Clean Update

New Technology Uses Sunlight To Turn Salt Water Into Fresh Drinking Water

HOUSTON – A federally funded research effort to revolutionize water treatment has yielded an off-grid technology that uses energy from sunlight alone to turn salt water into fresh drinking water. The desalination system, which uses a combination of membrane distillation technology and light-harvesting nanophotonics, is the first major innovation from the Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water

By |2017-06-19T21:07:53-04:00June 19th, 2017|Clean Update|

Michigan Democrats To Introduce 50 Percent Renewable Energy Standard

LANSING - Legislative Democrats said Thursday they are introducing legislation to more than triple the percentage of electricity utilities generate from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2035, as well as double the energy efficiency standard to 2 percent starting in 2022. The move comes months after the Legislature passed, and Governor Rick Snyder signed,

By |2017-06-16T11:10:04-04:00June 16th, 2017|Clean Update, Politics|

Michigan Public Service Commission Allows Expansion Of Wind Project In Tuscola County

LANSING - Consumers Energy can speed up construction a wind turbine project by three years in Tuscola County following a ruling issued Thursday by the Public Service Commission. Last year the PSC allowed Consumers to buy 19 wind turbines for its Cross Winds Energy Park II in Tuscola County and said the utility could have an

By |2017-06-16T11:10:04-04:00June 16th, 2017|Clean Update, Politics|

Climate Scientist Named Dean Of New U-M School For Environment And Sustainability

ANN ARBOR - Jonathan Overpeck, one of the nation's leading experts on climate change, today was appointed the inaugural dean of the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability. The position carries the title, Samuel A. Graham Dean. His five-year appointment, effective Aug. 14, was approved by the U-M Board of Regents. Overpeck also

By |2017-06-15T22:08:27-04:00June 15th, 2017|Clean Update, New Products / Contracts|

Magic Alloy Could Spur Next Generation Of Solar Cells

ANN ARBOR - In what could be a major step forward for a new generation of solar cells called "concentrator photovoltaics," University of Michigan researchers have developed a new semiconductor alloy that can capture the near-infrared light located on the leading edge of the visible light spectrum. Easier to manufacture and at least 25 percent

By |2017-06-15T21:06:51-04:00June 15th, 2017|Clean Update|

SBAM Energy Solutions

LANSING - The Small Business Association of Michigan is partnering with Consumers Energy and DTE Energy to provide enhanced energy services to small business across Michigan with the SBAM Energy Solutions program. Members can speak with the energy team on any energy-related topic, including the following: Account overview analysis (Are you paying the right rate?)

By |2017-06-15T20:11:09-04:00June 15th, 2017|Clean Update, News, Small Business Association of Michigan|

Saving Lives And Money: The Potential Of Solar To Replace Coal

HOUGHTON - By swapping solar photovoltaics for coal, the United States could prevent 51,999 premature deaths a year, potentially making as much as $2.5 million for each life saved, so says a study by Michigan Technological University. The study - Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews (DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.119) - was conducted by a team from MTU that

By |2017-06-01T15:49:02-04:00June 1st, 2017|Clean Update|

GVSU Receives Gold Status From National Sustainability Group

ALLENDALE - Grand Valley State University has again received gold status after completing a sustainability assessment developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) gauges the progress of colleges and universities toward sustainability in all sectors, including education and research, operations, innovation and planning,

By |2017-05-23T17:05:39-04:00May 23rd, 2017|Clean Update|

Feds Give $20 Million Grant To U-M To Form Research Institute For Sustainable Management Of Great Lakes

ANN ARBOR — The University of Michigan has been awarded a five-year, $20 million grant from the federal government to form a research institute focused on sustainable management of the Great Lakes. The Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, which will be hosted by UM and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, represents

By |2017-05-19T12:56:16-04:00May 19th, 2017|Clean Update, ESD|

Erie Hack Finalist: Purily – Incentivizing Water Conservation

GRAND Rapids - Purily is a finalist in the recent Erie Hack initiative that was hosted at TechTown Detroit.  Purily's goal is to connect residents, restaurants, and charities to promote water conservation. They plan to do this by tracking residents’ water usage and providing residents estaurant discounts or other promotional incentives for conserving. They would like to use

By |2017-05-17T19:08:56-04:00May 17th, 2017|Clean Update, Michigan Mobile Musings, Podcasts|