Ridership on the Johnson County Transit (JCT) The JO is at its highest ever, up 100 percent from a decade ago. The past few years have seen double-digit percentage increases, and the passenger count in April was 48,700, the highest ever for that month.

But county officials are contending with less funding as budgets are slashed at many levels of government. Transit service is expensive with only 16.7 percent of the JO’s revenue generated by rider fares – the rest is government subsidy. This funding dynamic is typical of bus services nationwide.

Until recently, planners were expecting a combined $1.5 million reduction in funding from federal, state and county sources in 2013 to an operating budget of only $12 million. With these cuts, the future of only five of the county’s 24 routes was certain.

The impact lessened when state cuts were put off for a year, and county officials authorized the use of reserve funds to make up for the drop in federal money. Potentially, the largest cuts could be put off until 2014.

Still, planners are drawing up contingencies to adapt to emptier coffers. They hope to keep Special Edition and SWIFT service for the elderly and disabled, and preserve fixed-route lines along Metcalf, which are well used.

Before the year is over, though, JCT may reduce or eliminate service on some underperforming routes. The transit authority is also considering reworking its agreement with First Transit, the private company that runs Johnson County’s buses, when its contract comes up for renewal at the end of the year. The county could again contract with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) – which serves Kansas City, MO, some Missouri suburbs and KCK – to provide some fixed-route service. KCATA ran Johnson County bus service until 1982.

JCT may also ask the City of Lawrence and the University of Kansas to foot part of the bill for the 710 K-10 Connector line, as neither entity currently contributes.

“Bicycling to work is on a huge upward swing in Missouri,” said Brent Hugh, executive director of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation. “From 2000 to 2010, the amount of bicycling to work increased by 70 percent. In our large metro areas, the story is even more dramatic – biking to work almost tripled in both Kansas City and St. Louis over the past decade.”

The increases in bicycling to work put Missouri well ahead of the national trends. Overall in the U.S., bicycling to work increased by 40 percent from 2000 to 2010.

In 2010, Senator Will Kraus sponsored a bill adding Missouri Bike Month (May), Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day to the Missouri state holidays calendar. The bill was signed by Governor Nixon and went into effect in August 2011, making this the first year the even is officially recognized in Missouri’s holiday calendar.

Information about events happening around Missouri can be found on the MoBikeFed website: www.mobikefed.org.

At the event, participate in a variety of activities at the WaterWorks! tent, sponsored by Bridging the Gap:

• Free in home water eco-kits, including a showerhead, faucet aerators and a toilet tank bank.
• Test your water knowledge by participating in a water game show created by Kansas City’s leading urban youth sustainability and environmental education non-profit, Green Works.
• Learn about how rain barrels can save water.
• View a 3D tabletop rain garden demonstration.
• Learn about services WaterWorks can provide, including free downspout disconnections or re-directs and $100 rebates for the installation of high-efficiency toilets.

North Kansas City, Mo., April 18, 2012 – In an effort to bring down costs while keeping its corporate commitment to sustainability, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division has selected Conergy’s PH 235P panels to install on its North Kansas City, Missouri manufacturing facility. One of the first solar construction projects installed in this part of the metro area, the installation was completed by local clean-energy integrator Brightergy this winter. With 216 modules, the solar installation will produce about 60,000 kWh annually, which is equivalent to taking 600 cars off the road for a year.

With this installation, Fujifilm will realize a substantial cost savings on its current energy usage. In addition, the company will be able to take advantage of the utilities net energy metering program, which will provide ongoing benefits. Globally, Fujifilm has a Greenhouse gas target set at 30% reduction in CO2 emissions by Fiscal Year 2020, as compared to 2005.

“Conergy recently supplied its premium module panels at Fujifilm’s facility in Hawaii last year, and this installation in North Kansas City marks the second solar project for Fujifilm in North America,” said Ray Hosoda, President and CEO, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. “This solar panel project will help play a role in Fujifilm’s corporate mission of energy conservation and Greenhouse gas reduction. The combination of Conergy’s PH-Series modules, along with Brightergy’s unique efforts to bring us an affordable, clean, and renewable energy solution, will continue to help us make strides toward our energy goals.”

The Fujifilm installation is the first project with Brightergy. “Fujifilm’s choice of this location was a good one due to the excellent economic incentives in the state of Missouri,” said Susan Brown, principal, Brightergy Solar Solutions. “And Conergy’s PH series panels, matched with our talents and resources as a solar energy integrator, will not only help Fujifilm reach its sustainability goals, but it is a fantastic financial investment for them as well.”

Posty Cards, Inc, a leading manufacturer of  business-to-business greeting cards, received on April 16 its official Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification, awarded by the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Posty Cards’ Kansas City facility is believed to be one of seven manufacturing plants in the United States to earn LEED Platinum certification, the highest distinction available to green buildings.

Proving that even a small, privately-held company can be a big leader in sustainability, Posty Cards’ expansion and renovation project – in the heart of Kansas City’s urban core – doubled its space and nearly doubled its energy efficiency, dramatically reducing its carbon footprint per square foot. The facility, which grew from 22,000 to 45,000 square feet, is projected to have only a five-percent increase in energy use.

Erick Jessee, president of the 65-year-old, family-owned business, said the expansion was necessary because the company was running out of space. And since Posty Cards was already implementing many environmentally-conscious practices, “the vision for a green building came with the realization that the expansion would allow us to bring our entire operation in line with the company’s sustainability goals,” he explained.

The building now contains a number of sustainable features including a large solar photovoltaic panel that generates more than 11 percent of total power use, solar-heated water, high-efficiency variable refrigerant volume HVAC, active lighting controls, rain water reclamation for irrigation and flushing toilets, bio-retention and underground basins for managing storm water runoff, and native plant landscaping.

Of the manufacturing plants that have reached LEED Platinum status, Posty Cards is by far the smallest. The company took advantage of many rebates and incentives to help fund the project, including federal and state new markets tax credits and federal solar energy investment tax credits.

“Buildings account for 49 percent of all energy use in the United States, which means that business owners planning to build or expand have a huge opportunity to change the environmental landscape,” said Jessee. “Knowing that our expansion would likely be a once-in-a-generation event, we chose to use sustainable building technology to significantly reduce our future energy consumption.” He added, “Many Fortune 500 companies are greening their operations, but real sea change toward greater sustainability in this country will happen when thousands of small businesses decide to incorporate sustainability into their business plans.  Given all the advantages and the many incentives available, there’s never been a better time for small businesses to get on board.”

According to Jenny Bloomfield Sciara, chair of the USGBC Central Plains Chapter, receiving LEED Platinum certification represents a tremendous accomplishment for Posty Cards. “It requires a great deal of work and dedication to obtain Platinum status and I think it’s incredible that a small company cares so much about the environment. It is companies like Posty Cards that are making a difference in our world.”

The project design and construction teams consisted of McHenry Shaffer Mitchell Architects, PKMR Engineers (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Design), KH Engineering (Structural Design), SK Design Group (Civil Design), Patti Banks Associates (Landscape Design) and Turner Special Projects (Construction Manager). Project funding was made possible with cooperation from U.S. Bank, KCMO CDE, Economic Development Corporation of KC, and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority.

Posty Cards has been helping companies nationwide to build and maintain relationships with their clients since 1948. The third-generation, family-owned company designs, manufactures and sells business-to-business greeting cards for all occasions, including personalized birthday cards, corporate holiday cards, and all occasion greeting cards – plus calendars – at the lowest prices available. In keeping with the Posty Cards’ corporate philosophy of minimizing its impact on the environment, all cards are printed with soy ink and many are printed on recycled or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. Plus, cards are packaged with recycled, recyclable and biodegradable materials. The Sustainable Sentiments® line of recycled greeting cards includes environmentally-inspired designs for users who want to portray their concern for the environment. Catalogs are printed on FSC-certified paper. In addition to the sustainable initiatives highlighted by its LEED Platinum certified headquarters and manufacturing plant, 100 percent of electricity used is Green-e certified with 11 percent generated on site via solar panels and the balance offset with renewable wind power. For more information, visit www.postycards.com.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) provides building owners and operators a framework for identifying and implementing measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Certification is determined through a points-based rating system distributed across categories such as Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Buildings can qualify for one of four levels of certification including Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. For more information, visit the U.S. Green Building Council’s website, www.usgbc.org.

“We’re pleased to offer a financing program in Kansas City that helps make investing in energy efficient improvements very easy and affordable,” said Jenifer Degen, contract manager for the EWKC program.

Homeowners can receive a maximum rebate of $1,000 from EWKC, which can be combined with as much as $1,200 from the local utilities while resources are available. Business owners can receive a maximum rebate of $3,000 from EWKC, which can also be coupled with other resources.

EWKC provides participating home and business owners with individualized energy efficiency upgrade recommendations based on an energy analysis. Program participants then move forward in selecting local, certified professionals to implements the cost-effective upgrades. Customers can use the financing incentives to make such improvements more affordable. Although improvements very depending on the property, many have included additional insulation, air sealing, duct sealing, heating and cooling system upgrades and lighting improvements.

Interested home and business owners can learn more by calling 816-531-SAVE or visiting www.EnergyWorksKC.org.

In January, Blue Hills Community Services announced the investment of $3.1 million at 5008 Prospect, in Kansas City’s Third Council District, to repurpose an existing 14,168 square-foot building and integrate comprehensive green strategies. Funding for the project was secured with $2.2 million from the city of Kansas City, Missouri’s EnergyWorks KC grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and $430,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Greater Kansas City LISC financed initial acquisition and predevelopment costs.

“This development will provide a catalyst for ongoing transformation of the Prospect Corridor and bridge existing development and community services in the neighborhoods,” said Joanne Bussinger, executive director of Blue Hills Community Services. “Construction bid packages have been released and renovation will begin in early May.”

“Many people have put so much work into turning this vision into reality,” said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, Missouri’s Fifth District. “This public-private initiative is a shining example of what can be done to create jobs, better our neighborhoods and strengthen our city when we work together. I applaud Blue Hills Community Services, the Green Impact Zone staff and so many others involved in this effort.”

Strategic partners include EnergyWorks KC, Greater Kansas City Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Green Impact Zone and Mid-America Regional Council.