Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce connecting businesses wanting to be Greener

From a business owner’s perspective, trying to be Greener, or at least put more sustainable elements into their company practices, is sometimes thought of as an expensive, time consuming and complicated venture. In the past, that’s not been far from the truth, and even today, there may be countless energy-saving, financially friendly alternatives that leave less of an impact on nature. But tying those ideas and loose ends together into a network of supporting partners that share similar goals and business mindsets can be a difficult task. “One of the biggest issues in trying to be more green is people just don’t know what to do, and one of the biggest issues for businesses is where to go,” says K.J. Torgerson, a founding member of “ECO-nomics: Going Green as an Economic Development Tool,” a new program recently launched by the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. Torgerson, also chairwoman of the ECO-nomics committee, said the program is designed to provide tools for members plus local businesses and other community members. “We’re providing all the resources so that there’s one spot to find the information,” she said. The project, which began earlier this year as an idea exchange between chamber members and concerned citizens, is an online hub aimed at helping businesses save money by integrating nature-friendly practices. At the site, users can connect to green service providers, as well as other green-oriented programs, proposals and start-ups in the area. In essence, it’s an online ecosystem for eco-networking. To launch the wide-ranging program, chamber members from across the business spectrum met at the Coeur d’Alene Library in April. Organizers initially planned a trade workshop and expo for this fall, but recently rescheduled it for Jan. 13, 2010. The event will feature round-table discussions on issues ranging from water and energy conservation, to residential tips such as gardening, household recycling and landscape designing. “This project started as a way to find environmentally friendly alternatives and green practices for businesses, not just because it’s the right thing to do but because it can help their bottom line,” Torgerson says. “It’s pretty well-rounded.” Some of the areas that will be included in the project are education, construction, residential, retail and office. Several of those sections will be broken down farther into subcategories such as energy, building and development for the construction information, says Tim Kastning, a member of the ECO-nomics committee and owner of the participating landscaping company Grace Tree Service. “We as a chamber want to help businesses to identify areas to save money by implementing green practices,” Kastning explains. “And, of course, the everyday citizen will be able to access the information online.” One of the largest committees is construction, since it produces so much recyclable material and covers a wide range of topics, Torgerson says. The Web site will allow businesses to take the reins in finding eco-centric practices, often through partnerships. As an example of the types of connections that members of the project hope will grow from it, Kastning, who is also active with other environmental groups, says his company has been able to find uses for all of the wood waste collected from tree trimmings and debris cleanups just by networking with other groups in the area. On average, Grace Tree Service recycles about 700 to 800 tons of firewood, including 420 tons of biomass that went to the Kellogg Fuels for Schools program last year to generate heat throughout the district, and roughly 50,000 board-feet of merchantable wood every year. Most of the recyclable material stays in the community and goes to local organizations such as ElderHelp, which provides firewood to the elderly. “Every bit of our wood material is utilized,” Kastning says. About the ECO-nomics project, he adds, “I believe this is just the way things will go, and I think personally it’s the right thing to do.” Another case in which simple solutions added up to dramatic savings was with the Coeur d’Alene School District. By implementing an energy-saving program that automatically switched off lights and computers in rooms no longer being used, the district shaved $100,000 off its operating costs. “That’s the kind of intersection we are looking for,” says Jonathan Coe, former president and general manager of the chamber. If that advice could be shared throughout the community, others might benefit from it as well, he says. To keep the site from becoming stagnant, new information, ongoing projects, user experiences and other helpful links will be frequently posted. The goal, Torgerson says, is to have it become an evolving online community. Picture blog sites, helpful links and useful reader comments and that’s the right direction, she explains. “We want it to be up-to-date with new information. We don’t want this to die as soon as we get it online,” she says. “The goal is sort of a blog-style site in each section, and the average citizen will be able to add Wikipedia-style comments like ‘I did this and it worked for me.’ It will incorporate valid reader feedback.” While business owners will be able to use the site to their benefit, including by having an energy audit to help determine more cost-saving practices, it’s also meant to be a portal for community members. Everyone is encouraged to check out the informative site since much of it applies to household energy-saving options and other eco-friendly proposals, Torgerson says. “It’s really about getting them connected and working together,” she offers.