Energy Works Michigan

March Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:09:08 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 30 Mar 2011
Click here to check out the following stories in the March Newsletter:

DEADLINE APPROACHING: Green Leaders Scholarship
Calumet High School in U.P. Awarded $5,000 Matching Grants for Energy Efficiency Improvements
Solar PV Tracker Installed at West Bloomfield High School!
Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant: Project Spotlight
Nuclear Energy: Fact Check

September 2010 Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:50:42 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 29 Sep 2010
Click here to check out the following stories in the September 2010 Newsletter:

ANNOUNCING: ShowGreenTV II Student Film Challenge
WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant!
Michigan Renewable Schools Program
10/10/10 Global Work Party
Science Teachers Get Hands-On With Energy
Planet Footprint Provides Environmental Score Keeping for MRSP Schools
Are Wind Turbines Bad for your Health?
Find us on Facebook!

Press Release: Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant Winners Announced!

nospam@nospam.corp (Kendal Kuneman) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Posted by Kendal Kuneman on 29 Sep 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

GREENING MICHIGAN CLASSROOMS GRANT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Forty-Six Michigan Teachers to Receive up to $500 for Green Activities

Ann Arbor, MI – Energy Works Michigan, a joint project of the Ecology Center and Recycle Ann Arbor, announced today the winners of the Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant. A total of 46 grants were awarded in communities across the state for a total of $21,000.

From reclaiming bricks in Detroit to raising wild salmon in Gaylord to growing micro-greens in Traverse City, teachers and students from all over Michigan will be implementing sustainable initiatives, events, activities, and projects in their classrooms. The $500 grants were open to any K-12 teacher in Michigan.

Energy Works Michigan, with support from the Michigan Public Service Commission, is implementing energy conservation projects and renewable energy installations in Michigan schools. As part of the these efforts, Energy Works is promoting green initiatives at K-12 schools through contests and grants that engage teachers and students in the challenges and opportunities of building a sustainable future.

“As we’ve been working with schools statewide in the Michigan Renewable Schools Program, we’ve discovered many amazing, motivated teachers,” explains Emile Lauzzana, Project Director for Energy Works Michigan. “At a time when school budgets are tighter than ever, the Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant helps teachers and students implement their innovative green classroom ideas.”

“I think it’s a tremendous opportunity for the Masonry Program at Randolph, ” says teacher Leland Taylor from the A. Phillip Randolph Career & Technical Center in Detroit, MI. “We will use this to teach students about materials and waste, questioning what we can re-use to do more.” Their school will use the $500 grant money to purchase reclaimed bricks to construct student projects and assist in a community rehabilitation project of Historic Fort Wayne.

Other grantees include:

• Heather Esterline, a teacher at St. Mary Cathedral School in Gaylord, MI, teaches an environmental science class that will be using the money to raise salmon. Paired with the DNR, this innovative project teaches students about water quality, habitat depletion, and biology. It concludes with the classroom-raised salmon being released back into the wild.

• In Traverse City West Middle School Rebecca Walters will be helping her Family & Consumer Science class learn how to grow micro-greens year round. Learning to eat locally-sourced foods is critical to reducing our impact on the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Grants in all regions of Michigan are summarized below, and can be viewed on our website: www.EnergyWorksMichigan.org.

Alpena Region

Gaylord, MI - St. Mary Cathedral School
Heather Esterline – Raise salmon in the classroom to teach students about the life cycle of a salmon and help replenish the salmon population.

Ossineke, MI - Sanborn Elementary School
Robert Thomson – Resources to research preserving local fresh water ecosystems.

Traverse City, MI - Traverse City West Senior High
Mike Wilson – Solar powered battery chargers for TI-84 Graphing Calculators for students to understand the importance of renewable energy.

Traverse City, MI - Traverse City West Middle School
Rebecca Walters – Materials for Micro-Greens Growing Project to help students learn to grow and process their own food.

Traverse City, MI - West Senior High School
Kerri Wosek – Cameras and video cameras to make the current print newspaper into an online newspaper.

Detroit Region

Ann Arbor, MI - Greenhills School
Martha Friedlander – Compost bins to collect dining room waste for Biology students to research the compost.

Ann Arbor, MI - St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Wendy Lemke – Compost bin for use in their established habitat gardens.

Clawson, MI - Clawson Middle School
Noel Slowik – Video recording students green activities to share with other students and implement into the school community.

Clinton Township, MI - Trinity Lutheran School
Karla Hardies – Sustainable butterfly garden used for research and green education.

