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Geothermal gains traction in mid-Missouri

  • June 02, 2015
The OHM office building in Columbia is no energy glutton. Thanks in part to its geothermal system, the owner hopes that by the end of the year it will be certified as one of the most energy efficient buildings of its type in the country. Gary Grigsby / KBIA

The OHM office building in Columbia is no energy glutton. Thanks in part to its geothermal system, the owner hopes that by the end of the year it will be certified as one of the most energy efficient buildings of its type in the country.
Gary Grigsby / KBIA

Buildings are energy gluttons.

Federal government statistics show buildings use about 42% of the energy consumed in the U.S. each year.  Not too surprising really, everything from heating and air conditioning to lighting.  But planners, builders and such now have more ways than ever to reduce that level of gluttony.  Call it what you want, green building orsustainable building practices.  But what it really comes down to is building smarter.

A Columbia business has used that building smarter concept in a big way.  The result is the OHM office building which opened late last year just off Vandiver Drive near Highway 63.  OHM is working toward being the most energy efficient building in town.

[KBIA]