Small efforts matter, especially in the sustainability game. On Wednesday, local business owners and interested citizens gathered to talk about their achievements at SustainaBiz 2011, a conference dedicated to inspiring and making sustainability work.

The event was hosted by the Summit Independent Business Alliance — which supports local independent businesses — and Our Future Summit — a non-partisan group that gives a voice to ordinary citizens. The event ran all day, and included presentations from people who have made sustainable choices within their businesses or communities. This was the conference's third year.

“I'm here to support SIBA, network, and figure out what else I need to do to make my business more sustainable,” said attendee Alyse Piburn, SIBA member and owner of Mountain Roots, a sustainable gardening business in Summit County.

Piburn said she already composts and recycles everything she can, doesn't bag anything, and doesn't use chemicals or power tools.

Dara Lor, owner of Summit Soaps and Greasecycling, spoke to the crowd about his business, which collects and recycles used cooking oil. He started it four years ago when gas prices went up, and has worked hard not only to build up his company, but to get people's attention about what he's doing. He said many forgot about his work after gas prices dropped, and he's had to become a “lobbyist” when it comes to educating folks about where their waste oil goes. His shop is full of cleaners and soaps made from recycled materials.

“It's amazing how many things you can make from vegetable oils and animal fats,” he said. “The big thing for us is doing the right thing. Sustainability and business is almost a paradox.”

Kit Armour, general manager at Grand Lodge on Peak 7, talked about sustainable efforts within her company — including recycling, and the use of fluorescent bulbs and biodegradable products. Recent hotel additions, like automatic lights and top-notch hand dryers for the restrooms, were more expensive, but make a difference in energy and paper waste.

“There's a cost involved, but it's the right thing to do,” she said.

Composting and more

Jen Cawley, director of special events for Hearthstone Restaurant and Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, said she was inspired to initiate a composting program at Mi Casa after attending last year's conference. So far, she said the restaurant has been composting about 10 tons of waste a month.

Summit Hot Yoga owner Deby Curcio said multiple chemical sensitivities have led her to use all-natural products, both at home and in her business. Her studio is built with cork flooring, eco-friendly paints and radiant heat panels she said are 50 percent more efficient than standard heat.

As an example of larger efforts, L. Wayne Snider, town administrator for Fowler, Colo., spoke to the crowd about his town's green initiatives. The town owns seven sites powered by solar energy, which he said offsets roughly 70 percent of utility costs. Other actions in the works include a wind farm, anaerobic digestion (converting materials to energy), and a partnership with CSU Pueblo to turn algae into fuel.

“First and foremost is conservation,” he said. “Working with the community on energy audits, and then implementation of those audits. Our goal is to stabilize our utility costs for all residents, and businesses, and eventually eliminate those costs.”

He said businesses in Fowler became interested in the initiatives after seeing there was money to be saved long-term.

“We had a lot of really positive feedback,” said SIBA executive director Katie Roberts of this year's conference. “Last year everybody loved it, and this year they're saying it's even better. Hopefully next year we can continue to provide this wonderful information.”

Roberts said it's important to get the word out when it comes to going green.

“The biggest thing that people can do for sustainability is bring someone next year who is interested,” she said.