Michigan Energy News
Filed under: Energy, Environmental, Green Building and Remodeling
RETAP (Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program), a free and confidential service, is
looking for ~75 organizations to receive energy assessments that will help them
reduce their facility energy costs. Businesses with 500 or fewer full-time
employees, institutions, schools, universities, and nonprofits are eligible,
but must own their facility, have annual utility expenses of $15,000 or more,
and floor space of 20,000 square feet or more. If interested, contact: David
Herb, Michigan DEQ at 517-241-8176 or herbd@michigan.gov.
Michigan jumped from 27th to 17th in state rankings by the American Council for
an Energy-Efficient Economy. Michigan improved its energy efficiency ranking
more than any other state in the past year. A 2008 law requires utilities to
offer energy-saving programs and these programs cost 3 cents per kWh, while
building and fueling a new power plant costs 9 cents per kWh according to Marty
Kushler, ACEEE. http://www.freep.com/article/20111021/NEWS05/110210357/1001/news
Corner Brewery in Ann Arbor will have 144 solar panels on its roof. The panels, a hybrid type that
generates both electricity and hot water, are manufactured by Detroit-based
Power Panel. The brewery will get 100% of the heat needed for brewing from the
sun. The panels are expected to save about $6,800 in energy costs
annually. A good portion of the $150,000 project cost will be offset with
incentives from DTE and a 30% federal tax grant. The brewery is looking at an
11 to 12-year payback and hopes to cut energy bills by 30-50%. A separate, but
similar project will install 20 solar panels at the Arbor Brewing Company in
downtown Ann Arbor.
http://www.concentratemedia.com/devnews/cornerbrewery0166.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Ypsilanti’s+Corner+Brewery+to+heat+all+brewing+water+from+solar+power&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=Our+Tiny+Big+Stories
Consumers Energy’s Green Generation program is inviting Michigan high schools in its electric or
combination service territory to participate in a video contest showing their
school’s commitment to renewable energy. The grand prize entry will receive
$5,000 for their school, with smaller prizes for first, second and third place.
Videos can be submitted now through Nov. 15. www.greenscenescontest.com
The above are excerpts from the November 2011 issue of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association’s newsletter Great Lakes Energy News. Visit GLREA at http://glrea.org
For help with your home’s energy efficiency contact P & B Finishers.
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Update Your Home Safely with a Lead Safe Certified Remodeler
Filed under: Bathroom Remodeling, Doors, Home Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Lead Safety, Sunrooms, Windows
P & B Finishers is a Lead Safe Certified Firm
You’ve made the decision to finally remodel the outdated kitchen and living room of your home. But if you live in a house built before 1978, a new federal law regulating the removal of lead paint may affect your home remodeling project. In 1978, the use of lead paint was officially banned from residential construction. Before that, however, lead paint was used in more than 38 million homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
The Dangers of Lead Paint
During a renovation or remodel, dust from lead paint removal can fill the air and be breathed in or small children could ingest lead paint chips that fall from the wall. For young children, lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, hearing loss and behavior problems. In adults, lead poisoning can lead to hypertension and high blood pressure. Pregnant women run the risk of passing the poison on to their unborn child.
It is important that you find a remodeler who is trained in lead-safe work practices rather than try to do the work yourself. To ensure the safety of the home’s occupants, the EPA’s new regulation requires that any major renovation to homes built before 1978 must be performed by a certified remodeler or renovator.
What are Lead-Safe Work Practices?
EPA has a free brochure on its website called “Renovate Right” that provides guidance to home owners and contractors about the safe removal of lead paint. Your contractor should follow specific work practices, including these three simple procedures:
1. Contain the work area so that dust and debris do not escape. Warning signs should be put up and heavy-duty plastic and tape should be used to seal off doors and heating and cooling system vents and to cover the floors and any furniture that cannot be moved.
2. Minimize dust. There is no way to eliminate dust, but some paint removal methods create less dust than others. For example, using water to mist areas before sanding or scraping; scoring paint before separating components; and prying and pulling apart components instead of breaking them. Methods that generate large amounts of dust and should not be used include open flame burning or torching; sanding, grinding, planing, needle gunning, or blasting with power tools and equipment not equipped with a shroud and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum attachment; or using a heat gun at temperatures greater than 1100°F.
3. Clean up thoroughly. When all the work is done, and before taking down any plastic that isolates the work area from the rest of the home, the area should be cleaned up using special cleaning methods . These include using a HEPA vacuum to clean up dust and debris on all surfaces, followed by wet mopping with plenty of water.
How Do I Find a Certified Firm?
To become lead-safe certified the firm must submit an application to the EPA and complete a federal or state-administered eight-hour class with two hours of hands-on training.
To find a lead-safe certified contractor or firm near you visit EPA Certified Firm Locator.
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Lead Safe Certified Firms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2010
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that renovations and repairs of pre-1978 housing must now be conducted using safe practices to protect children and pregnant women from exposure to lead-based paint. Almost a million children have elevated blood lead levels as a result of exposure to lead hazards, which can lead to lower intelligence, learning disabilities, and behavior issues. Adults exposed to lead hazards can suffer from high blood pressure and headaches. Children under six years old are most at risk.http://www.epa.gov/lead. EPA has an 800 number to respond to inquiries about the new requirements: 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).
