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.

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

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.

While Americans are talking about clean air and fuel diversity, a lot of policymakers are speaking about energy reliability and the mechanism by which such power is delivered to homes and businesses. Among the hottest topics is the "smart grid." That term refers to the use of high tech gadgetry to monitor power outages and control energy usage as well as the management of supply and demand so as to maintain dependability. The smart grid would allow operators to see the system in its entirety and to act in such a way so as to avert trouble spots and re-route power before there might ever be a blackout. And if the network were to become overburdened, the means would exist to send signals to grid operators and subsequently to end users to curtail consumption.