Ann Arbor DDA green program makes businesses more sustainable

Green has several meanings in downtown Ann Arbor, and the city’s DDA is out to promote both in local businesses.Excerpt:About 50 businesses were approved by an Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority committee today to enter the second year of a program designed to bolster the energy efficiency of downtown buildings.The businesses, large and small, represent about 560,000 square feet in downtown Ann Arbor — roughly 200,000 square feet more than last year, when the DDA launched its Downtown Energy Saving Grant Program and had 40 downtown businesses participate. Susan Pollay, executive director of the DDA, says the program has clear environmental benefits.”More importantly, this is about saving money,” she said. “If we can get our businesses and our building owners to rein in some of their overhead costs, some of their energy costs, that may be some of what helps to keep them going. … This is absolutely about helping businesses and building owners get through this tough time.”Read the rest of the story here.