CEDAR FALLS - Color the business community green.

That was the unmistakable message conveyed Tuesday at the annual Strictly Business Expo at Park Place Event Centre.

Energy-saving, money-saving strategies were the focus of the seminar, which included talks from four business and energy experts.

More than 60 businesses had booths at the expo, and representatives from many of them attended the seminar, which focused on short- and long-term benefits available to firms that take a proactive approach to their day-to-day energy routines.

Each member of the audience was given a list of 100 ways to conserve resources.

"What we're trying to do is give people very specific things we can do, because a lot of people who are being more environmentally conscious are saying you need to start small, find something you can be successful at and go from there," said Galen Howsare, vice president of administration and finance at Hawkeye Community College, who talked about the sustainable landscaping ideas under consideration on the Hawkeye campus.

"I know if I suggested we set aside two acres of the campus for sustainable landscaping, I'd be turned away, but there are certain areas that it would work well," he said, talking about the idea of setting aside areas to substitute native-grown plant life for sod that requires maintenance, fertilizers and pesticides.

The key is to "start small and keep going," he said.

Pete Olson, manager of energy service at Cedar Falls Utilities, gave examples of several energy-saving programs businesses could institute, including energy audits, inspections, replacing old thermostats, cutting back usage during nonpeak hours and other measures.

"We're always promoting energy efficiency, because that always reduces the greenhouse gases on the electrical side, and we have programs in place to do that," he said. "There are a lot of little things you can do at home and in your business. It's some behavior changes that have to come along.

Dan Channer, an architect with Waterloo-based Struxture Architects, outlined some of the benefits of designing and constructing Earth-friendly buildings that follow a green plan that earns them certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

He said buildings account for nearly half of the world's energy usage - 48 percent, to be precise.

"That's where we have a lot of work to do," he told the audience. "In the next 20 years, if nothing is done, the annual consumption of energy will increase 37 percent."

He said his company and others are working to design buildings that make optimum use of light and minimize the use of resources like water and electricity and bring in solar and wind power.

Mike Massina, key account manager for MidAmerican Energy, said his company has a number of plans in place, including free energy audits for small businesses.

"A specialist will come in and do a walk-through assessment of the entire facility," he said.

The auditor will issue a preliminary report on the spot, and a formal auditing report will be mailed to the building manager a few weeks later.

Common-sense moves like shutting down computers and copy machines can add up to major cost savings in a hurry, he added.

There's no profit motive for the utility, Massina said.

"MidAmerican does not sell any equipment or appliances," he said. "Recommendations made are not brand-specific."

Contact Jim Offner at (319) 291-1598 or jim.offner@wcfcourier.com.