A conventional energy company is not the first business I would suspect of going green, so I was surprised to find out that DTE Energy is currently taking steps to do just that. On Tuesday, the energy giant announced plans to lessen its environmental footprint by converting its 800 diesel-fueled trucks and service vehicles to cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel. [ Read more ]
Have an older car that you wish could run on E85 instead of regular gasoline?
Thanks to Detroit-based Metropolitan Alternative Energy Incorporated, you no longer need that fancy FlexFuel badge to fill up with ethanol.
Instead, all you need to do is purchase one of Metropolitan Alternative Energy’s E85 conversion kits, which range from the mid-$200s to about $800. The conversion kits are available for everything from four-, six- and eight-cylinder autos to RVs, motorcycles and more. [ Read more ]
Over the past month, I’ve written a handful of posts on Ann Arbor’s aggressive goals to become a more environmentally friendly city. There was this one about A2’s switch to LED traffic lights, and this one about its goal for 5,000 solar roofs by 2015. Today, I’m reporting on the progressive city’s recent installation of a renewable-energy light demonstration on Packard at the entrance of Buhr Park. [ Read more ]
National Transportation Week is just around the corner, and you’d be hard-pressed to find an area with transit on the brain more than metro Detroit. There are plenty of events scheduled for this special week — which runs nationwide from May 11 - 18 — including “The Future of Transportation in Southeast Michigan”, a business breakfast in metro Detroit on Thursday, May 15.
Governor Granholm showed the state’s commitment to a greener Michigan last week when she announced that Michigan would join the the Climate Savers Computing Initiative - a program that calls for the utilization of more energy-efficient computers and servers in state offices and agencies.
A national effort led by Dell, EDS, Google, HP, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Pacific Gas and Electric and the World Wildlife Fund, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative aims to eliminate the wasted power and electricity that increases the emission of greenhouse gases by increasing energy efficiency through the use of more efficient computer equipment. [ Read more ]
Green is a movement. Green is a new way of living. And green is all over the internet. Here are 10 of our favorite sites that connect you to eco-friendly friends and resources that really matter.
1. Treehugger - There isn’t a better place to start than Treehugger. Dedicated to “driving sustainability mainstream,” Treehugger offers all the green networking and educational resources you could possibly need, including e-newsletters, audio and video podcasts, contests, and a very active forum where you can share your thoughts on new green products or stories about your personal sustainability struggles and successes. [ Read more ]
In an effort to fight hunger in Southeastern Michigan, Gleaners Community Food Bank and DTE Energy have come up with a cool idea: the two organizations are collaborating on a food bank that will use buffer land surrounding some electric facilities to grow vegetables. The first garden is being prepared for planting at DTE’s Carter Substation in Auburn Hills. Gleaners has recruited students from Pontiac’s Kennedy Center to tend the garden, which will be 4,500 square feet. [ Read more ]
Along with walkability, crime rates and school districts, possible homebuyers in Ann Arbor now have another factor to consider when purchasing new digs: solar power potential.
Ann Arbor residents and potential homebuyers can now receive a free solar analysis by visiting the City’s Website, selecting “My Property Information”, and clicking on the “Solar Potential” tab.
Part of Mayor Hieftje’s 2005 Green Energy Challenge, which includes a goal of 5,000 solar roof installations by 2015, Ann Arbor Energy Commissioners and UM students assessed over 21,000 Ann Arbor roofs for their solar potential. [ Read more ]
A green business plan belonging to a trio of U-M students helped the threesome beat out student teams from a myriad of other universities at three separate national competitions recently.
Team Potentia first won $15,000 in the third annual Cleantech Venture Challenge. Their plan is to commercialize an energy-scavenging battery-replacement technology to last 10 times longer than current batteries. The battery would be connected to wireless sensors that pick up on environmental conditions and then make adjustments for optimal performance. Using this technology, for example, lights would automatically turn off when a room becomes empty. [ Read more ]
Today marks the annual celebration of Earth Day, inspiring “awareness of and appreciation for the Earth’s environment.” But here in Michigan, supporting events are not limited to April 22; they’re taking place all week long throughout cities across the state.
Bay County Health Department is offering free e-Waste collection through Friday. Ann Arbor and Flint Best Buy locations are rewarding gifts cards to the first 100 recyclers this Saturday. And the Indigenous Earth Day Summit runs through tomorrow at Northern Michigan University.
Learn more about Earth Day on Wikipedia. Or find a local event through the EPA’s Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge.
Michigan schools compete in Ford Model T University Challenge - May 15th
NTW is here - May 14th
U-M Opening new Business Engagement Center - May 14th
Historic Preservation Efforts Awarded - May 13th
SBAM Launches New Program for Entrepreneurs - May 12th
Michigan Policy Summit 2008 - May 9th
DTE Embraces Biodiesel - May 8th
Michigan’s Creative Economy Gets a Boost - May 8th
Yee-haw! - May 7th
Brush up on your elevator pitch - May 7th
Enter AIGA's Celebrate Michigan Poster Design Contest.
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If an exciting night means paper football and a Designing Women marathon, social media is here to help.
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