A Blog by WARM Training Center
renewable energy
Commercial Wind Power
Oct 15th
I’m interested in the development of commercial wind energy in Michigan, but am unaware of anyone working on this. Can you help?
- David in D.C.
As you may be aware, Michigan has the most wind potential of any state east of the Missippi river. And our manufacturing base makes us a top contender for supplying the wind industry. Many advocates think that renewable energy may be one of the key growth areas for Michigan jobs and industry. So, here’s a starting list of who to contact for high level work on renewables in Michigan. Continue reading “Commercial Wind Power” »
Solar Power for a Garage
Aug 18th
I’m considering adding solar panels to my garage to get electricity there. Can you help me make sense of the wattages and determine what I would need?
Tim in Detroit
Hi Tim,
A number of factors go into determining what system would best suit your needs when considering solar panels (or PV, for photo-voltaics).
Around Detroit we have good (though not excellent) solar radiation for powering PV panels. How much solar power you need depends on how much energy you’ll need, and what other components you’ll need. Continue reading “Solar Power for a Garage” »
Wood Burning Stoves?
Jul 16th
I was looking into a wood burning stove for my old house. Do these make any sense to use?
- Mary in Detroit
New, high efficiency wood burning stoves can work quite well. Older models often produce a lot of pollution and waste a lot of heat. But the high efficiency models burn much cleaner and you retain a lot of heat for the fuel you use.
Access to the fuel is really one of the key issues. Lots of Michigan has access to good wood stores, but that can be a challenge in urban settings.
The high efficiency wood burning stoves are expensive — typically running around $1100. The good news is there’s a local incentive for them! The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is currently running a program to provide a $500 rebate for installing a high efficiency wood burning stove. Find out more here.
Residential PV systems
Jul 2nd
I’m interested in installing a PV system on my house, but don’t know much about them. How should I go about familiarizing myself with this technology, and how do I figure out who to hire to install it?
Phil in Detroit
Hi, Phil. Here are a few suggestions:
1) Take our Intro to Renewable Energy class! Check the calendar on our website, or contact us at 313-894-1030 to find out about upcoming classes. If you’re willing to host one at your home, library, church, etc., we’ll come to you! Continue reading “Residential PV systems” »
Solar Panels
May 1st
I’m interested in installing solar panels in my home. Where can I look for advice, and what contractors are available?
The Michigan Energy Office website provides a listing of some possible local contractors for solar energy equipment installation. Here’s the link:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CIS_EO_Inside_broch_solar_and_wind_67997_7.pdf
You also might want to check with the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association for further advice. You can visit their website here: