Increasing Energy Efficiency in Buildings is One of the Quickest and Most Effective Ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Energy Consumption - Buildings Account for 40% of All Energy Used in US

Today Senator Charles E. Schumer, standing with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, announced his federal plan to increase building efficiency by 30% across the nation as Mayor Bloomberg has proposed for New York City. Increasing energy efficiency in buildings is one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Today's announcement marks the start of a coordinated effort to require states and municipalities to update their residential and commercial building codes. Schumer said today that he would offer these new emissions standards as an amendment to the Senate energy bill that will be on the Floor next week.

GRAYLING TOWNSHIP - After several years of rumors, a large multi-million-dollar theme park inched one step closer to coming to Grayling, bringing with it 2,000 jobs and an estimated payroll of $25 million. Grayling Township planning commissioners unanimously approved a concept plan for a $161-million, four-season theme park, essentially recommending the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) sell land to a Rochester-based group for the park.

Thirty-one states representing 70 percent of the country's population announced on May 8 that they had signed on to a new Climate Registry to measure, track, verify and publicly report the greenhouse-gas emissions by major industries.

LaSalle Bank Financial Center, Troy, Michigan, winner of a TOBY Award in 2002 and 2005, recently became the first building in Michigan to achieve the coveted LEED-EB Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. (Article by Jim Newman, Managing Partner of Newman Consulting Group)

First Building in Michigan Certified under LEED-EB (Existing Building) - Complete Article

May 2007

A University of Michigan study released today finds the state could add $380 million a year in revenue and 3,400 full-time jobs to the economy by 2025 while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Four Multinational Corporations, Five Global Banks, and Sixteen Cities Partner with the Clinton Foundation to Retrofit Buildings and Reduce Carbon Emissions
May 16, 2007
New York, NY

President Bill Clinton today announced the creation of a global Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, a project of the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI). This program brings together four of the world’s largest energy service companies (ESCOs), five of the world’s largest banks, and sixteen of the world’s largest cities in a landmark program designed to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings.

“Climate change is a global problem that requires local action,” said President Clinton. “The businesses, banks and cities partnering with my foundation are addressing the issue of global warming because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it’s good for their bottom line. They’re going to save money, make money, create jobs and have a tremendous collective impact on climate change all at once. I’m proud of them for showing leadership on the critical issue of climate change and I thank them for their commitment to this new initiative.”

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Consumers are bellowing for relief from near-record high gasoline prices. Congress is acting. But the prescriptions offered by the two political parties are at odds. One side is arguing that there needs to be a significant increase in fuel efficiency standards while the other is saying that more domestic oil supplies are the answer. Conciliation will be the key. Each position is valid although neither is absolute. And beyond that framework, the promotion of new research and fuel diversity is essential. Energy is the fuel that generates global production. As such, oil is now the predominant source of energy because the technology is available to not only use it for a wide variety of reasons, but to also get it from point to point. Other energy forms must surface, not just in the auto industry, but in the power sector as well.