Ann Arbor: A Hotbed for Sustainable Energy?

On Wednesday recently retired Ann Arbor City Energy Coordinator David Konkle spoke on the University of Michigan campus. His presentation highlighted the sustainable energy projects Ann Arbor has pursued over his career. Though I knew of several of the projects going into the session, by the end of his presentation I was more aware and proud to live in such a progressive community.

Some of the innovative projects Ann Arbor is involved with include:
- GO Solar Seminars
- Ann Arbor Hands On Museum Energy Exhibit
- Solar hot water heaters on fire station
- Recycle Ann Arbor's EnHouse and Green Building Resource Center
- 2 active hydro-electric dams (Barton and Superior)
- Landfill Gas Facility
- Glendale Road, AA with LED lighting display
- LED lampposts downtown (see photo)
- Ann Arbor Farmer's Market Solar Roof and future solar education station. UNI Solar is providing the shingles after only exporting its products overseas before!
- Ann Arbor is a Solar America City
- Ann Arbor Energy Fund (a revolving energy fund that invests the savings from energy efficiency projects back into seed funding for new projects)
- Eco Sense Program airing on cable television
- 5,000 Solar Roofs by 2015

As you can see there are a number of sustainable energy happenings in Ann Arbor. I have yet to visit all of the displays throughout the city! To learn more about Ann Arbor's energy involvement and displays check out the city's webpage on energy. Ann Arbor is more of a hotbed for sustainable energy than I thought!








Photo courtesy of Sustainable Design Update.