Category: SmartEnergy

‹ News
Messy pile of one hundred dollar bills

Financial Innovation: A Q&A with Mary Templeton

SmartEnergy

In 2009, Michigan Saves launched with a $6.5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), which was put into a trust fund. There was an additional $1.6 million awarded to Public Sector Consultants and the Delta Institute under a competitive bid, for the purpose of researching how Michigan Saves should be structured, and for the initial setup and administration of the fund. That work entailed deep stakeholder engagement to figure out how to most effectively break down barriers to energy efficiency.

Read More
The Ligman family sitting on their front porch

There’s No Place Like Home: Residential Energy Loan Program Takes Off

SmartEnergy

It was a banner year for Michigan Saves’ Home Energy Loan Program. Since our first loan was issued in fall of 2009, the organization has helped more than 10,000 customers save money, increase the comfort of their homes and become more energy efficient. This feat was accomplished through a slew of innovative programs and partnerships designed to both educate the public and make financing for energy-efficiency improvements simpler and more accessible than ever before.

Read More
Collage of numbers

Michigan Saves By the Numbers

SmartEnergy

Michigan Saves’ work has a big impact. But just how big? Since its inception, the program has helped 211 businesses and 10,390 homes to save over 16 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and over 1.8 million therms of natural gas.

Read More
Mary Templeton, executive director

A Letter from Our Executive Director

SmartEnergy

We’re all busy people who know that time is a precious commodity. And time went by so quickly in 2014, we thought it wise to take a moment to reflect on the work we’ve all accomplished.

Read More
Family standing in front of their electric vehicles

Local, Iconic, and Sustainable: Herman Miller’s Team 53 Helps Design Energy-efficient Homes

SmartEnergy

The Broersma family takes efficiency seriously. The global modernist furniture icon, Herman Miller, which is responsible for bringing the world the famed Eames Lounge Chair, is invested in far more than simply sitting in style and comfort. Since 1953, the manufacturing company has made it a mission to be “a good steward of the environment,” as declared by founder D. J. DePree.

Read More
Dr. Energy Saver John Haines

Contractor Q&A: Dr. Energy Saver John Haines on His Encore Career as a Michigan Saves Contractor

SmartEnergy

My second career is working for Dr. Energy Saver, where I’ve been for 4 years. I have an Energy Management Specialist degree from Lansing Community College and a Business Administration degree from Michigan State University. I am certified through Building Performance Institute as a professional building energy analyst. As program manager, I oversee our corporate partnership programs, our school fundraising programs and our community outreach programs.

Read More
Contractors entering a home with their equipment

Michigan Saves Offers No-hassle Financing Plans to Help Contractors Increase Sales

SmartEnergy

Michigan Saves loans allow energy efficiency contractors to turn cost concerns into conversation-starters. Amanda Godward and her staff at Ecointelligent Homes are prepared to find leaks and help homes and businesses save energy and money. Cost is the major concern when considering construction projects. It affects whether a client decides to go ahead with their […]

Read More
Family of five sitting on the couch reading a book

Family Makes Future Dream a Present Reality

SmartEnergy

When Steve and Laura McMullen moved their family into their 1950s house in Grand Rapids, they knew windows could be a barrier to a healthy home. The windows of their new house were old and leaky; some of them were even cracked and refused to open. This created as many problems with ventilation of the house as it did for the health and wellbeing of the family themselves.

Read More