Marquette's Complete Streets Pedals Forward

The Complete Streets Coalition is a collaborative effort throughout Michigan of like-minded organizations such as the League of Michigan Bicyclists, Michigan Environmental Council, AARP and many others—including our very own Michigan Energy Options. The coalition has been hard at work within Michigan helping to pass legislature such as the Livable Communities Act of 2009 as well as encouraging many communities throughout Michigan to adopt Complete Streets as a standard for future and existing development.

CFL Recycling Program Brings

Energy Efficiency Full CIrcle

Michigan Energy Options has nearly completed setting up 200 new Compact Fluorescent Light bulb (CFL) Recycling sites in almost every corner of the state through a program funded by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

This program follows in the steps of Change A Light, Change Michigan where MEO distributed nearly a million CFLs from 2008 through 2010 at a discounted rate.  While CFLs do wonders for conserving energy and reducing bills, they contain a small amount of mercury (a neurotoxin) and need to be disposed of properly at the end of their usable life.

DELEG Adds Appliances Eligible for Rebates

in the Michigan Appliance Trade Up Program

Program saves energy, spurs economic growth and job creation.

Contact: Mario Morrow 517.373.9280

July 30, 2010 – The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) will offer rebates through the Michigan Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (MEEARP) for additional eligible appliances purchased beginning August 1. MEEARP – also known as the Michigan Appliance Trade Up program – offers financial incentives for consumers to update their appliances with new models that exceed ENERGY STAR standards.

MEEARP, launched in February 2010, was created to spur economic growth, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging Michigan residents to replace older appliances. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), is designed to grow the market for energy efficient products by providing rebates for appliances that exceed ENERGY STAR standards. To date DELEG has issued approximately 62,000 rebates to Michigan residents.

City Streets of Green

BY BECKY JO FARRINGTON
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION MANAGER

Eleven kids from Lansing each received a new mountain bike from Riverfront Cycle as part of a program that had them learning about — and practicing their own — “Green Transportation.” The program is called GET City and stands for “Green Energy Technology” in the City. It is a  partnership between Michigan State University, the Lansing Boys and Girl’s Club and Michigan Energy Options. The program gets funding through the National Science Foundation.

For a week in June, the kids were at Michigan State University to learn and meet local experts in the field of green transportation; interview the public on the topic; and capture digital images to create educational videos about green transportation in Lansing.