While the businesses we stopped at are quite different from each other, they are all leaders in Lancaster's small business community in providing examples of energy efficiency, clean energy investment and economic growth in tough times. Repower Pennsylvania Director Michael Fedor thanked each business' owners for their commitment to sustainable, energy-efficient practices that are good for the climate and the economy.
First up was Expressly Local, a relatively new grocery spawned from a blog and email list about local food. Lancaster, of course, is the hub of Pennsylvania's Amish population, and Expressly Local's owners Cheryl Young and Kharran Cattell have provided that community and other local food-producers with an outlet to sell their products. Many, but not all of the items sold by Expressly Local are labeled organic, but in the fight to make our food energy-efficient, more important is how much energy is consumed in producing, transporting and selling the food. As Cheryl put it, "organic doesn't always mean sustainable."
But the items Cheryl and Kharran sell are chemical-free and are made within a 100-mile radius of the store, significantly cutting down on fuel and transportation costs while providing meat, dairy, produce and dried goods that taste great and help grow the local economy. By fostering relationships with their suppliers, Cheryl and Kharran are helping their business and that of regional farmers.
After thanking Cheryl and Kharran for their work, we did a little shopping. Our communications director bought some smoked cheddar, a pound of locally-roasted coffee, two bars of homemade soap, and a pint of applesauce, which was later eaten in one sitting.
Next up was Community Heritage Partners and its principal Eugene Aleci, an architect focusing on preserving old buildings and making them more energy efficient. This is a relatively young trend in architecture and planning, as "15 years ago, no one knew what sustainable or green was" as Gene put it. In Gene's line of work, it is far more energy-efficient to renovate an existing building than embark on new construction. His designs have been put to use in redeveloping public spaces not just in Lancaster, but around the Northeastern United States including Portland, Maine. And as a leader of the Susquehanna Sustainable Business Network, Gene collaborates with other businesses in south-central Pennsylvania to foster clean energy usage and greater energy efficiency.
Our final stop was Carmen and David's Creamery, a one-year-old ice cream shop that serves premium ice cream made in-store from fresh, locally-purchased dairy and produce. (Some ingredients, like chocolate, need to be brought in from tropical locales.) They also serve fruit smoothies using local dairy and produce when possible. Their products are served in corn-based cups, plates and bowls that decompose within days, avoiding the lasting pollution of Styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials.
David Hommel told us that after a long career in the furniture industry, he and his wife opened the Creamery as a "retirement business" but with an emphasis on buying local ingredients and supplies that minimize the shop's environmental impact. "We strive to be a local model for small, sustainable businesses that support our community," David told us. The Hommels are also getting quite involved with Repower Pennsylvania, hosting Friday-evening get-togethers and sporting our logo in their front door:
"Being clean-energy conscious is not a marketing tool," David said. "It's just our commitment."
After the conversation, the five of us from Repower bought some ice cream and hot chocolate, both of which were delicious.
Business practices like purchasing renewable energy, using locally-produced supplies and reducing waste don’t just benefit the climate. These actions and others are making real differences for these companies’ customers, employees and financial bottom lines. Repower Pennsylvania is proud to have them as partners in building the political will to transition to a clean energy economy. Together we can show that any business can be a green business that helps restore our environment and our economy.
