Millions in energy savings at 500 Michigan businesses, churches, homes

Millions of dollars in savings on energy, water bills expected for 500 businesses, churches, and homes involved in new conservation project Earth Keeper Energy Summit: Everyone invited to free conference next week that provides ways to cut energy and water consumption across northern Michigan (Marquette, Michigan) - Nearly 500 northern Michigan businesses, churches and homes are expected to save millions of dollars in power and water costs as part of a new conservation initiative that will be discussed Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at a free Earth Keeper energy summit in Marquette. Earth Keeper Initiative volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson has the story. Everyone is encouraged to attend the free energy summit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday June 13, 2007 at the UpFront and Company restaurant in Marquette. The conference will include presentations on energy conservation and alternative sustainable energies, according to Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette. The Earth Keeper conference is sponsored by the Super Watershed Partnership in cooperation with the Cedar Tree Institute. The two Marquette-based non-profit organizations founded the Earth Keeper Initiative in 2004 that has numerous ongoing environmental projects including the annual Earth Day clean sweeps across northern Michigan that have collected about 370 tons of household hazardous waste for recycling or proper disposal. About 500 Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan businesses, churches/temples, and individuals have already started conserving energy and organizers are hoping the free conference will encourage others to join the effort by learning a wide range of techniques to reduce energy and water consumption. The Superior Watershed Partnership will help schedule on-site energy audits for participants to identify ways of reducing their water and power bills. "Nobody wants to be spending more money on energy that they need to be," Linquist said, adding that energy audits leads to an average 30 percent reduction in power usage. In addition to cost savings, Lindquist said U.P. businesses will become known for being environmentally-friendly. "National studies show that over 80 percent of tourists prefer to give their business to a green business that has adopted energy and water conservation practices," Lindquist said. The energy summit will include detailed information on how to reduce energy costs including "an energy audit to find out where you are losing heat, where your are losing energy, where you could be saving not only energy but money; and learn about other services that are available through the Superior Watershed Partnership and our partner organizations," Lindquist said. About 60 participants including 30 churches have already confirmed they are going to attend the conference, Lindquist said adding that an RSVP is encouraged but not mandatory. "We are also having a segment on sustainable alternative energy resources such as wind power," Lindquist said. "I think it is exciting that not only businesses but that churches and participating households get involved and learning more about how to conserve energy, conserve water and help protect quality of life here in the Upper Peninsula." By reducing energy consumption, U.P. residents are doing their part to fight global warming. "Energy conservation has many benefits we hear a lot about climate change these days and it's something we can do at the local and regional levels to address these global issues and another great incentive is saving money," Lindquist said. "It all ties into climate change and carbon emissions." Over 140 churches/temples who participate in the annual interfaith Earth Keeper Clean Sweep will soon reduce their power and water bills, said Rev. John Magnuson, executive director of the Cedar Tree Institute. "We believe that energy audits of our faith community buildings, churches and communities will reduce (power and water) costs, increase efficiency of the use of fuels, and promote greening," said Rev. Magnuson, co-founder of the Earth Keeper Initiative. The cost savings allow churches/temples to spend the money on other worthwhile causes, Rev. Magnuson said. We are going to do audits of local churches and in our estimates we believe that at the 250 churches and temples participating - we could save over three years - between $800,000 and a million dollars worth of energy costs which then could be used for missions and better use of those monies in terms of contributing to the ministries and visions of our respective faith communities, Rev. Magnuson. "This is a sense of celebration about where we live, also a deeper responsibility that in the long run will benefit everybody in terms of living more reverently and frugally and appropriately with the environment," Rev. Magnuson said. The leaders of the nine Earth Keeper faith communities signed the Earth Keeper Covenant pledging to protect the environment and reach out to American Indian tribes. The faith communities are Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community is a sponsor of the annual Earth Keeper Clean sweep. Members of "nine different faith traditions from over 250 parishes in the U.P. will gather in Marquette and we will be talking about energy conservation," Rev. Magnuson said. "This energy conference is another step in a deepening awareness, a deepening consciousness of the faith communities commitment to stewardship for the earth and for the environment." Those attending the energy conference will learn "a number of easy steps to conserve energy such as changing to more energy efficient light bulbs and appliances," Lindquist said. The Superior Watershed Partnership is giving compact florescent light bulbs to the first 35 people attending the energy summit. "One of the easiest things people can do to conserve energy and save money on their energy bills is by installing compact florescent light bulbs around the house or throughout their business," Lindquist said. "It's a good way to save energy and save money." Earth Keeper Energy Summit presentations include: The Michigan Interfaith Power and Light group that works with lower peninsula churches to dramatically reduce energy consumption and energy bills. Great Waters is a program through Northern Initiatives and the Superior Watershed Partnership that works with over 300 nature tourism businesses to reduce energy and water consumption and increase tourism. Northern Options provides U.P. energy conservation services. Mackinaw Wind Power uses windmills to generate electricity offering alternative energy options. For more information on the energy summit contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 or visit their website. The Superior Watershed Partnership: http://www.superiorwatersheds.org ---- Other Earth Keeper related website addresses are: The Cedar Tree Institute: http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/ The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network: http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/ Earth Keeper TV: http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/

Blip | June 9, 2007

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