By Morgan Kelley, Holland Board of Public Works Being smart about your energy use is not only easy, but saves you money. The Energy Waste Reduction programs offered by Holland Board of Public Works seek to meet goals in the City of Holland’s Community Energy Plan and Sustainability Framework by promoting affordability, sustainability, and energy efficiency for residents …
Continue reading “Living Sustainably: HBPW wants to snuff out vampire power”
By Shandra Martinez, Ready for School Herman Miller employees were among the volunteers who fanned out to meet soon-to-be kindergarten students on a sunny August morning to personally present each child with a bright green backpack. Inside each was an outfit of pants, shirt, and shoes, plus school supplies, such as a pencil box, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, and …
Continue reading “LIVING SUSTAINABLY: Business talent pipeline begins with Ready for School”
By Andrea Goodell, Herrick District Library Making your home more comfortable, healthy and cost-effective doesn’t have to break the bank. Everyone knows the No. 1 tip: Lower your thermostat a couple of degrees in winter and raise it a couple of degrees in summer. (You won’t notice the difference, but you’ll notice the savings.) There are dozens of …
Continue reading “Living Sustainably: Energy seminar focuses on comfort, health, savings”
JIM AND MARTIE BULTMAN STUDENT CENTER EARNS LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION; WOOD FROM STORM-FELLED TREES LINKS PAST AND PRESENT September 17, 2018 — by Greg Olgers Organizations seeking LEED certification for their construction projects have many ways to earn it, including by using regional materials. In developing the Jim and Martie Bultman Student Center, which recently …
Continue reading “JIM AND MARTIE BULTMAN STUDENT CENTER EARNS LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION”
By Ken Freestone and Lisa Uganski, GreenMichigan.org and Ottawa Food The issue of food waste is about more than disposal of food scraps from our tables at home or uneaten food at restaurants. It is about hungry families and individuals, about wasting environmental resources during growing and processing, about over-purchasing, and about creating methane in landfills. There are at …
Continue reading “Living Sustainabily: Food Waste Film – Just Eat It”
By Kate Bolt, LivingLark.com Growing up between fields of wheat and corn in East Saugatuck, farming and living close to the food we eat has always been an important part of my life. My parents always came home with local produce from our neighboring farms, and every year at the tractor pull down the street there was an …
Continue reading “Living Sustainably: Celebrate Local Food on the Lakeshore This Fall”
By Anne Saliers, Holland Board of Public Works More finalists have been selected from Holland for the 2018 Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards than from any other city in the state. Of the 21 businesses, organizations, and individuals across the state that have been honored this year, three are from Holland, a fourth is honored because of its work …
Continue reading “Living Sustainably: Holland Stands Out in Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards”
By Hannah Schulze, Local First of West Michigan One sure-fire way to guarantee yourself an A+ when it comes to planning your family vacation is to emphasize unique, exciting experiences that will result in priceless memories for years to come. And a way to add to those experiences is the human connection that can be gained by …
Continue reading “Living Sustainably: Think local for vacations with sustainable impact”
By Katelyn DeWitt, Hope College Biology Student Have you hugged a tree lately? This summer I have been walking around Holland doing just that. In a joint project between the City of Holland and Hope College, I have been working to census all of the trees on public property in Holland by recording every tree’s trunk diameter and …
“Ken Freestone is the City of Holland’s Residential Energy Advisor. He helps Holland homeowners make retrofits to their homes that maximize energy efficiency, from sealing air leaks to replacing windows to installing solar panels. First, Freestone will help an interested homeowner identify their wants, like lower utility costs or better heating. Then, he works with …
Continue reading “WMEAC Blog: To Improve Energy Efficiency, Holland Turns To Equitable Financing”
