Business owners, government officials, fleet managers and others interested in learning how to save money through efficient energy use can register online beginning today for the 3rdAnnual Oakland County OakGreen Summit.
The event is set for May 16 from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Oakland Schools, 2111 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. Registration is $35 and includes a continental breakfast and gourmet box lunch. To register for the summit, go to http://www.oakgov.com/oakgreen/events/summit.html
The theme for this year’s summit is “Buildings & Transportation.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, buildings consume 39 percent of energy used in the United States while transportation uses 28 percent. The summit includes sessions on energy efficiency in buildings and transportation.
“Energy conservation should be foremost on everyone’s minds these days as fuel prices continue to rise,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. “The more energy efficient we become as business owners homeowners and individuals, the more money ends up in our pockets and the less dependent we become on others for our energy needs. This is a no-brainer.”
A highlight of the Summit is the announcement that three local schools have been chosen as the top environmentally conscious schools in the county. Each of the three schools will be awarded the OakGreen Green School Award by Patterson and Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch, Oakland Schools superintendent. About 185 K-12 schools are vying for the Oakland County Green School awards.
The luncheon keynote speaker is Sean Conway, director of vehicle development, for Bright Automotive. Bright Automotive is a hybrid vehicle manufacturing and services company that specializes in green fleet vehicles. The company recently moved its headquarters from Anderson, Ind., to Rochester Hills. It is expected to create 200 jobs.
Topics for the summit include:
- Renewables: Local Planning and Zoning Issues
- Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Readiness and Green Fleet Management
- Adopting/Enforcing Local Building Energy Codes in Michigan
- Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in Southeast Michigan
- The Feasibility of Multiple-Building Geothermal Utility System
An update will also be given on the OakGreen Challenge, which Patterson issued in 2010 to local businesses and residents in an effort to have them reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent by 2012.
Click here to be introduced to Oakland County OakGreen
Source: Oakland County Michigan