The BetterBuildings for Michigan program has launched and it’s coming to Eastown! This three year, $30M American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) supported program uses a community approach to deliver energy efficiency improvements for homes and businesses by providing access to incentives and affordable loans.

>>note updated Meeting Dates and times: It’s now January 13 and 20 at 6 p.m., January 15 and 22 at 10 a.m.

The program was developed by a multi-stakeholder group including the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG); Michigan Saves; the City of Grand Rapids; the Economic Development Corporation of the city of Detroit; and the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office. BetterBuildings for Michigan will leverage each dollar of the federal funds available within the program with a minimum of five dollars from other investments, thereby leveraging over $150M in private and public funding.

Here’s the link to the Detroit article.

The objective of the BetterBuildings for Michigan program is to create

• a sustainable energy efficiency market by providing outreach and education to increase demand,
• a skilled energy efficiency workforce to meet that demand, and
• the tools for lenders to make ongoing investments in energy efficiency in residential, commercial, industrial, and public buildings.

The City of Grand Rapids, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) and Eastown Community Association (ECA) will be performing outreach in a portion of Eastown. Those within the outreach target area have access to $1050 in basic energy efficiency upgrades as well as a comprehensive home energy assessment. Based on the assessment, a resident may decide to upgrade to other energy efficiency measures that may be supported by attractive financing up to $12,500. More information can be obtained by contacting the West Michigan Environment Action Council at 451-3051.

Additional information on Eastown Sweep

The targeted neighborhood in Eastown is outlined between Fulton, Fuller, Lake, and Wilcox Park/Aquinas College and includes an estimated 429 homes. This neighborhood will be receiving advance notice of the program and events starting the week of January 3^rd this may come in the form of a direct mailing, door2door invitation, or door hangers.

The official program kick off in Eastown starts on Wednesday, January 12^th, 2011

Residents will not be able to officially sign up for the program until January 12^th.

Information Meetings will be held at St. Thomas Church in the basement community room.

Program sign up meetings:

January 13 and 20 at 6 p.m., January 15 and 22 at 10 a.m.

Door-2-Door Canvassing Events: WMEAC will be canvassing the neighborhood the week of January 17-22 for program information and sign up. Deadline for resident sign up is

February 12^th, 2011

Also, starting on January 12^th, the WMEAC office at 1007 Lake Drive SE & the ECA Office will become home bases for the neighbors to visit, get more information, and sign up during normal business hours of both offices.

The program website should be available by the official program kick-off on January 12^th.

That site will be www.betterbuildingsgr.org

Questions from residents about the program can be directed to WMEAC.

Ann Erhardt

Outreach Project Manager

WMEAC
616-451-3051 x24

aerhardt@wmeac.org