Clinton Township, MI - Trinity Lutheran School
Mark Brown – Implement three projects to school curriculum, finding green careers, learning about water availability, and evaluating carbon footprints.

Clinton Township, MI - Trinity Lutheran School
Sharon Meseke – Waste Management Model to educate about the lifecycle of waste and the purpose of landfills.

Dearborn, MI - Advanced Technology Academy
Philip Kukulski – Rocket mass heater built by students for use in the school greenhouse.

Detroit, MI - Academy of Critical Thinkers at Cody High School
Donna Harris – Vermicomposting station to create a compost tea to have direct experience with the carbon cycle.

Detroit, MI - A. Phillip Randolph Career and Tech. Center
Leland Taylor – Recycled bricks for use in masonry career training to assist in community service projects.

Detroit, MI - Emerson Elementary School
Kunjan Vyas – Garden tools for students to continue growing flowers and vegetables at school.

Detroit, MI - Golightly Educational Center
David Boye – Bird and butterfly garden to encourage more outdoor learning experiences and appreciation.

Detroit, MI - Harms Elementary School
Cathy Bartolotta – Recycle bins and posters to help introduce students to the concept of recycling, and garden supplies for students to take ownership of their efforts in caring for the garden.

Detroit, MI - Phoenix Academy
Alane Shaffer – Recycle bins in each classroom to teach students how to recycle.

Detroit, MI - Pulaski Elementary/Middle School
Kimberly Curtis – Recycle bins to start a Recycling Club and place recycle bins outside of each classroom.

Detroit, MI - Ronald Brown Academy
Jennifer Edwards – Materials for a compost experiment using Sunchips compostable packaging and Better made Potato Chips packaging.

Grosse Pointe, MI - Gross Pointe South High School
Shawn McNamera – Recycle and compost bins to reduce lunchtime waste and develop a composting site.

South Lyon, MI - South Lyon High School
Eric Kennedy – Recycle stations to implement a school-wide recycling program along with announcements teaching students how to recycle at lunch.

Washington, MI - Romeo Engineering and Technical Center
Evva Dossin – Field trip to the Waste Management Landfill for students to understand the importance of reducing waste.

West Bloomfield, MI - West Bloomfield High School
Joshua Barclay – “The Energy Detective” installed in classroom to monitor the electrical use and see the cumulative energy use over time.

Westland, MI - Marshall Upper Elementary School
Anne Chambers – Organic window garden built using recycled materials to teach students that they can manage their own food source.

Flint Region

Flushing, MI - St. Robert School
Kathy Snyder – Compost garden debris and food scraps for use in school garden.

Holly, MI - Holly Academy
Stacy Price – Cold frame for students to use for harvesting fresh vegetables.

Marine City, MI - Cardinal Mooney
Jean Downey – Recycle bins in each classroom to teach students how to recycle.

Ortonville, MI - Brandon High School
Andrew Spiece – Video equipment for students to create a promotional video to share with other students about green initiatives.

Ortonville, MI - Brandon Middle School
Jennifer Brady – Organic sustainable garden and video to introduce a sustainability program.

Ortonville, MI - Brandon High School
Judith McCall – Recycle bins to become a completely non-landfill district.

Ortonville, MI - HT Burt Life Long Learning Center
Pam Schoemer – Recycle bins and informational posters to encourage students to recycle.

Oxford, MI - Upland Hills
Ted Strunck – Double layer insulated cover for a solar greenhouse.

Grand Rapids Region

Caledonia, MI - Paris Ridge Elementary School
Molly Ulrich – Compost bin to reduce school waste and use for gardens in the Spring.

Comstock Park, MI - Holy Trinity School
Jill Teegardin – Develop a composting program that will be used to plant flowers for a local nursing home and seniors in the parish.

Delton, MI - Delton Kellogg High School
Clinton Waller – Native plants and gardens raised by students to incorporate in the 9th grade science curriculum.

Grand Rapids, MI - North Pointe Christian High School
Rachael Van Dyke – Recycled lighting designs for use in Industrial Design class.

Grand Rapids, MI - Northpointe Christian High School
Susan Droge – Recycle bins to implement a recycling program for the students to manage at their school.

Grandville, MI - Grandville Middle School
Heather Zainea – Wirebinder used to create notebooks out of recycled paper/magazines.

Greenville, MI - Greenville High School
Brian Sullivan – Materials to build a compost bin, drip irrigation system, native plants garden, rain garden, and other activities that will encourage students to be good stewards of the planet.

