2009 – Page 4 of 98 – Concentrate

Ypsi goes solar this summer

By Newsroom

●

December 9, 2009

Dave Strenski is on a solar installation binge in Ypsilanti this summer.Excerpt:An environmentally conscious person might change a couple of habits to do their part for the environment. Recycle, instead of throwing paper in the trash or bike instead of driving.But how about installing solar panels to a house or better yet, a historic building in the city? Think that’s going a little above and beyond? Tell that to Ypsilanti resident Dave Strenski.The applications analyst at Cray Inc. makes high performance computers at his day job, and then leaves to install solar panels on historic buildings in Ypsilanti.So far, Strenski has installed 12 panels on the rooftop at the Ypsilanti Food Cooperative and has two other projects in the works. Strenski says solar panels on the back of City Hall and on the rooftop of the Food Co-op’s River Street Bakery will be completed by the end of the summer. Read the rest of the story here.

Solar may become Michigan’s most vibrant renewable energy sector

By Newsroom

●

In The News

●

December 9, 2009

Solar is the new black when it comes to alternative energy sources in Michigan. And Ann Arbor is at the center of development.Excerpt:Michigan is bucking its cloudy heritage to become a national leader in solar energy research and manufacturing.The state - boosted by a $19.5 million influx in federal research dollars to the University of Michigan - is quietly assembling a makeshift solar energy supply chain from research to commercialization.The U-M project and a $12.5 million project at Michigan State University mark the latest in a series of encouraging developments for Michigan's solar energy industry, which can now plausibly stake a claim as the state's most vibrant renewable energy sector.Read the rest of the story here and about Ann Arbor's solar seminars here.

Local alt energy, conservation score headlines in 2009 (read about ’em below)

By Newsroom

●

General

●

December 9, 2009

Alternative energy and conserving energy continue to play a major role in Ann Arbor's green reputation. It's downtown LED lighting, solar initiatives and research into alternative energy continue to make headlines around the world. We've rounded up 5 stories in other publications --local and national-- recognizing our efforts to go 'green.'Green Promise seen in A2's switch to LED lighting http://concentratemedia.com/inthenews/annarborledlights0059.aspx U-M to tap Detroit River's current to create energy http://concentratemedia.com/inthenews/umenergydetroitriver0040.aspx Solar may become Michigan's most vibrant renewable energy sector http://concentratemedia.com/inthenews/solarpowerannarbor0055.aspx Ypsi goes solar this summer http://concentratemedia.com/inthenews/solarypsilanti0063.aspx General Electric's wind energy center could fuel Michigan's alternative-energy-based revival http://concentratemedia.com/inthenews/michiganaltenergyfuture0063.aspx

U-M to tap Detroit River’s current to create energy

By Newsroom

●

Entrepreneurship

●

December 9, 2009

The University of Michigan is finding energy in the most unlikely of places, namely the bottom of the Detroit River.Excerpt:In the eerie green glow of flashing lasers in a darkened University of Michigan lab, a cylinder on springs moves methodically up and down in a giant tank as water flows over it, simulating a stream.Whirligigs of illuminated particles form as the water pours over and under the cylinder in rhythmic patterns.It looks simple, but it's revolutionary. This is VIVACE, a device to harness energy in slow-moving water currents across the globe and turn it into electricity.VIVACE, which mimics the way fish swim in currents, is to debut next year in the Detroit River, powering the light for a new wharf between Hart Plaza and the Renaissance Center."Everybody is excited by this," said Mike Bernitsas, director of the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory at the University of Michigan and inventor of the device.Read the rest of the story here.

