Columbia businesses rally around ‘green’ efforts | Power Lunch

Jim Oakley of O2Geothermal does a lot of traveling throughout Missouri, and he said that, in terms of sustainability, he believes Columbia is far ahead of other cities in the state.
“With the number of green initiatives here, we have a lot to be proud of,” Oakley said during the Columbia Business Times Power Lunch on Aug. 24. Presented by The Callaway Bank, the lunch brought area business and government leaders together to discuss ways to improve the city’s sustainability.

Oakley, who helps his customers reduce their utility costs by tapping into geothermal resources, said education is a key component of increasing green initiatives. Jerome Rackers of Lifestyles Furniture agreed. “As a business owner, I know that making investments such as high-efficiency lighting and selling green products are good things to do,” he said, “but we can’t assume that everyone understands the benefits. I think it would be great to have a sign at the front of every store that makes green efforts that says, ‘Ask me how I am being green.’’’
Rackers said that getting media involved would help boost sustainability in Columbia. “We need grassroots involvement, and businesses can help lead the way,” he said. “When business owners see other businesses going green, they’ll want to be part of the club, and that will get things going.”
Barbara Buffaloe, sustainability manager for the city of Columbia, said that a program to audit energy use in buildings in The District received strong support as business owners and building owners became aware of it. “Once we get the word out, we see enthusiasm start to build rather quickly,” she said. “Being green makes you feel good.”

Tom Rippeto, owner of Red & Moe Pizzeria, renovated the building on Ninth Street that he’s owned for more than 20 years and is using high-efficiency heating and lighting. But his green efforts go even further. His restaurant uses local produce, meats and cheeses as ingredients in its pizzas. “Our vision is to use sustainable products whenever possible because they’re healthier and help reduce our carbon footprint by reducing transportation and costs,” he said.
Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid said that as part of the city’s green efforts, it will soon restructure and reorganize its public transportation system. “We currently see about 20 bus rides per capita,” he said. “And compared to other university towns we are low. Iowa City [Iowa] and Champaign [Illinois] have 80 to 90 rides per capita, so we’ve got work to do to increase our ridership. As part of our initiative, we want to establish express routes and incorporate a GPS system that will allow bus riders to track buses via their cell phones practically minute by minute.”
Tom Trabue of Trabue, Hansen & Hinshaw credited the city with pushing green efforts. “We want to gripe about regulation, but really it has moved sustainability into everyone’s way of thinking. I think we owe the city and state our thanks for that.”