The City of Munising recently completed a project at the Alger Centennial Arena, one that will save energy usage and dollars for years to come. The best part is, the project was made available free of cost or excessive administrative work from the city.
In early 2010, the competitive grant application was made available to Michigan non-entitlement communities, for up to $50,000 toward implementation of energy reducing systems. Funding for these “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants” were made available through federal stimulus funds handed to the State of Michigan, and awarded by the state's Bureau of Energy Systems, a division of the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth (DELEG). Around 125 total grants would be awarded, with twelve of those granted to U.P. towns.
Before the grant applications were due, however, another opportunity related to the grant was presented. The Michigan Group for a Renewable Energy Efficient Nation (GREEN) announced it would help municipalities apply for the grants, and would do so for free. According to GREEN Executive Director Douglas Russell, if the grant was not received, the city would have not spent any administrative hours or dollars on it. If the grant was received, as in the case for Munising, the winning city agreed to allow GREEN to complete the remaining administrative work, which actually ended up being another perk for the city.
At this point, many may ask why the organization would offer these services to communities for free. “Economic and environmental stewardship is what Michigan GREEN does,” Russell says.
Munising was one of several cities to apply via GREEN's services, and one of three projects accepted through the organization. Groveland Township and Pinckney, both located downstate, were the other two Michigan cities to receive grants through GREEN. In those towns, hundreds of energy kits, assembled by GREEN for distribution to residential homes, were awarded. Russell said each kit, which includes items such as compact fluorescent bulbs, low flow shower heads, outdoor fluorescent spotlights, sensor-activated LED nightlights, and socket sealers for outer walls, is designed to save each household an average of $150 in energy costs per year.
In Munising, plans to upgrade key fixtures at the Alger Centennial Arena, which were already being mulled over, fit perfectly into the scope of the grant. The prime upgrade at the Arena was the installation of all new, high quality fluorescent lights.
Whether in residential or municipal settings, Michigan GREEN emphasizes use of high quality fixtures and parts, such as the compact or straight fluorescent bulbs. Lasting products, such as the new lights at the Alger Arena, alleviate the need for frequent replacements, which tend to eat up any realized energy dollar savings.
Russell commended Munising and City Manager Doug Bovin for stepping up to take advantage of the funds in a very short time, its great use of the grant dollars, and getting the project completed in such a timely manner. “We're just so pleased to be able to do the application on behalf of the City of Munising,” he said.
Russell also noted the work of Munising arena concessionaire Pat Gariepy, who orchestrated the local plans for the grant. After the grant was confirmed, Gariepy also coordinated work with local contractors, including Alger County Electric, to quickly complete the project at the arena.
Gariepy was also glad to see the positive changes made to the arena, saying it is especially good for the public to see that the City of Munising is taking the upkeep of the building seriously. In this case, as an added bonus, he said, “it came at no cost to Munising taxpayers.”
Now, as the Alger Centennial Arena used all year, the savings made by the upgrades should be realized all year. “Even though the lights are brighter they use a whole lot less energy,” Russell said.
More information on Michigan GREEN and available energy-saving opportunities may be found at www.michigangreen.org.
by Amanda Ingraham
The Munising News
January 26, 2011