City of Holland Collaborates with Viability, Secures LED Lighting Grant
$113K grant to light up downtown
By Andrea Goodell, City Hall Reporter
The Holland Sentinel, Jan. 26, 2010
Holland, MI —LED light will soon illuminate the paths of downtown pedestrians.
A $113,000 grant announced by the state Monday will pay for the majority of the demonstration project along Eighth Street’s main business corridor.
The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth awarded $17.4 million in grants to 125 municipalities for energy efficiency projects. The state Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
“This funding will support a pipeline of projects, offer the option of bulk purchasing and encourage increased manufacturing,” state agency Director Stanley Pruss said in a written statement released Monday.
The city worked with Viability LLC, an economic development and energy consulting firm, on the grant proposal. “The grant really helps to offset the investment amount, so the payoff is a lot sooner,” Viability grant writer Amanda Burmeister said.
Dennis R.J. Geppert/The Holland Sentinel
The LED, or light emitting diode, technology directs more light downward, reducing light pollution of the night sky and increasing efficiency, she said.
The projects are intended to create and retain jobs, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while they demonstrate market demand and attract LED and solid state lighting manufacturing to the state.
“These Recovery Act funds will assist our ongoing efforts in moving to a clean energy economy,” Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a prepared statement.
The city of Holland’s proposal included as many LED pedestrian street lamps as the grant would buy depending on the market.
If 100 lamps are installed (assuming 74-watt fixtures), the project will save 136-watts per unit or 38,080 kilowatt hours and 59,519 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. The lights will save the city about $5,071 each year in electricity and maintenance costs.
An educational campaign will demonstrate the viability of LED technology. Work on the project will start as funding announcements have officially been made and will be wrapped up before the end of 2010.
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Post on Jan 26 in Viability in the NewsViability Adds Engineer Jonathan Cooper
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 13, 2010
Contact: Chris Byrnes, President
616-396-6101, chris@viabilityonline.com
Calvin Grad Brings International Lessons, Perspective to Viability
Local engineer is using rural development skills from year volunteering in Southeast Asia
HOLLAND, MI. – Jan. 13, 2010 – Viability LLC, a West Michigan-based energy and environmental consulting firm, announced the hiring of Calvin graduate Jonathan Cooper to its engineering staff.
Jonathan Cooper is a Kalamazoo native and Calvin engineering graduate.
Amid a competitive job market, it was Cooper’s yearlong rural engineering improvement and sustainable development volunteer work in Cambodia that distinguished him from other applicants.
“After studying in Cambodia during my senior year, experiencing that culture and seeing the healing that is taking place there, I was called back to serve there,” said Cooper. “After a few months in the country, there was an opportunity to work in a rural area doing water management in an agricultural setting which I got very excited about.”
While working in Cambodia, Cooper had applied as a US delegate to the International Youth Forum on Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Seoul, South Korea. When he returned stateside, Cooper was selected as one of 115 participants from 31 countries.
“At the forum, a group of students and young professionals from across the globe came together to share ideas concerning development,” said Cooper. “I sought out Viability because they create opportunities for industries to respond to these global challenges.”
Cooper’s ground experience provides him an advantage over other engineers in the field of sustainability, shares Viability Partner David Armstrong.
“We [at Viability] believe in developing our engineers internally, and acquiring someone like Jonathan who brings perspective and creativity benefits both the company and our industry,” said Armstrong.
Cooper will be working with Viability’s domestic and international business clients to evaluate, design and implement renewable and energy efficiency projects in addition to carbon credit development.
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ABOUT VIABILITY
Since 2003, Viability, LLC has partnered with a wide range of businesses in over 20 states and secured millions in grants and incentives. Viability’s comprehensive energy solutions include domestic and international carbon credit development, grant and incentive research, citywide carbon action plans and renewable energy project implementation.
For more information on Viability, please visit http://www.viabilityllc.com
Click here to read a PDF of this release
Post on Jan 13 in Press ReleasesByrnes to Present at OSU Nursery Short Course
During the 2010 OSU Short Course and CENTS show, Viability’s Chris Byrnes will give a “Grants for Grower” presentation to greenhouse owners and plant enthusiasts. Byrnes’ presentation will address federal and state grants and incentives for renewable and energy efficiency projects, as well as possible carbon credit development for significantly sized operations.
Date: January 24-27
Time: Byrnes’ presentation is at 10:45am on Jan. 25
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH
Sponsor: The Ohio State University, OSU Extension, and the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association
Important Information: If you would like to attend the show, visit OSU’s event website for details and rates.
