MEECA’s 3rd Annual Summer Golf Outing — Registration is now open!
The Michigan winter is almost… nearly… over. And that means time to hit the links!
For the third straight year, MEECA members and supporters will gather on July 10, 2019 at Hawk Hollow Championship Golf Course in Bath. The number of golfers for this event—which is headlined by Double Eagle Title Sponsor DNV GL—has grown steadily. Our 2019 goal is to field thirty foursomes.
Everyone is welcome to participate. The modified scramble format will accommodate players (and non-players) of all skill levels. And once again we will celebrate in the clubhouse with an afternoon networking reception and awards.
So, be sure to visit the 2019 MEECA Summer Golf Outing registration page soon to purchase your tickets and check out the variety of sponsorships available to highlight your company.
See you bright and early at Hawk Hollow on Wednesday, July 10th!
EE in the News
Winners Circle
Battle of the Buildings: 2018 Biggest Winners Losers Announced!
The 2019 Michigan Energy Summit celebrated the 2018 Michigan Battle of the Buildings ‘biggest losers’ and welcomed the new 2019 competitors. The event, held in Grand Rapids on April 25, 2019, brought together building owners and operators from across Michigan to share various approaches to reduce energy consumption and implement clean energy technology. Keynote speaker Majora Carter highlighted equitable development and inspired summit guests with insightful and timely solutions to urban revitalization. To see the full list of this year’s winners and view a short video, click here.
Consumers Energy and General Motors win 2019 ENERGY STAR Award
Each year, EPA recognizes small and large companies from across the country that have achieved noteworthy energy savings. Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about this year’s awardees.
Contractor Tools & Training
New online portal for finding clean, locally produced EE products
A recently launched database, Building Clean, is designed to help architects and designers, consumers, contractors and developers, and manufacturers find American-made, healthy building materials and other products to help them capture the benefits of energy efficiency retrofits—including lower utility bills, improved tenant health and increased economic development. The database covers products in five sectors: Building Shell, HVAC, Appliances, Lighting and Water. It provides resources on locating building products—including those made right here in Michigan—that do not contain harmful chemicals that affect the health of workers and occupants, as well as proper safety procedures.
As stated on the project website, this tool is an initiative of the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation in partnership with other organizations.
PACE Contractor Trainings, now available online
Want to become a PACE Certified energy contractor, or re-certify with the latest updates in the Michigan PACE market? Lean & Green Michigan’s PACE Contractor Training service is now available online. It includes a convenient, three-part webinar series and short multiple choice quiz. Certified contractors will be listed on the Lean & Green Michigan website.
To register for this online training, follow this link.
U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Office
The U.S. DOE’s BTO is offering up to $47 million for 2019 Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT), or early-stage R&D in flexible building technologies; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and solid-state lighting. The BENEFIT FOA intends to fund high-impact, early-stage research to enable innovations that will improve energy productivity, improve flexibility, security and resiliency, and lower energy costs. BTO will select projects from three topic areas: (1) Flexible Building Technologies, (2) Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technologies, and (3) Solid-state Lighting (SSL) Technologies.
More information, submittal requirements, and instructions for applying to this funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0002090) can be found on the EERE Funding Opportunity Exchange website. Submittal deadlines are May 21, 2019 for concept papers and July 15, 2019 for full applications. Questions about this FOA may be sent to BENEFIT-FOA0002090@netl.doe.gov
MEECA Member Update: Walker-Miller Energy Services Announces New HQ
As reported in Crain’s Detroit, Walker-Miller Energy Services recently held a ribbon-cutting celebration for its new Detroit headquarters. Called “The Emerald Corner,” the two-story mid-century modern is located in New Center at 8045 2nd Avenue, five blocks from the Fisher Theatre. The move consolidates the company’s metro Detroit team at one location. The 31,000 sqft. facility underwent a basic $500,000 renovation and now includes eight EV charging station. A more complete renovation is planned to achieve a zero net energy commercial building. Read the full article.
Energy Efficiency Focus on Low-income Customers
As some Michigan cities develop climate action plans, one concern is being sure to include low-income households in efforts such as energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions. In a recent story, Michigan Radio describes one resident whose leaky house forced her to bundle up during winter to stay warm, and struggling to pay summer energy bills during the hottest weather.
On this same topic, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) surveyed 32 efficiency programs across the U.S. and found that these saved more than $100 million in utility bills for low-income residents of multi-family buildings. This is especially important given that the most affordable apartments are often older and in need of repairs, and therefore less efficient. The report can be found online: Closing the Gap in Energy Efficiency for Affordable Multifamily Housing.
Michigan has more clean energy jobs than any other Midwest state
Michigan Radio reports on an updated analysis of clean energy jobs in the Midwest. According to the study, Michigan leads the region with over 125,000 jobs, about 65 percent of which are in the sector defined as energy efficiency—a growth of four percent from 2017 to 2018. Other sectors include advanced transportation, renewable energy generation, advanced grid, and clean fuels. Click here to access the news story.
New Member
When WMGB Home Improvement first opened in 1984, we set out with the mission to provide exemplary home remodeling in Grand Rapids MI and the surrounding areas. Today as WMGB Home Improvement, we’ve expanded our services and have enjoyed more than 30 years of success in our commitment to our customers. Initially starting out providing residents with glass block basement windows, we’ve since then expanded to home insulation, egress window systems, replacement windows, and much more in Holland MI and Lansing.
Renewing Members
Building Performance Solutions is a home and building performance and weatherization retrofit company located in Warren, Michigan. We specialize in diagnosing and fixing the root causes of reoccurring symptoms within homes and buildings. Using diagnostic equipment like infrared and blower door testing, we find the true source of the problem. Once we identify the real source, we then develop a solution and keep the problem from returning.
Slipstream creates, tests, delivers and scales the next generation of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that move us farther, faster toward a clean energy economy. Slipstream partners with utilities, local and state governments, regulatory agencies and other organizations to inspire new solutions to big energy challenges. With 39 years of experience demonstrating “what’s next” in programs and technologies, Slipstream is an established and trusted trailblazer in the industry.
Public Policy Update
State Government Reorganization
The Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) has been reassigned into the new Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The Michigan Energy Office, which was part of MAE, and MAE’s External Affairs team both move over to the new EGLE department. As stated in the official press release, the Michigan Energy Office’s current funding incentives, including sponsorships, rebates, grants, and loans for energy-related projects, will remain in place for the near future.
