Special Section

Green Businesses

A few of the area businesses doing something to be more environmentally conscious

 
Spicy Scallops at Mona Lisa’s in Eau Claire.

Automotive
Trubilt Auto Body
In 2012, car maintenance shops the nation over will be required by law to use waterborne paints instead of solvent-based ones. But as of right now there are only a few offering this service, including Trubilt Auto Body and Superior Auto Service (who made the move more than two years ago, the first in the state to do so). There are traditionally four coats in the painting process, and this one takes the previously standard solvent-based colors used in the third coat and replaces them with water-based ones that cut the amount of chemicals in half. More importantly, this change keeps more chemicals out of the landfills, which lead to soil and groundwater contamination.

Restaurant
Mona Lisa’s
Regulars of this Mediterranean mainstay of local cuisine know about its seasonal menu, which sometimes rotates as often as every week. Part of the reasoning for this is to keep the eatery’s options fresh, and another is because of the fresh ingredients. Whenever Mona’s can use local ingredients, they do. Between the farmers market and owner Lisa Aspenson’s own personal garden, all of the produce used in their summer/fall dishes are local. Of course, winter makes it tougher to provide local ingredients, but they strive to do so whenever possible. One ingredient that never changes is the organic cream they get from Castle Rock, an item made almost infamous because of Mona’s famed pastas.

Interior Design
Interior Arts
Though she has yet to take on a LEED-certified project, Designer Susan Jakober is now an accredited professional in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an honor created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Available for both commercial and residential projects, Susan says she specializes in finding green locations, building choices, and products. “Product decisions are huge,” she said, segueing into an example. Let’s say you’re thinking about your floor. Well, wood is a far greener option than carpet. You want bamboo? Well, even though bamboo is readily renewable, it has to be shipped from Asia – that’s not very green. What about oak? Well, the trees take a long time to grow, not very readily renewable. You have to go with poplar wood; it’s both local and readily renewable. “Everybody says they’re green nowadays, but we know that’s not necessarily true.” Susan said even though very few make the jump to LEED (it costs nearly $700 just to be certified), projects all over are taking extra lengths to be more green. And if they aren’t, they should be.

 


Old-Fashioned Food Store
Weavers Country Store
Many of the products at this locally infamous bulk food store in Fall Creek are either locally grown or made/prepared, and buying in bulk also means you’re saving on wasteful packaging. Celebrating 20 years in business this year, Weavers has local cheeses, milk, chicken, beef, and organic grains and flours. Much of their dehydrated produce is locally grown (except tropicals and peaches/blueberries), and done so with minimal pesticides/sprays. They also have locally made clothing/bonnets, furniture, soaps, towels, crafts, woven baskets, and – if you can believe it – even some of their bulk candy is homemade.

Real Estate
Edina Realty
The National Association of Realtors has a “Green Designation,” and the country has about 3,000 realtors designated as such. The Edina Realty offices covering the Eau Claire area have four – that’s more than the rest of the national real estate company combined, according to Jeff “Big Guy” Hoel, one such designee. These agents have been trained in understanding what makes a property green, evaluating the cost/benefits of green building features/practices, marketing green properties, and passing on knowledge of grants and incentives for green homeownership. Hoel himself received a grant last year from NAR specifically to increase awareness among the general public. “The idea is to educate homeowners and make them more sustainable in the process,” Hoel said.

Electronics Distributor
Viking Electric Supply
A company dealing with semi-trucks and electronics may not seem the most “green,” but Viking offers a “BlueWay Recycling Program” for companies looking to responsibly dispose of lamps, ballasts, batteries, and electronic waste. The program includes three options: Easy Pak is a pre-paid container that businesses can fill and ship to the company for disposal; Bulb Eater is an in-house option for businesses that crushes fluorescent bulbs of any size into recyclable material (and captures almost all of the toxic vapors); and their Bulk Pick-Up option is self-explanatory.
 
Office Supply
One Source Imaging
Though small, a printer cartridge is a huge environmental burden that can require more than three quarts of oil to manufacture and can have up to three pounds of reusable parts. With more than 300 million sold last year, and an estimated 85 percent thrown away, that’s more oil thrown out than what the Exxon Valdez spilled in 1989. One Source is doing its part by recycling the cartridges its customers bring in, and did so 15,800 times last year. That’s conservation to the tune of 16,200 pounds of plastic and metal and 6,500 gallons of oil, according to owner Chris Solberg. When a customer brings one in, One Source gets it remanufactured, refilled, and puts it back on the shelf for sale. The other option they offer encourages organizations to collect the cartridges in bulk, and One Source will write them a check for the worth (they can go up to $5 a piece).