“Our lead-safe program will protect children and families from lead-based paint hazards associated with renovation and repair activities in houses built before 1978,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “This rule requires contractors to follow some simple and effective lead-safe work practices to prevent children’s exposure to dangerous levels of lead. Lead poisoning is completely preventable.”
EPA proposed the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which requires contractors to be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices, in 2006. In 2008, EPA finalized the rule and set April 22, 2010 as the implementation date. To date, EPA has certified 204 training providers who have conducted more than 6,900 courses, training an estimated 160,000 people in the construction and remodeling industries to use lead-safe work practices.
EPA will continue to provide support and assistance to states, industry and communities on all aspects of implementing this rule. Recognizing the large number of contractors and homes subject to the rule, EPA is increasing its outreach efforts and providing guidance to facilitate compliance and ease the transition period following the rule’s effective date. This guidance can be obtained at:
In addition to the rule becoming effective, EPA has issued three additional actions:
- A final rule to apply lead-safe work practices to all pre-1978 homes, effectively closing an exemption that was created in 2008. The rule will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
- A notice of proposed rulemaking to require dust-wipe testing after most renovations and provide the results of the testing to the owners and occupants of the building. For some of these renovations, the proposal would require that lead dust levels after the renovation be below the regulatory hazard standards. EPA will take comment on the proposal for 60 days. The agency expects to finalize the rule by July 2011.
- An advance notice of proposed rulemaking to announce EPA’s intention to apply lead-safe work practices to renovations on public and commercial buildings. The advance notice also announces EPA’s investigation into lead-based paint hazards that may be created by renovations on the interior of these public and commercial buildings. If EPA determines that lead-based paint hazards are created by interior renovations, EPA will propose regulations to address the hazards.
In addition, EPA is working with the Ad Council on a public-outreach campaign that will raise awareness among parents and caregivers of young children about the dangers of childhood lead poisoning from paint. EPA is jointly sponsoring the Ad Council campaign with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the non-profit Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. The campaign has developed a series of public service announcements in English and Spanish for use in radio, TV and print publications.
The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. If a home was built before 1978, there is a likelihood that it contains lead-based paint. The 2008 rule requires contractors working in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities to take the proper precautions to work lead-safe, including minimizing dust, containing the work area, and conducting a thorough cleanup to reduce the potential exposure associated with disturbing lead-based paint.http://www.epa.gov/lead
More information on the lead outreach campaign: http://www.leadfreekids.org
More information on the rule:
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Earth Day Celebration in Rochester, Michigan
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Michigan’s Largest Earth Day
Michigan’s Largest Earth Day event is being planned for April 23-25. The MI Earth Day Fest will welcome to downtown Rochester an anticipated audience of 100,000 people from around Michigan, eager to learn about green and healthy living. Businesses and organizations are invited to participate and gain the benefits of exposure, recognition, sales, community service, networking and association with this high-profile, family-friendly event’s Earth Day message. For information about sponsoring, exhibiting, presenting or volunteering, visit www.miearthday.com or contact Steve Rogge at steve@trigreen.biz or 248-535-9390.
P & B Finishers, Inc. is a Certified Green Professional
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8th Annual Renewable Energy Conference
8th Annual Renewable Energy Conference will be held on Saturday, March 20 at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. The conference is ideal for homeowners, renewable energy enthusiasts, and students who wish to learn something new and meet other individuals that are interested in promoting and using renewable and alternative energy technologies. This year’s keynote speaker, Pat Murphy, will present Beyond Sustainability – Surviving the Oil Depletion and Climate Change with Community Solutions’ Plan C. Attendees can choose from a variety of break-out sessions including Renewable Energy in Your Home, Food Security and Local Foods in Michigan, Peak Oil and the Future of Transportation, and Financing your Renewable Energy System. www.cedarcreekinstitute.org
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EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rule
If you think lead isn’t a serious issue, consider this: “In the City of Detroit, 6% of all children six years of age and younger tested in 2004 were identified to have lead poisoning.” (Detroit Department of Health and Wellness).
Only five chemicals have been documented to affect human brain development. Lead is one of them. Lead poisoning has especially serious effects on young children leading to developmental problems, learning disabilities and brain damage. The effects are often mostly irreversible. That is why these regulations are being implemented by EPA.
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
P & B Finishers has been certified in Lead Safe Work Practices since 2005. The certification was and still is required by HUD when renovation contractors work in federally funded housing that was built before 1978. P & B also recently completed the EPA required certification training. The certification through EPA will be required for ALL renovation contractors working in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities, and schools beginning April 22, 2010.
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Green Fair in Ann Arbor June 12
Ninth Annual Mayor’s Green Fair will be held in downtown Ann Arbor on Friday, June 12 from 6pm-9pm. With streets closed for this free event, all are welcome to learn about clean energy, green commuting, and biking. Live music and special youth activities will also be featured.
