CEC: A Leader in Municipal Energy Planning

Clean Energy Coalition is one of four Michigan non-profits to receive a grant to provide Technical Assistance to  municipalities awarded funding through the State of Michigan's EECBG program. These communities are considered "non-entitlement," meaning that they are cities and townships with a population of less than 35,000 or a county with a population less than 200,000.

CEC is providing assistance to over 30% of the communities that received these grants. In recent years, Michigan's non-entitlement communities have struggled due to the ongoing erosion of jobs and taxable property values. As a result, the municipalities have escalated a pattern of disinvestment, with energy-related facility improvements, planning efforts, and community outreach initiatives largely reflecting short term and pressing needs.

The goal of the project is to provide key technical assistance and outreach to municipalities. CEC is accomplishing this by: offering help to local government subgrantees in developing energy efficiency and conservation policies, programs, and project implementation; enhancing information gathering on Michigan's EECBG-funded projects and to exchange best practices and outcomes among subgrantees and the state; and leveraging additional resources and funding for energy efficiency and conservation efforts in Michigan through partnerships and collaboration at a regional level.

An important goal for the State of Michigan is for CEC to encourage participating municipalities to plan for continued energy efficiency and conservation projects beyond the grant period. While it is hoped that funding for EECBG will continue, this is by no means guaranteed. With this in mind, current EECBG funding needs to be used strategically and wisely; by establishing a "municipal clean energy financial plan," municipalities can yield a longer term return on their investment.

CEC is extremely interested in developing long-term partnerships to further our mission of "promoting clean energy technologies as a way to create healthier, energy independent communities."

For questions or to get involved, please contact CEC Project Manager Bonnie Bona.

Learn & Connect: Upcoming Events

The next Ann Arbor Clean Cities meeting is scheduled from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm on Wednesday, July 28 in the Community Room of the Ypsilanti Public Library - Whittaker Road Branch, Ypsilanti, MI (map). Guest speakers include John Kargul from the U.S. EPA, Tom Gibbons from the City of Ann Arbor, and Brad Fraley from Eaton.

The meeting is free thanks to the generous sponsorship of Tom Fredrickson of Fredrickson Supply Company LLC; coffee and bagels will be provided. To ensure an accurate head count and reserve your place at the table, email your RSVP to Lisa Warshaw by July 23.

The next Rebuild Ypsilanti meeting is scheduled from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm on Thursday, August 26 in the Community Room of the Ypsilanti Public Library - Whittaker Road Branch. The meeting will feature speakers on solar electric, solar thermal, and DTE's SolarCurrents program.

The meeting is free; coffee and bagels will be provided. To ensure an accurate head count and reserve your place at the table, email your RSVP to Joshua Brugeman.

Energy Efficiency Gets 'Hopping' @ Arbor Brewing Co.

The Energy Outlet is working with downtown Ann Arbor’s Arbor Brewing Company (ABC) to create a more energy efficient restaurant and brewery. Funded in part by the Ann Arbor DDA’s Downtown Energy Saving Grant Program, ABC is implementing energy saving recommendations provided by the DDA’s commercial energy audit.

Taking advantage of opportunities to reduce their energy consumption through efficient lighting, reduction in hot water demand, and replacement of old, inefficient appliances, ABC is using the Energy Outlet’s expertise and buying power to make their retrofitting process simpler, quicker, and with higher quality, vetted products and contractors.

The Energy Outlet provides energy efficiency implementation services for commercial clients, like ABC, who are ready to reduce their utility bills and increase their bottom line. For more information, call Deb Heed at 734-483-9000 or email deb@cec-mi.org.

Newsletter Sponsor

Officially incorporated in 1998, Google was developed and founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin as a research project at Stanford University. The company's name "reflects the immense volume of information that exists."

Google provides a grant program that allows nonprofit organizations - like Clean Energy Coalition - the opportunity to promote their websites and programs through advertising on Google. Google AdWords ads appear next to search results, allowing you to influence "an audience that's already interested in you."

For more information on Google, please visit their website.

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Energy Tips

According to the State of Michigan's Bureau of Energy Systems (BES), small businesses can save between 10-50% on their energy bills with several low- and no-cost solutions. If your office hasn't created an Energy Reduction Plan, you may be spending more money on energy costs than you need to.

*Turn off equipment. Running a computer for only 9 hours per day saves about $50/year. Running a large copier for 9 hours per day - instead of 24 hours - saves almost $500/year.

*Consider sensors. Occupancy sensors lead to energy savings of up to 75%. Conference rooms, rest rooms, and storage areas are considered ideal locations to install an occupancy sensor.

*Service your HVAC system. Semi-annual service to an organization's HVAC system is often overlooked. Cleaning and inspecting ducts, transfer coils, and filters is important for health, safety, and efficiency.

*Calculate your improvement costs. Calculate the simple payback of an improvement by dividing the installed cost of an improvement by the annual energy savings. A project with a simple payback of less than 18 months should be implemented immediately.

To learn more, download the Small Business Guide to Energy Efficiency on DELEG's website.

 
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