Comments on: Special District Might Fund Energy Program

By: Sunshine Mel

Sunshine Mel — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:14:27 +0000

This sounds like an interesting proposal. I’m looking forward to hearing more. Would the business have to reside within Ann Arbor city proper?

By: Kathryn Loomis

Kathryn Loomis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:13:09 +0000

The Great Lakes Environmental Law Center was involved in crafting the proposed legislation for self-assessment energy financing districts (also referred to as a property assessed clean energy program). For further discussion see: [Great Lakes Environmental Law Center Blog]

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:44:05 +0000

You make this clear in the article, but it might help some readers if you insert an additional item into the numbered list. “The homeowner signs up for a tax lien on his/her house that will pay off the loan over time.”

By: Mike Garrison

Mike Garrison — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:47:46 +0000

[BuildScan Thermography] is one of the local private contractors that'll help you with the DTE credits. I've been considering doing this.

By: George Hammond

George Hammond — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:38:02 +0000

I think there are other local private contractors who do energy assessments as well. It would be good to have more information about them as well.

By: Jeff Irwin

Jeff Irwin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:50:32 +0000

Thanks for mentioning my involvement Dave.

This is a very exciting opportunity for the community to create a self-sustaining fund that will save people money, conserve resources, boost the economy and reduce pollution. The Mayor, myself, Rep. Warren and Sen. Brater are all eager to work on realizing this opportunity so that we can put this idea to work for the public. The legislation should be introduced soon.

With experts like Matt Naud and Andrew Brix taking the lead locally – this promises to be a great program.

By: Dave Cahill

Dave Cahill — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:50:16 +0000

Also, County Commissioner Jeff Irwin is actively lobbying in Lansing for the legislation that Rep. Warren is working on.

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:41:30 +0000

There's a series of three videos produced by the county in collaboration with the Clean Energy Coalition, with funding from the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation and the Michigan DLEG Energy Office. For example, "Home Energy Sense" is a 12-min "how-to" on making energy efficiency improvements in your home. [Link to home energy videos.]

By: Fred Posner

Fred Posner — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:24:21 +0000

I absolutely love the ROI chart…

Don’t forget LED light bulbs as well. Although they are not as “room brightening” as fluorescent, they are extremely tough, and use very little wattage. I like using mine outside to illuminate the entrance, etc. (which is always good for safety).

Example:

40 watt regular bulb… replace with Fluorescent… uses about 16 watt instead. Replace with LED, 1.5 watt.

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:48:59 +0000

The inside pressure would not “drop to zero”; that would be a perfect vacuum, which you’re unlikely to find anywhere within the city limits. If the blower was infinitely strong, you’d probably collapse the house first.

Are there any consumer-grade infrared cameras? Here’s a homebrew version:

[link]

which is made by peeling off an infrared filter from in front of a digital camera’s CCD and replacing it with a visible light filter.