Newaygo, MI - Newaygo Middle School
Debra Iwema – Recycled material needed to create art sculpture for the native species garden.

Lansing Region

Eaton Rapids, MI - Eaton Rapids Public School
Jennifer Grivins – A solar panel, model sustainable home, and small model turbines to help perform intensive energy experiments.

Marquette Region

Chassell, MI - Chassell Township School
Mary Markham – Craft kits using recycled materials, and canning materials to make salsa and other items will be incorporated in some classes, and a service learning class recycling program.

Hancock, MI - BRIDGE Alternative High School
Chuck Palosaari – Compost bins to begin a composting program for the school lunch program to reduce the food waste.

Houghton, MI - Houghton High School
Lauri Davis – Recycle bins to expand recycling efforts at the school.

Mackinac Island, MI - Mackinac Island Public School
Richard Waite – Recycle bins and gloves for the students to manage a recycling program.

About Energy Works Michigan

Energy Works Michigan, funded by a $3.5 million grant awarded by the Michigan Public Service Commission, has developed the Michigan Renewable Schools Program. It includes a coordinated set of programs for Michigan public and private K-12 schools designed to demonstrate energy technologies, raise public awareness, and educate the next generation so that they can fully contribute to meeting and exceeding the carbon reduction targets of The 2030 Challenge. These programs include solar power and wind turbine installations at 24 Michigan schools; energy engineering and planning services at 40 schools; curriculum development and teacher training; and partnerships between K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions to make students aware of training and job opportunities in green industries.

About The Ecology Center
The Ecology Center is a membership-based, nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The organization works at the local, state, and national levels for clean production, healthy communities, environmental justice, and a sustainable future.

About Recycle Ann Arbor
Recycle Ann Arbor (RAA), an affiliate of the Ecology Center, is a non-profit service provider of world-class recycling and waste reduction programs. RAA offers easy and convenient recycling for the home and workplace, and is dedicated to providing education and innovative services in the collection, processing and distribution of recyclable materials.
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Energy Works Michigan update

nospam@nospam.corp (Kelly Weger) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:02:58 -0400

Posted by Kelly Weger on 28 Oct 2009
It has been 6 months since the start of a grant from the State of Michigan for the Renewable Schools Program , and Energy Works Michigan has hit the ground running. We are a new Michigan based not-for-profit working to build foundational capacities in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.

Energy Works is a joint venture between Recycle Ann Arbor, The Ecology Center, and Conservation Services Group. Our efforts focus on K-12 schools, providing: educational materials, demonstration renewable energy equipment , energy audits, technical resources, and information on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

To meet our goals, we have been busy working in our new office on Washington Street in Ann Arbor. We have settled into our office, furnished from the Re-Use Center, run by our parent organization, Recycle Ann Arbor. Our staff has grown to six members, plus six interns. Our interns are working hard to support the program. One of our interns, Theresa, is a sophomore at University of Michigan and is part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP). She is doing research with Laura and Courtney on evaluating the educational materials for the Renewable Schools Program Curriculum Development.

Currently, the office is buzzing with activity launching the Renewable Schools Program. Enjoy the website - and learn more about how your school can participate!

Fall 2009 Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Kelly Weger) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:01:02 -0400

Posted by Kelly Weger on 28 Oct 2009
Energy Works has sent out our Fall Newsletter. Take a look and see what we've been up to!

Future lesson plans currently in development

nospam@nospam.corp (Kelly Weger) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:56:09 -0400

Posted by Kelly Weger on 28 Oct 2009
Our educational development team is working on custom lesson plans for Michigan schools. These lessons will provide region-specific lessons to educate students on fundamental energy concepts. While the final lesson plans are still being developed, you can now check out our Guiding Principles.

Solar Fund Raising Efforts are Catching On in Chicago

nospam@nospam.corp (Kelly Weger) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:42:01 -0400

Posted by Kelly Weger on 28 Apr 2010
Climate Cycle's May 15th, 2010 Solar Schools Ride is a family and fan friendly fundraiser in which riders garner pledges in advance of the ride. Proceeds go to install solar energy systems in local public schools. Last year cyclists raised nearly $70,000 for six solar schools, and this year the goal is to triple our impact.

Global warming caused by global CO2 emissions is one of the most urgent issues facing humanity. Global CO2 emissions reached 6.5 billion tons in 2000, with 75% being caused by the combustion of fossil fuels. We are the cause of global warming; but also possess the tools and ingenuity to combat it.