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PROFESSIONAL REMODELERS KEY TO EARNING ENERGY-EFFICIENCY TAX CREDITS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Building Industry Association of Southeast Michigan
Professional Remodelers
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WASHINGTON, date –Homeowners now can claim up to $1,500 in expanded energy-efficiency tax credits for remodeling their principal residence to reduce energy consumption. Available until the end of 2010, the revamped Existing Home Retrofit (25C) Tax Credit helps consumers save two ways: on their costs and on their utility bills.
“Remodelers can help find the best methods of saving energy in your home with an assessment, like a home energy audit,” explained NAHB Remodelers Chairman Greg Miedema, CGR, CGB, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Tucson, Ariz. “Tightening the house to reduce air leakage by adding insulation, fixing ducts, and installing a more efficient heating and air conditioning system can help save on energy bills today while also reducing next year’s tax bill.”
The expanded federal tax credit refunds 30 percent of the product replacement cost up to a total of $1,500. It can be used not only for HVAC systems, insulation and water heaters but also for windows and doors and insulation as long as the new products meet IRS qualifications. In some cases, installation costs may also be used to claim the tax credit.
Home energy audits can cost as little as $500, which remodelers say is an expense that pays for itself—and more—with savings from efficiency upgrades. And homeowners may be able to combine federal tax credits with local and regional incentives to maximize savings.
Here’s one example: Insulation improvements may be one of the easiest and most affordable ways to save on energy costs. Upgrading inefficient insulation (from R-19 to R-38) in the attic of a two-story, 2,000-square-foot Chicago home might cost around $1,000, but the tax credit brings that down to $700. Add that to Chicago’s MidAmerican Energy residential energy efficiency rebate program, which can return up to $600 spent on insulation or other energy-efficiency upgrades, and the cost drops to $100 – meaning a two-year payback period for the $51 estimated annual utility savings for this project.
Inspecting the ductwork, caulking and heating and cooling systems for possible upgrades or enhancements also help to provide additional energy savings, Miedema said.
Homeowners also can use the tax credit for heating and cooling components. For example, upgrading a standard 10-year-old air conditioner to today’s federal minimum 13-SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) model may cost about $5,500 in Phoenix, but does not qualify for the tax credit. Spending as little as $2,000 more for a higher-efficiency air-conditioner (such as 16-SEER) earns the homeowner the $1,500 energy-efficiency federal tax credit. Plus, the local power company provides a rebate starting at $425. With the tax credit and utility rebate, the cost difference can be paid back in a couple of years, while the homeowner may enjoy utility bills savings for years to come.
With the credit, tankless water heaters are comparable in cost to traditional gas water heaters, but last as long as 20 years and are 30 percent more efficient, according to Eugene Lamana, residential business manager at Rinnai, a manufacturer of tankless water heaters and other gas appliances based in Peachtree City, Ga. Savings depend on local energy prices, but home owners may also save with less frequent replacements. When the credit is included, homeowners can save $100 per year on their water heating expenses, he added. “These are just some examples of how the energy-efficiency tax credit helps consumers save money in making home improvements and cutting down utility bills,” said Miedema. “Homeowners should contact a professional remodeler near them for advice on installing tax credit-qualified improvements in their home.”
Homeowners can use an energy-savings simulation from the NAHB Research Center at http://energysim.toolbase.org to determine likely costs of upgrades and savings. Information on rebates from utility companies and other state and local government incentives is available at www.dsireusa.org.
In addition to expanding the 25C tax credit, the Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Fuel Cell (25D) Tax Credit for renewable energy products now provides larger incentives for installing geothermal heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters, small wind energy systems and fuel cells. Although the upfront costs are high for these products, the tax credit is 30 percent and there is no cap on their cost through 2016. Taxpayers can claim the credits on IRS Form 5695.
For more information about the tax credit, visit www.nahb.org/efficiencytaxcredit.
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For more information about remodeling, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.
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ABOUT NAHB REMODELERS: NAHB Remodelers is America’s home for professional remodelers, representing more than 20,000 remodeling industry members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Founded in 1982, the organization provides information, education and designation programs to improve the business and construction expertise of its members and to enhance the professional image of the industry. Its membership incorporates 145 local councils in 43 states. Learn more about remodeling at www.nahb.org/remodel.
ABOUT NAHB: The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing more than 200,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. Known as “the voice of the housing industry,” NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB’s builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units for 2009.
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New Product – Driveable Grass
Filed under: Environmental, Water retention, Water Runoff
Here’s one of the more interesting new products I’ve come across lately. It’s driveable grass. You read it right. Grass that’s designed to be driven on.
While I don’t think it would be broadly accepted in our area for a driveway, I can see it used on estate sized lots that need access to the rear of the home or in situations where driving across the lawn regularly occurrs. Situations like storing motor homes in the back yard or storing winter toys like snowmobiles in a backyard garage. Anywhere a stone or concrete driveway would be undesireable to the homeowners, this stuff would be awesome!
What a great idea! Check it out here: http://www.soilretention.com/
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