On December 7, 2012, the Michigan Solid-State Lighting Association (MSSLA) 2012 Symposium was held at NextEnergy Center with Paula Wheeler, MSSLA President providing a genuine welcome. The introduction for the Symposium was given by Doug Smith, Senior Vice President of Business and Community Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation who framed the significance of LED within community and economic development.
Dr. Jack Curran, President, LED Transformations, LLC on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy provided the audience with parameters and standards for LED lighting, noting that LED is part of the semiconductor world and subject to change. As the supervisor of Grosse Ile Township, Brian Lotus gave insight on how to get municipalities to retrofit in the area of lighting and change the way they illuminate their lives. The need of a strategy to utilize LED lighting was highlighted with information on the importance of TIR and Refractive Optics. The audience learned that TIR provides light repeatability and low cost elements that can steer the LED light into the desired beam while Refractive Optics is best used when uplight is an advantage.
The nuts and bolts of calculating return on investment (ROI) was given by Justin Palm, President of Lumerica through identifying classifications for the cost and savings side while reminding that amortization does not include increased utility rates thereby, providing increased return on investment. Michigan Saves is a nonprofit established in 2009 by a grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission. In September 2011 the organization became independent and since awarded grants from State of Michigan Agencies and the U.S. Department of Energy. To support Michigan Saves’ call to action to increase the number of Michigan Saves Authorize Contractors for the Business Energy Financing Program the $50.00 application fee is waived until January 2013. As part of the application, applicants must attend a 1.5 hours webinar training business energy financing given every other Thursday with a webinar available on December 13, 2012. It is important to increase the number of Michigan Saves Authorized Contractors for the Business Energy Financing Program because this is the only way businesses can get the offer of affordable financing for energy-efficiency and renewable energy. Contractors are welcome to take the webinar and then send in application. For further information click here or contact Todd O’Grady at 248-701-3058.
The turn out for the MSSLA 2012 Symposium was very well attended by contractors, manufacturers, elected officials, architects, and civil servants where the attendees networked while eating healthy Middle Eastern cuisine during lunch. The MSSLA received good response to the content of the Symposium according to the MSSLA Vice President Justin Palm, and they look forward to coordinating future symposiums during the first week in December at NextEnergy Center.
Author: Michelle Abd’Elaziz, Reporter on Urban Planning, representing GreeningDetroit.com
