Plug loads account for
approximately 20 percent of energy consumption in a large office
building. So, it follows that aggressive plug load management
can boost a company's bottom line, especially during the
air-conditioning season as office equipment adds significant
heat to the office environment.
The use of power strips is perhaps the easiest and least-expensive
way in which to manage plug loads. Have a written policy
asking employees to turn off equipment at the power strip at night
and on...
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The newly formed Michigan Department
of Natural Resources and Environment recently released their
Organization Chart.
Please see the link below for
details.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/currentorg_112205_7.pdf
Rebecca A. Humphries was confirmed as Director of the newly created
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) on
March 3, 2010. She has held the post since January 17,
2010 when the DNRE was first created by Governor
Granholm under Executive Order 2009-45. The DNRE
combines the powers and functions of the former Departments of
Natural Resources and Environmental Quality.
Humphries began her career with the Department of Natural Resources
in 1978, rising to the rank of...
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These recent examples demonstrate
the diversity of projects that may qualify for Michigan's
low-interest pollution prevention loan program:
- A dry cleaner purchased a wet-cleaning system and an air board
press.
- A graphics company purchased a computer-to-plate imaging
system.
- A farm upgraded their manure management equipment and
systems.
- A plastic's manufacturer purchased a closed-loop cooling water
system.
- A trucking company purchased a closed-loop wash water
system.
- A Dentist purchased a new digital...
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Project applications are reviewed
by the state within 30 days of receipt. Notification of
eligibility is typically made within 45 days. Once approved,
the loan recipient must enter into a loan agreement within 90 days,
and must initiate the project within 180 days after the loan
documents are signed. Upon completion of the project, the
loan recipient has 90 days to report to the state the pollution
prevention results achieved.
August Mack specializes in environmental, health and...
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Did you know?
- There are no deadlines for
submitting a potential project as the program is ongoing
similar to the state's highly successful Brownfield program.
- The DNRE does not charge any
fees.
- And fees charged by the
lender-of-choice may be rolled into the loan.
August Mack
specializes in environmental, health and safety compliance;
environmental due diligence; environmental site remediation; and
sustainable business strategies to the industrial, legal,
financial, health care and government sectors...
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St. Clair Shores officials are
expected to take steps next month to have certain neighborhoods
added to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs)
list of high-priority areas due to the presence of PCB
contamination. They hope to have the sites officially added to
the National Priority List for cleanups by September, and therefore
be eligible for Superfund cleanup funding.
Both the local community, and the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources and Environment, currently have little money
for...
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March 4, 2010 - Representatives of
the newly formed Michigan Department of Natural Resources and
Environment indicated today that the state's ongoing structural
budget deficit, combined with decreasing tax revenues due
to poor economic conditions, and the lack of new cleanup bond
initiatives are limiting their ability to complete environmental
cleanup activities at abandoned ("orphan") contaminated sites
throughout the state.
There are more than 4,000 orphan sites in Michigan. These
sites impair...
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In order to qualify, a business must meet the following
criteria:
- Be independently owned and operated
- Not be dominant in its field
- Be a for-profit business
- Employ 500 or fewer full-time employees
Examples of recent loan program participants include:
- Diesel Fleet Owners
- Medical Doctors
- Dentists
- Golf Courses
- Graphic Designers / Printers
- Farmers
- Dry Cleaners
- Manufacturers
To date, more than 40 businesses
have applied for and received low-interest P2 monies with an
average loan amount of approximately $110,000.
A...
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Michigan's Small Business Pollution
Prevention (P2) Loan Program provides low-interest loans to the
manufacturing, agricultural, retail and service industries for
projects that result in the reduction of waste generation, improve
recycling / reuse of materials, conserve water or energy on site or
produce agricultural-based energy. The program provides loans
of up to $400,000 at an interest rate not to exceed five percent to
eligible small businesses.
August Mack specializes in environmental,...
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The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mandatory Reporting
of Greenhouse Gases GHG) Rule is now in affect (as of January
1, 2010). The purpose of this posting is to review where you
should be in terms of compliance.
- Have you completed a GHG emissions inventory? Remember
the Mandatory Reporting Rule is based on actual emissions.
- Did you implement your GHG emissions tracking program on
or before January 1, 2010?
- Have you installed any necessary fuel monitoring or flow
metering devices required...
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In case you missed the news: Today at dawn, Punxsutawney Phil
emerged from his den and saw his shadow, thereby predicting 6
more weeks of winter.
Happy Groundhog Day!
On December 22, 2009, Director
Steven Chester announced that he will leave his post at the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on January 4,
2010. Governor Granholm appointed Deputy Director Jim Sygo to
serve as interim Director from January 4th to January 17th, when
Executive Order 2009-45 takes effect combining the DEQ with the
Department of Natural Resources into the newly formed Department of
Natural Resources and Environment. Governor Granholm is
expected to appoint a permanent...
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It is best to hire reputable,
experienced professionals to clean and remove molds from affected
areas. Doing so will limit potential exposures to employees
and the possible spread of molds to other areas.
Professionals are better equipped to construct work
containment areas, manage the flow of air during
cleanup, handle cleaning chemicals &/or biocides, wear
personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as identify impacted
materials that will need to be treated or discarded.
Consider performing...
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To prevent molds from growing, you
must control moisture. Here are some helpful tips:
- Act quickly, within 24 hours, to
clean up sudden large leaks and spills
- Maintain your roofing and drainage
systems to prevent moisture intrusion
- Regularly service the
HVAC system
- Add and/or use ventilation systems
to lower the humidity
- Use a dehumidifier
- Insulate cold surfaces
- Increase air movement and air
exchanges
- Increase the air temperature
- Maintain indoor relative humidity
below 60 percent
- Add mold inhibitors to...
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Indications of mold often include
visible growths and musty odors, which may indicate hidden growths
behind walls or other surfaces. If you believe that you have
hidden molds, it is best to hire a professional to investigate both
the potential hidden molds and the possible unknown moisture
sources that could promote mold growth.
Controlling moisture is the key to controlling mold since all molds
require a moisture source to grow. If you are dealing with a
sudden release of moisture such as a...
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Some key dates include the
following:
- September 22, 2009 - The Rule was signed by the
Administrator
- October 30, 2009 - The Rule was published in the Federal
Register
- December 29, 2009 - The Rule goes into effect (60 days after
being published)
- January 1, 2010 - The Rule requires monitoring to begin
- January 28, 2010 - The last day to request an extension for the
installation of monitoring devices (30 days after the rule goes
into effect)
- March 31, 2010 - Monitoring devices such as fuel and flow
meters...
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