Energy Outlet serves up retail, educational space for green movement

By Charnika Jett
Sep. 14, 2009    ·    2:23 p.m.

While going green seems to be the essential way to preserve our eco-system, many people want to hop on the bandwagon, but have no clue on how to get started.

To ease the minds of the green-impaired, the Clean Energy Coalition has launched the Energy Outlet, an innovative new retail and educational space aimed at meeting the demands of the growing green and energy efficiency movements.

At the Energy Outlet, consumers, contractors and business owners can access information and products to decrease their energy use, improve their efficiency and increase their use of clean energy.

Project manager of the CEC, Deb Heed, was interested in getting involved in the green movement after living in Germany for a year and realized how slow America was to changing its habits.

“While we were in Germany, I got to see all sorts renewable energy, recycling projects and much more sustainable living practices going on [there] than here in America, Heed said. “For me it was an eye opener of the possibilities we can do differently here.

“I found it really inspiring,” she said.

After volunteering with CEC, and devoting 30 hours of labor to the organization, Heed eventually became a full-time employee and helped build the outlet store, which sells everything from compact fluorescent lamps, low-flow showerheads and renewable energy products to energy audits.

In addition to selling essential everyday goods for home and businesses, the CEC’s Energy Outlet also does good for the Ypsilanti community by becoming involved in the management of clean energy projects such as Rebuild Ypsilanti.

Rebuild Ypsilanti is a project started by the CEC almost a year ago to reduce energy costs by assisting in energy efficiency improvements for commercial buildings such as offices, retail, restaurants and multifamily residential. It is funded in part by a grant from the Michigan Energy Office, headed under the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

“We could afford to do six different projects and had business apply for winning one of these commercial energy audits,” Heed said.

The Corner Brewery and the Ypsilanti Library were two out of the six businesses who won free energy audits by CEC. The audits included checking the businesses light and energy usage as well inspecting the building for any leaks that can ultimately save energy by using less heat.

One audit involved setting up a system that blew air toward the building from the outside.

“They do it on a day that’s ten degrees hotter or cooler inside of the building than it is outside,” Heed said. “They do this so any cracks around the building and around the foundation, attic, windows [becomes visible] when you go around with an infrared camera.

“You can actually see the temperature difference by exaggerating any leaks that you have,” she said.

After the inspection is over, CEC will determine the best way to seal and insulate the building and see if there are any options for reducing their water and electricity usage.

“We also look at their furnaces, water heater and appliances and make recommendations about how they could use less energy, natural gas and water in their day-to-day work,” Heed said.

To help Ypsilanti homeowners on beginning their green journey, CEC Energy Outlet will soon offer workshops at the store for a hands-on guide to making houses energy efficient.

Taught by CEC staff and locally-owned green business partners, participants can choose from four one-and-a-half hour classes that take place in the Energy Outlet’s Green Classroom.

Local landscaping planning and maintenance company, Two Chicks and the Elements, will offer a “build your own rain barrel” class, while locally-owned and operated business Arbor Spray Foam Insulation, will offer a class on insulation options and benefits.

“One person who’s an eco-broker and realtor, [will teach participants] how to give houses an energy rating,” Heed said. “[He also] teaches how to make your house greener before you sell it and how to check out a house from the green perspective before you buy it.”

Classes will be held in October and will cost $10 while the “build your own rain barrel” class will cost $77.

Heed said she would like to educate Ypsilanti residents of CEC’s mission in opening the Energy Outlet, which is to increase public awareness of locally owned “green” businesses and their products.

“We want to work toward proving information to the public about different ways to look at energy and to promote clean energy technology so we can have more healthy, energy independent communities,” she said.

The Energy Outlet is located at 44 East Cross St. and is open from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. - 7p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

To learn more about the Energy Outlet, contact Deb Heed at deb@cec-mi.org or call 734-483-9000.

To learn more about the Clean Energy Coalition visit www.cec-mi.org.