A chain of cafes in the US is onto a green bread winner after bagging an Environmental Sustainability Award for its commitment to saving energy.

The Corner Bakery Cafe’s efforts have seen each of its energy efficient eateries use an average 14.5% less energy.

It claims this save more than 52,000 kilowatt hours a year, the same as reducing more than 80,000 miles driven by an average car.

This has reduced the carbon footprint of the energy saving coffee joints by at least 88,000 pounds of CO2 a year.

Founded in 1991, the cafe has 174 branches around the States including 45 in California.

Gary Price, president of Corner Bakery Cafe said: “Guests that dine at our cafes care deeply about the impact our restaurants have on their neighbourhoods…

“From improving the recyclable content in our packaging to updating our lighting sources, our sustainability programme has not only improved energy efficiency; it has also reduced utility costs for our cafes, contributing to an improved economic model, which is extremely important to our franchise partners.”

Energy monitoring software firm EnTouch Controls handed out the annual award.