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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The Green Effect
“Green Building” and “Green Remodeling” are two fairly recent phrases in our industry. Actually being “green” is a little more difficult than including the phrase in the marketing campaigns.
P & B has been a Certified Green Professional for a couple of years now. What does that mean? It means we took the time to sit in classes and get at least some insight on what “Green” is all about. What it doesn’t mean is everything we do is bamboo or recycled or PVC free. Sometimes that’s neither possible or practical. What it does mean is that we care and we always have. It was pleasant to learn in the classes that we have practiced “Green” remodeling and building methods as long as we’ve been in business.
We care enough to question things. How are we effecting our environment by using this product? Are we doing the right thing? Is there a better way? Better product? Something considered not so green that is more efficient? Can I reuse this? Where does the waste go? Can this be recycled?
Sometimes materials considered green might not be so much. For instance, I’ve often wondered just how green bamboo really is when it has to be shipped from the other side of the globe. It does mature in about five years which makes it a wonderful product for building and remodeling but what about all the diesel it takes to get it here? Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it?
And that’s really what it’s all about. Thinking. Planning a project and running a business in a way that is less wasteful, consumptive and polluting. Having a “green” office…fairly paperless and efficient. Logistics…visiting job sites in a logical and efficient way. All of these things add to “The Green Effect”.
The single most important thing (in my opinion) is that the “greenest” house is one that’s already standing. Remodeling is, in and of itself, a green process. The resources in an existing home have already been used and may even have renewed. Changing a bathroom or kitchen might make more sense than building a new house. Even if your current home doesn’t meet today’s “green” standards for energy use, water consumption, etc., you’ll be hard pressed to honestly say it’s greener to build new than to remodel.
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