On the weekend of June 24th and 25th, the Ingham County Fairgrounds will be used for its original purpose, to showcase innovations and achievements in local agriculture. The 16th annual Michigan Energy Fairin Mason welcomes individuals and families to experience 100 exhibits, food, music and two new features including the Sustainable Living Summit and the Emergency Preparedness Expo.
Kirk Heinze, host of Greening of the Great Lakes, meets with Douglas Elbinger, energy systems analyst for Newman Consulting Group of Farmington Hills and volunteer coordinator for the Sustainable Living Summit, to gain an understanding of the event and its new attractions.
“It’s an educational event,” he explains. “It’s a fun thing to do because you’re going to learn a lot of stuff, meet lots of new people, and meet experts in different fields that will give you insight on what you can do to improve your energy footprint and sustainable lifestyle.”
The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, who produces the Michigan Energy Fair, started 25 years ago as a non-profit organization for individuals with a strong interest in renewable energy and energy conservation. Today, the fair is expected to bring in between three and five thousand people seeking education and information on geothermal, solar, and wind energy, social responsibility, sustainable agriculture and other technology breakthroughs.
Exhibitors will include leading authorities in environmental preservation such as Ingham County Drain Commissioner and water conservationist, Patrick Lindemann, agronomist, Ron Deutsch, and Jim Newman, a leader in green building.
“You’re going to learn a lot on what you can do to improve your energy footprint and sustainable lifestyle.”
“All of this is really going to focus around Michigan people, Michigan innovation, Michigan jobs and what’s happening here in the Great Lakes State,” says Elbinger.
He mentions the state of Michigan as a leader in the green movement.
Elbinger points out, “This is just a natural evolution of what has been happening, and between Michigan State and Ingham Country, has always been a world leader in agricultural innovation, and you’re going to see a lot more of it happening in the near future.”
Apart from the exhibits, fairgoers can visit the Sustainable Living Summit focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency, and gain knowledge about survival during natural and manmade disasters at the Great Lakes Emergency Preparedness Expo.
Elbinger concludes the talk by reiterating the family friendly atmosphere of the fair. “It’s really a folksy, down to earth, grassroots, educational experience for the whole family.”
Click here to listen to the Heinze/Elbinger conversation and learn more about the Energy Fair.
