Thursday, April 24, 2008
Waco should strive to become known as the greenest city in Texas.
With a community-wide effort, the day could come when Waco officials erect billboards along Interstate 35 announcing it.
On Earth Day, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and Public Citizen Texas got the ball rolling by teaming up to sponsor a “Growing Business Green” symposium.
The idea is to promote an effort to make Waco a magnet for companies that make products that reduce pollution, save energy and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Tom “Smitty” Smith, executive director of Public Citizen Texas, said he wanted to hold the Earth Day symposium in Waco because he views the leadership in Waco as progressively green.
All cities develop reputations, or stereotypes, in the eyes of nonresidents.
Often those reputations are out of sync with the views of the actual residents of those cities.
Progressive cities take charge of their own reputations by instituting programs to brand their communities with a positive image.
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce has already begun that effort with the construction of the chamber’s new downtown headquarters, which will anchor a renaissance of central-city rejuvenation centered around Heritage Square and development along the Brazos River.
The chamber’s new headquarters will be Waco’s first LEED (Leadership in in Energy and Environmental Design) building featuring dozens of features to conserve energy and water. It will include a plant-covered roof, cisterns to catch rainwater and a skylight for natural lighting.
Baylor University and McLennan Community are planning LEED structures.
The Waco Independent School District talks in the same terms as it looks to the new construction the district hopes voters authorize in the May 10 bond issue.
Bill Johnson, owner of Johnson Roofing, has become a leader in the installation of energy-efficient roofing systems for homes and businesses and is aggressively promoting the idea for the community.
A green city promotes energy conservation and pollution reduction through a variety of public-private partnerships.
Waco officials should consider offering incentives to builders, homeowners and companies that help protect the environment, conserve water, save energy and reduce their carbon footprints.
An effort to brand Waco as the greenest city in Texas would benefit everyone.
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Comments
By Stacy
May 6, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this
I have read about police departments going green with scooters, bikes, and hybrids. What is Waco Police Department doing to go green? I have recently noticed Waco PD updating their fleet by adding Dodge Chargers. It is my understanding that these vehicles do not get very good gas milage. I would like to see the City and Police department set a good example for the rest of Waco.
By Fred
Apr 25, 2008 8:17 AM | Link to this
In support of the Waco Greater Chamber of Commerce "going green" we (citizens of Waco) should support bio-fertilizing on the landscaped bushes, grass and trees around the new Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce building. We should all line-up and urinate and deficate around the new Waco Chamber building and landscaping. This would definately make Greater Waco building green....and yellow and brown (Earth colors). And the aroma? The aroma will remind Citizens of the Waco of the Profiteering of the Downtown Waco Development.
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