Did you know that buildings contribute more CO2 emissions than cars? For this reason, solar energy systems can dramatically reduce the release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide that are byproducts of energy use. For example, a 15-panel solar hot water system can prevent 15 tons of CO2 emissions every year.

Most solar energy systems are designed to last more than 30 years, thus the CO2 emission savings over the life of this system is easily 450 tons. While solar energy is a solution to environmental issues that threaten our planet, it also provides additional benefits that are more visible and practical in our local communities, expanding well beyond the walls of the building. Conserving tax money, keeping energy dollars close to home and making Chicagoland a model for renewable energy education are just a few of the benefits of installing solar energy systems in our schools.

Illinois imports tens of billions of dollars in energy each year. The Solar Schools Program utilizes local solar contractors and U.S. manufactured equipment whenever possible, helping to strengthen the local economy.

April Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:30:00 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 27 Apr 2011

Click here to check out the following stories in the April Newsletter:

Radio Interview with Education Director Laura Holladay
Farewell to our Education Associate Courtney Peterson
Welcome to our New Education Associate Lauren LaRocca!
Calumet High School in U.P. Awarded $5,000 Matching Grants for Energy Efficiency Improvements
Romeo Engineering and Technology Center Students go Green!
Eaton Rapids, MI- Green Classrooms, Green Industry
Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant: Project Spotlight

May Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 25 May 2011 09:00:00 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 25 May 2011

Click here to check out the following stories in the May Newsletter:

Congratulations Green Leaders Scholarship Winners!
St. Joseph's Catholic School in Wayne, MI Receives Solar PV Awning!
Emile and Laura's Trip to Detroit!
Energy Works Participates in Eaton Rapids Earth Day Event!
Greening Michigan Classrooms Grant: Project Spotlight

West Bloomfield Students Capture the Sun's Power

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 11:54:53 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 23 Mar 2011
West Bloomfield Students Capture the Sun's Power
Original article posted by FOX 2 News on February 21, 2011

A West Bloomfield High School teacher is showing his students the true power of the sun.

FOX 2's Robin Schwartz introduces us to physics teacher Josh Barclay and his class who raised the funds needed to install an energy-producing, money-saving solar tracker on the school's campus.

Click the video player to learn more!

Follow the students' progress online at http://wireWB.org

By: Robin Schwartz

Full Article...

ShowGreenTV Student Film Challenge Winners Announced!

nospam@nospam.corp (Kendal Kuneman) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Kendal Kuneman on 23 Jun 2010

Students were asked to answer the question: What Does GREEN Mean to You?

Energy Works received 33 short films for the ShowGreenTV Student Film Challenge. Students from across the state of Michigan told us what it means to be GREEN in 90 seconds or less! The goals of this challenge are to showcase student green initiatives, connect students across the state, and activate students to be GREEN!

Judges selected the winning films that best demonstrated a green message, acting, editing, writing, and creativity.

Thank you Judges!

Christine Battiste, Policy Analyst
Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth

Graham Meriwether, Documentary Journalist
Leave it Better

Ian Tran, Intern
Engineering Society of Detroit

Jayni Chase, Board Member
GREEN Community Schools

Jonathan Hoard, Owner
Logan 6

John Sarver, Manager Technical Assistance
Bureau of Energy Systems, Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth

Kerry Birmingham, Media Relations Specialist
Michigan Education Association

Ron Liscombe, Policy Counsel
Office of Governor Granholm

Samantha Frick, Energy Intern
Bureau of Energy Systems, Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth

Scott Little, Associate Executive Director
Michigan School Business Officials

Thomas Stanton, Manager, Renewable Energy Section
Bureau of Energy Systems, Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth

8 student films have been awarded cash prizes and/or new Flip cameras, for two age groups: 12 & under and 13-19. Scroll down to see winning films.

Congratulations to the following winning students:

Austin Chamberlin
Cheyenne Kniffen
Chole Moore
Dominik Kinlaw
Jayla Dunlap
Jazzy Boyd, Camryn Turner, & Chantalice Hicks
Marie Asselin
Mike Lucci

We would like to thank all of the students that submitted a short film. We applaud your creativity and commitment to being green! List of all contestants.

We hope that students enjoyed making the short films as much as we enjoyed watching them! Stay tuned to Energy Works for future contests during the 2010-2011 school year!

Click on the Show Green TV Channel to see all film entries!