Green Promise seen in A2’s switch to LED lighting

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 9, 2009

Ann Arbor is at the top of the list when it comes to worldwide recognition for pushing the environmental envelope with LED lights.Excerpt:To change the bulbs in the 60-foot-high ceiling lights of Buckingham Palace’s grand stairwell, workers had to erect scaffolding and cover precious portraits of royal forebears.So when a lighting designer two years ago proposed installing light emitting diodes or LEDs, an emerging lighting technology, the royal family readily assented. The new lights, the designer said, would last more than 22 years and enormously reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions — a big plus for Prince Charles, an ardent environmentalist. Since then, the palace has installed the lighting in chandeliers and on the exterior, where illuminating the entire facade uses less electricity than running an electric teakettle.In shifting to LED lighting, the palace is part of a small but fast-growing trend that is redefining the century-old conception of lighting, replacing energy-wasting disposable bulbs with efficient fixtures that are often semi-permanent, like those used in plumbing. Studies suggest that a complete conversion to the lights could decrease carbon dioxide emissions from electric power use for lighting by up to 50 percent in just over 20 years; in the United States, lighting accounts for about 6 percent of all energy use. A recent report by McKinsey & Company cited conversion to LED lighting as potentially the most cost effective of a number of simple approaches to tackling global warming using existing technology.LED lighting was once relegated to basketball scoreboards, cellphone consoles, traffic lights and colored Christmas lights. But as a result of rapid developments in the technology, it is now poised to become common on streets and in buildings, as well as in homes and offices. Some American cities, including Ann Arbor, Mich., and Raleigh, N.C., are using the lights to illuminate streets and parking garages, and dozens more are exploring the technology. And the lighting now adorns the conference rooms and bars of some Renaissance hotels, a corridor in the Pentagon and a new green building at Stanford.Read the rest of the story here.

Schoolpictures.com moves into new Ypsilanti home

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

December 9, 2009

All roads lead to Ypsilanti, at least they do for Schoolpictures.com. And the web-based start-up is coming toward the end of a long road now that it is moving into its new headquarters next to Eastern Michigan University."We are moving," says Skip Cerier, president of SchoolPictures.com. "We are in the process of packing."Schoolpictures.com took over the old Ave Maria University campus, turning the old elementary school into a silver LEED building. The renovated structures will house 41 people in about 21,000 square feet of space. "We took a 60-year-old building that easily could have been bulldozed," Cerier says. "We're saving millions of BTUs by saving this building."He's not only saving it but planning to expand it. While renovating the campus' main building, he built in enough support to add a second level. That is meant to facilitate the growth spurt Cerier expects his firm to go through in the near future."I did that anticipating growth because I don't want to move again," Cerier says.With that in mind, Schoolpictures.com is taking a long-term view with the renovation project through a combination of recycling, energy efficiency and alternative energy practices. For instance, construction workers recycled 78 percent of the debris from the project. Cerier also put in a number of energy efficiency extras, such as special blinds that significantly up the R-value of the windows. The firm is also installing green roofs on the two main buildings and renovating a 1864 Victorian home into a place for meetings and to entertain potential clients. A large wind turbine could also be in the building’s future next year.Source: Skip Cerier, president of SchoolPictures.comWriter: Jon Zemke

Greenhills School breaks ground on $3M expansion

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 9, 2009

Starting today, Greenhills School is going for the gold when it comes to the greener-than-thou game with its latest renovation/expansion project. The prestigious school is going for LEED Gold Certification, the second highest ranking in the system. Chief among its green attributes are a geothermal heating-and-cooling system."What better place to do that than in a school," Peter Fayorian, head of Greenhills School. "We prepare people to make the world a better place."The private school near Geddes Road and U.S. 23 is adding about 10,000 square feet of new classroom and lab space to the rear of the main building. It will also renovate about 40 percent of the existing school. The whole project is expected to cost about $6 million with the first phase costing $3 million.Phase I will provide two new biology labs, a greenhouse, a college counseling center and three new classrooms. The second and third phases will include new space for the school's chemistry, physics and middle school science programs, along with other renovations and additions.Construction is expected to wrap up by December. The remaining phases will be completed as the funding is raised. The school was founded in 1968 as an independent, co-ed, non-denomination college preparatory school. It serves students in grades 6-12 from the Ann Arbor area. Enrollment is set at about 539 students. The addition will allow for an increase in enrollment of up to almost 100 students.Source: Peter Fayorian, head of Greenhills SchoolWriter: Jon Zemke

