. Bev Perdue on Tuesday was to present a certificate honoring Richards' efforts to transform the store into a model for eco-friendly design.