Winning Films:

First Place (ages 13-19)
Mike Lucci, age 16 “Water Conservation” Lahser High School, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Second Place (ages 13-19)
Marie Asselin, age 14 “DrySmart-Life Couldn’t be Greener” Berkshire Middle School, Birmingham, MI

Runner-Up (ages 13-19)
Cheyenne Kniffen, age 16 “Spread the Word” Marine City High School, Marine City, MI

Runner-Up (ages 13-19)
Jayla Dunlap, age 13 "The Climate Rap" Pleasant View, Lansing, MI

First Place (ages 12 & Under)
Jazzy Boyd, Camryn Turner, & Chantalice Hicks, ages 10 “Light Bulb Audit” Pleasant View, Lansing, MI

Second Place (ages 12 & Under)
Chole Moore, age 10 “Look Out For Mother Earth” Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Detroit, MI

Runner-Up (ages 12 & Under)
Dominik Kinlaw, age 12 “A Dream for the Future” Burt Township School, Grand Marais, MI

>

Runner-Up (ages 12 & Under)
Austin Chamberlin, age 12 “Recycled Drumming” Burt Township School, Grand Marais, MI

Press Release: Show Green TV II Student Film Contest Announced!

nospam@nospam.corp (Kendal Kuneman) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Kendal Kuneman on 20 Oct 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 20, 2010

"SHOW GREEN TV II" STUDENT FILM CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED

K-12 students asked to make films about Global Climate Change

Ann Arbor, MI – Energy Works Michigan, a joint project of the Ecology Center and Recycle Ann Arbor, announced today the Show Green TV II Student Film Challenge. A total of 8 awards will be given to the best student film submissions.

“After receiving over 30 great films with the first Show Green contest, we are excited to challenge students with a focused topic for Show Green TV II. We’re looking forward to seeing their solutions to stop Global Climate Change,” explains Emile Lauzzana, Project Director for Energy Works Michigan. “The film challenge is a great opportunity for students to ask each other about this big problem, and share what they are doing to find small solutions.” Students are encouraged to explore small solutions such as biking to school, buying local foods, or utilizing rainwater, which all play a role in combating global climate change.

Submissions to Show Green II are due by Dec. 17th and previous winners can be viewed on the website: www.ShowGreenTV.org. First place, second place, and runners-up will be awarded cash prizes and/or new Flip cameras. Awards are given for two age groups: under 13 and 14-19. Winners will be announced at a film screening and awards ceremony on Saturday, January 22, 2011, held at the historic Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor.

Become an Energy Superhero!

nospam@nospam.corp (Kelly Weger) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:09:18 -0400

Posted by Kelly Weger on 18 Nov 2009
This fun cartoon shows that actions are stronger than words when it comes to saving energy. The cartoon family realizes that they've been wasteful and they become energy superheros, showing us all the easy ways to reduce energy use at home and work.

Saving Energy cartoon video

Energy Cartoon from School House Rocks

nospam@nospam.corp (Kelly Weger) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Kelly Weger on 17 Nov 2009
This School House Rocks cartoon is from decades ago. It's amazing to see how applicable the lessons still are today. The message is simple and fun- let's work together to save energy!

School House Rocks- Energy video

Sesame Street Goes Green

nospam@nospam.corp (Nick Gaydos) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Nick Gaydos on 17 Nov 2009
Sesame Street, a beloved children's program, uses singing puppets to make saving energy fun! Listen to "Polly Darton" singing "Save Your Energy for Me."

Sesame Street energy video

$1 Solar TeXter

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 18 Aug 2010

Solar TeXter
Primary Projects
Original Article Posted May 2010 in the Metropolis

The $1 Solar TeXter is precisely what you would think: a dirt-cheap handheld device that sends and receives short messages, making wireless communication accessible to everyone from city dwellers to rural farmers. It targets countries like Uganda, where texting is inexpensive compared with cell phone technology, and where people regularly use Google short message services for communicating with family, farming advice, and basic socializing. “We felt our device would be a natural complement,” says Donna Zimmerman, a 28-year-old designer in Brooklyn. A touch bigger than a Post-it note, the Solar TeXter features an ultra simple, five-button interface and a black-and-white LCD screen that displays letters when you’re ready to dash off a message, avoiding complexities (and character limitations) of a keyboard. Nine solar cells charge the gadget. Recycled parts keep costs down. “While most mobile devices are moving in the direction of providing everything to the user-text, voice, internet, camera-we choose to focus on one feature and make it as simple, streamlined, and elegant as possible,” Zimmerman says. “Our fix is to design specifically for this market, with their needs in mind.”