The politics of dirt in downtown Ann Arbor

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 9, 2009

Where to put the dirt? It's a question that's starting to vex downtown Ann Arbor officials as they prep to begin digging one big hole in the ground.The hole is for the Library Lot underground parking deck next to the Ann Arbor District Library. The city has started on some of the work to build a XXX-car parking garage underneath a surface parking lot next on Fourth Street and replacing some of the surrounding infrastructure, such as sewer and water lines. But the big hole for all of those cars is coming later this year. That means an acre of earth four stories deep has to go somewhere."We're talking about a mountain of dirt," says Susan Pollay, executive director of Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.That dirt is a combination of sand and gravel that comes free of pollutants. A little of it will be mixed into the concrete for the parking deck, but there will still be many, many tons that need a home sooner rather than later.The Ann Arbor Airport was a possible location in need of dirt. The expansion project there left a big hole in the ground, but Pollay says the airport wants to use it as a water retention pond. The city's park system was another candidate, but Pollay says the Parks Department claims they don't need much, if any, dirt in the near term, despite the landscaping work slated for West Park."We're back to square one," Pollay says, adding that city officials wants to keep the dirt closer to home to make the project more sustainable.The parking deck is one of the most ambitious projects in the downtown. Most parking garages in the city's center have been built entirely above ground with the occasional parking deck that has an underground floor or two above several floors of parking above grade. This parking deck is expected to open up space for development above it. Ideas that have been floated include a convention center, hotel, green space or combination of those and more.Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

More and more projects go green through LEED (read about ’em below)

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

December 9, 2009

Any big project that took a step forward had lots of green features. It's almost like a project needed the words LEED to get someone to stamp OK on it. It was just one indicator --along with recycling and alternative commuting-- of how sustainability is a fad that's here to stay. In this week's development news you'll find five stories from the past year that point to a leaner, greener Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Ann Arbor looks at creating one big river of recyclingThe politics of dirt in downtown Ann ArborSchoolpictures.com moves into new Ypsilanti homeDowntown Ann Arbor employers step up for Commuter ChallengeGreenhills School breaks ground on $3M expansion

Ann Arbor looks at creating one big river of recycling

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

December 9, 2009

The first lesson with recycling is the need to separate. Metal goes in this bin. Clear glass over there. Green glass right here. Plastics 1-2 in the big bin. Don't, repeat, don't mix and match.Ann Arbor residents could be throwing that lesson out soon. The city is looking at switching to a single-stream, or fully commingled, recycling effort. That means resident would no longer have to put paper products in the paper bin and everything else in the other bin. It would all go in the same box on the curb each week.Among the incentives for going single stream are making it easier for residents to use, meaning more is recycled, expansion of the recycling list and reduced logistical costs. However, there are some downsides, such as increased sorting costs. Among the other cities that use single-stream recycling are Austin, Texas and Baltimore. "The technology has improved significantly over the years as far as sorting materials," says Tom McMurtrie, recycling coordinator for the city of Ann Arbor. The city would invest $3.5 million into upgrades at its recycling facility to accommodate this transition. The staff levels would stay the same with machines handling the extra sorting. The switch would also require new recycling containers, costing $1.3 million. Gone will be the green and brown bins. Replacing them will be one large container for all recycling, which now includes all plastic products except No. 3 plastics. Each of these containers will come with a bar code as part of the Recycle Bank system, which rewards recyclers with coupons and prizes in proportion to how much they recycle. This systems has helped up recycling efforts in both Rochester Hills and Westland. The time line for the transition is expected to stretch into next summer. The City Council is expected to begin approving the switch in November so it can be implemented by July, 2010. Source: Tom McMurtrie, recycling coordinator for the city of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke