2024 was a BIG year for Columbia’s sustainability and climate action! We were able to accomplish so much, and now we want to share it with you. In this December year-end review, find various actions and efforts taken on by City staff across multiple departments.
- The City of Columbia’s commitment to sustainability is stronger than ever! GO COMO is pleased to announce the arrival of six brand new, all-electric buses manufactured by BYD, made in the USA. The new 35-foot buses have batteries that can be fully charged in just three hours and offer 30% more range. The latest models also provide increased seating capacity when compared to the City’s existing electric buses. They are a massive step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and provide a quiet and smooth ride that our riders prefer.
- Columbia received a federal grant for EV charging stations to build electric vehicle chargers at two parking garages, the public library and the regional airport.
- CoMo has been incorporating electric vehicles into its city fleet, including electric buses for the city’s public transit system, GO COMO, to help reduce emissions from public transportation. The city has recently added eight new vehicles to its Electric Vehicle Fleet. This move not only reduces emissions but also contributes to a more sustainable and eco-friendly community.
- A plan for a community solar program was taken to the City Council in November 2023 and became operational in January of 2024. Production for this program comes from the Truman and Bernadette Solar fields. In 2023, the Truman Solar facility produced 22,733 MWH of energy and the Bernadette Solar facility produced 317 MWH.
- The Office of Sustainability has compiled and benchmarked City facility energy consumption against the national median for similar facilities. This information will be used to identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, cost savings and GHG reductions.
- Office of Neighborhood Service rental inspectors have begun including the generation of an Energy Efficiency Score as part of a rental inspection. Home Energy Scores for all participating properties (rental and owner-occupied) can be found here.
- The Solid Waste Utility now hosts Household Hazardous Waste Collection for the community on the first and third Saturdays April through November at the Grissum Building at 1313 Lakeview Avenue. These events enabled the proper diversion, disposal, or recycling of nearly 61 tons of hazardous waste
- The city began using roll carts in March 2024. Customers were sent a postcard in October to choose from three cart sizes. Monthly rates for the carts are based on the size of the cart. Roll carts, or refuse carts, can be better than other methods of waste collection for several reasons, including:
- Improved worker safety: Roll carts reduce the physical demands of the job, such as jumping on and off the back of a truck multiple times a day. Workers are also less likely to get cut by glass shards or hurt their backs.
- More efficient service: Automated collection systems can improve the efficiency of waste collection.
- Encourages waste reduction: Roll carts can encourage residents to recycle and compost.
- Fire Station No. 11, which was built at 6909 Scott Blvd., handles emergencies currently responded to by crews from Fire Station No. 6 and Fire Station No. 7. This will allow fire, rescue, hazardous materials and emergency medical services to be delivered to many more of our citizen customers within our target goal of four minutes.
- The fire station cost an anticipated $4.9 million. Sustainability is key; the station features energy-efficient ground-source heating & cooling and roof-mounted solar panels to minimize its environmental impact. Together, we’re building a safer and greener future for all!