Designed by: Katrina Cass, Helene Kenny, Alyssa Lees, Simon Spagnoletti, and Donna Zimmerman
From Brooklyn

Full Article

Burt Township School Goes Green

nospam@nospam.corp (Natalie Young) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Natalie Young on 18 Aug 2010
Burt Township School Goes Green
Original Article Posted August 18, 2010 at UpperMichiganSources.com

GRAND MARAIS -- At Grand Marais's Burt Township School, a special banner flies below the American flag--a banner that designates the institution as one with a green initiative. Tuesday, the school took a major step forward in that initiative by installing a wind turbine and a solar panel.

“Living right on Lake Superior, it's obvious to me that wind power and even solar power, but especially wind power, will be utilized as much as possible,” said Principal Seth Hoopingainer.

The new technology will save the school thousands of dollars.

“It is going to end up saving the school, I'm hoping about $5,000 a year, in power costs and electricity costs,” Hoopingainer said.

Together, the environmental equipment is worth just under $71,000. So how did a small community like Grand Marais swing the costs? They received grants from Energy Works of Michigan, WPPI Energy, and Alger/Delta Electric. The school only paid $91 for the technology.

But the cherry on top of the whole project: a weather station is included in the grant money. Students will be learning about wind and solar patterns right here in their classrooms.

“The nice thing about this turbine is it has a wireless communication so people use it for teaching,” said turbine installer, Greg Courtney of Wind Turbines of Ohio. “We've installed just dozens of these things at schools and universities. You can see everything this turbine is doing on a PC in a classroom.”

The school hopes to design a curriculum around the new technology at the start of this school year.

By: Noël McLaren

Full Article

July 2010 Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Kendal Kuneman) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Kendal Kuneman on 14 Jul 2010

Click here to check out the following stories in the July 2010 Newsletter:

Show Green! Student Film Challenge Winners Announced!
Michigan Renewable Schools Program
Energy Works visits Schools in the U.P.
Green Across America Grant opportunity for K-12 Teachers

April 2010 Newsletter

nospam@nospam.corp (Kendal Kuneman) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Posted by Kendal Kuneman on 14 Apr 2010
Click here to check out the following stories in the April 2010 Newsletter:

Tell us about your School’s Green Team!
“Show Green” Student Film Challenge
Schools Participating in the Michigan Renewable Schools Program
Planning Solar for Schools in Guatemala
We’re still accepting Applications from Schools!

Welcome Summer Interns!

nospam@nospam.corp (Kendal Kuneman) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 11:00:30 -0400

Posted by Kendal Kuneman on 09 Jun 2010
Energy Works is delighted to have five new summer interns join the team! Each intern will be assisting Energy Works staff with a component of the Michigan Renewable Schools Program, including the Energy Efficiency Program, Educational Curriculum, and Green Team Resource Guide.

Jennifer Chronis, Amy Langhorst, and Courtney Williams are part of the Community Based Research Fellowship program at the University of Michigan.

Jennifer and Amy are assisting Energy Works Project manager, Jason Bing, with the Energy Efficiency Program. Over the next ten weeks, Jennifer will be researching studies on the link between improved energy efficiency at schools and the achievement impacts of students and staff. She will compile her research into a final report.

Amy will be establishing a database of energy companies that provide energy to the schools, and will examine the energy bills to identify inconsistencies and opportunities for schools to save money.

Courtney is assisting Laura Holladay and Courtney Peterson with the Educational Curriculum. Courtney will be assisting with the development of lesson plans pertaining to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and will be helping with professional development sessions for teachers in order to educate the younger generation in sustainability.

Mikki Burger and Caitlin Goodwin are volunteering their time assist Energy Works this summer. Mikki is a senior at Albion College and Caitlin is a recent graduate from Ball State.

Mikki and Caitlin are assisting Energy Works Project Associate, Kelly Weger. Their role is to analyze types of information resources provided to the public by other green teams statewide. Sources of data range from calendars with how-to tips on green projects, to website blogs and multimedia. After researching a wide variety of these resources, they will create an interactive communication resource for teachers all over Michigan in the form of a website. They will create a list of successful projects completed by K-12 students, develop a Green Team Guide, and help pilot the process for several weeks. In addition, they will revise the Green Team Guide and help to implement it in other schools.

Read Intern bios...

Clockwise from left: Jennifer Chronis, Caitlin Goodwin, Courtney Williams, Mikki Burger, and Amy Langhorst.