Surprise! Michigan is ranked in the top 13 states for energy-efficient buildings. The list of organizations, foundations and educational institutions promoting a greener Mitten State seems to grow by the day and Washtenaw County is a vital part of that equation. From LEED buildings to the solar panel intiatives on Ann Arbor's Farmer's Market and Ypsilanti's city hall to
Greenhills School's rooftop wind turbine, to
A3C's state-of-the-art 'green' renovation in the heart of downtown, the Ann Arbor area is tightening its green belt and looking healthier for it.
By: Concentrate Staff, 9/8/2010
Recycle. Buy a Prius. Now what? It's not easy being green. But it's what all the cool cities are doing. For our next Speaker Series Event, Concentrate features green-minded professionals who'll talk about the practices and policies that can assist and hinder our
community's ability to establish a more sustainable future. Find out what you can do to go green. Sign up now for our September 30th event.
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By: Concentrate Staff, 12/9/2009
With all the talk of going green and clean, just how sustainable is the Ann Arbor area getting? Since Concentrate launched in April of 2008 we've run across a growing number of businesses, leaders, and initiatives that are trying to nudge Michigan's economy and lifestyle toward the greener end of the spectrum. This week we round up evidence that our region is doing its part.
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By: Jon Zemke, 5/12/2009
Ann Arbor touts itself as sustainable, progressive and anti-sprawl. And yet almost every proposed development meets heated opposition. The end result: Buildings that aren't as dense or green as they could be. Are uncooperative developers to blame? Or stuck in amber NIMBY neighborhoods? Can these warring factions make peace?
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By: Amy Whitesall, 7/30/2008
Whether it's cash or conscience, more and more people are going green when it comes to their homes. Meet the Grocoffs and the Chockleys, two local families that reconsidered the inconvenient truth of personal energy consumption and did something about it. Something really big.
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By: Jon Zemke, 4/30/2008
Green construction may be all the rage but the truth is very few buildings actually achieve a smaller carbon footprint. And then there's the Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative (A3C). Retrofitting an 80+ year old storefront in downtown, the 25 year-old firm has spared no detail in its quest to create a model for urban sustainability.
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By: Jon Zemke, 2/7/2008
Basho said, "Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home." Some Metro Detroiters are taking those words to heart and making their house the adventure.
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By: Kelli B Kavanaugh, 11/15/2007
If the thought of plummeting temps and skyrocketing heating costs make you want to bury your head in the sand, maybe you should dig a little deeper and start drilling for energy. Geothermal heating systems have long been touted for their "green" benefits. Who knew its supporters were referring to cold hard cash?
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