As an individual, I love how it feels when I recycle, turn off the lights and save energy.
But what if going green did more than make us feel good? Columbia Light and Water has a found a way to save energy and give the economy a boost — to the tune of $5.6 million and about 50 jobs. The way it works is the city gives customers cash rebates to pay for improving the energy efficiency of their home. This way the city won’t have to buy as much energy now or in the future to power these homes.
An article on this program is part of a package on green industries in the Sept. 3, 2010 issue of the Columbia Business Times.
It is a win-win – customers get more energy and comfortable houses and the city saves on buying energy or energy capacity in the future.
The city wins in yet another way. All the money given to customers goes to workers in the energy business from energy auditors to heating/air conditioning companies to window replacement firms.
It’s nice to be able to put a number of the good feeling I get when I save energy.
Dianna Borsi O'Brien, freelance writer 
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