Sanilac County 4-H Green Squad Planning Visit to Michigan Energy Options in East Lansing

Joel Wiese of Michigan Energy Options explains the ease of homemade worm composting kits.



Energy + Education + Services
Michigan Energy Options is a results driven 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on promoting and implementing quality energy-efficiency and sustainability programming. Since the organization’s founding in 1978 under the name, Urban Options, we have provided solutions for thousands of Michigan families and businesses that save energy and natural resources. The Sanilac County 4-H Green Squad is planning a visit to Michigan Energy Options.

These seminars are an overview of energy efficient, ecological and sustainable options for the home.

The average tour length runs from 1 to 1.5 hours and can be scheduled during the hours of 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Special arrangements can be made for evening or weekend tours

Topics discussed on tours include:
• Passive Solar Design
• Home Weatherization Techniques
• Energy Efficient Lighting
• Recycled Materials
• LEED certification and building requirements
• Edible Forest Garden
• Backyard Composting
• Vermi (Worm) Composting
• Solar Energy System
• Energy Bike!
• Toxic Free Cleaning

As the State of Michigan takes steps to improve energy efficiency and conservation programming, Michigan Energy Options looks to support these efforts. They do this by providing timely and thoughtful analysis of the critical energy issues that face residents and businesses along with targeted program driven solutions to these problems.

Michigan Energy Options offers a variety of energy education and conservation programming that range from Residential Energy Assessments and Commercial Energy Audits to workshops and seminars for residents as well as low-income programs. They also host two State of Michigan designated Energy Demonstration Centers. Located in East Lansing and Marquette, these centers offer visitors a variety of educational information, best practices in energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy technologies.

Michigan Energy Options hopes to create lasting impacts that help encourage the continued market transformation of energy efficiency products and resources in Michigan to advance an energy efficient economy. To help support their efforts please visit our website for the latest information on current programs and statewide initiatives: http://www.michiganenergyoptions.org/.

http://www.michiganenergyoptions.org/component/content/article/94-renewable-energy-success-stories/233-37-wind-electricity-for-a-city

Recycling Rap (David Suzuki cameo!!!!)

Taking care of the environment can be so much fun!!

Take AIM at Climate Change

An upbeat invitation to "Take AIM at Climate Change" - with "AIM" standing for Adapt, Innovate, Mitigate. The lyrics are based on the latest science of Earth's changing climate, with the music a mix of rap and pop. Four verses connect changes in the Arctic and Antarctic to conditions around the planet, with choruses encouraging long-term thinking, and individual and community action. Optimistic, forward-thinking, but now's the time to act. "Yes we can!" take AIM at climate change. Download the video or audio versions at TakeAIMatClimateChange.org to iPods or iPhones, and share with friends.

Combined Heat & Power: how it works

CHP is the heart of an efficient, decentralised energy system. It's the most efficient way possible to burn fuel because so little energy is lost as waste heat. That's how CHP plants in Denmark can reach up to 95 per cent efficiency.

Because the heat needs to be captured and piped around the local district, CHP plants are usually sited in the towns and cities where the electricity and heat will be used. This makes it more efficient for electricity generation as well as heat; very little energy is lost in transmission.

Micro hydro: how it works

Micro hydro uses diverted river water to local produce up to 100 KW of power. Very useful in water rich areas where access to other energy sources is difficult. Find out how it works in this minute long silent animation.

Tidal power: how it works

Flash animation taken from EfficienCity, a virtual demonstration of how real world communities around the UK can use renewable and energy efficient systems to enjoy lower greenhouse gas emissions, cheaper electricity and heating bills, and a more secure energy supply.

Biogas: how it works

Here is a hint for how the Sanilac Green Squad can dispose of waste on Planet 4-H. Biogas typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide, biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of biofuel. It's a product of the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as manure or sewage, and can be used in CHP plants.

Teen Designs Eco-Homes of the Future

4-H Green Squad Teens in Sanilac County are not so different from teens around the world. Meet Digital Open (digitalopen.org) winning teen Ferran Rovira Bosca, of Spain. This 15-year-old created a concept for an "Eco Self-Sustaining House" -- architecture of the future that captures its own renewable energy, and is independent of electrical power companies. Ferran believes that technology can help us come up with new ways of protecing the environment, and designing our homes in new, smarter ways is the area that captures his interest.

More about Ferran's project here:
http://www.digitalopen.org/projects/c...

Institute for the Future teamed up with Sun Microsystems and Boing Boing to create the Digital Open, an online tech expo for global youth.

The competition welcomed entries in 8 categories: Open Code, Community, Discovery, Earth, Entrepreneurs, Gear, Media, and Play.

More online: http://www.digitalopen.org
Category: Science & Technology

MSUToday: Green roof research

MSU's researchers trying to make the best use of available space on campus with green roofs.

Building a hoophouse - part two - with Adam Montri

Michigan State University hoophouse specialist Adam Montri and his wife Dru put up their own passive solar greenhouse at their Ten Hens Farm in Michigan. Part 2 of this three-part series on Sustainable Farmer.com shows the Montris and their friends working on the polycarbonate endwalls and installing the two layers of polyethylene that cover the hoophouse. Dr. John Biernbaum of MSU's Student Organic Farm also offers tips.

Building a Hoophouse - Part One - with Adam Montri

Adam Montri is the hoophouse specialist for Michigan State University. Hoophouses (or high tunnels) are unheated greenhouses that are becoming increasingly popular with home gardeners and farmers eager to extend the growing season. Montri is also building his own hoophouse, and Sustainable Farmer.com asked him for tips, information and advice. (Video by Bonnie Bucqueroux & Tina Sarkey - music by Drew Howard for www.sustainablefarmercom)

4-H Youth are Walking The Walk...

GREEN ARCHITECTURE...