Energy Workshops At Local Churches

Michigan Interfaith Power & Light (Michigan IPL) and Efficiency UNITED are leading Energy-Savings events at two area churches Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23 and 24, at 6:30 p.m.

Julie Lyons Bricker of Michigan IPL will provide easy, inexpensive tips for homeowners that will help lower their utility bills—often significantly. Representatives from Efficiency UNITED will discuss rebates on energy-saving products, from furnaces to insulation and new appliances, which are available to UPPCO and SEMCO customers.

“These rebates are paid for by all Michigan utility customers on their monthly bills, so it’s important to know how to use them,” said Bricker.

Qualifing participants have a chance to win valuable ENERGY STAR prizes, including LED lightbulbs, refrigerators and a $250 Nest smart thermostat.

The Tuesday workshop will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1100 College Ave., Houghton, co-hosted by Trinity Episcopal. The Wednesday event will be at Church of the Resurrection, 900 Quincy St., Hancock, co-hosted by SS. Peter and Paul Lutheran and Gloria Dei Lutheran.

The event has no cost, but advance registration is requested. Call (906) 482-5410 for the Tuesday event, (906) 482-0215 for the Wednesday event, or visit miipl.org/workshops by Sunday (June 21) to register. Light refreshments will be served.

Michigan IPL, based in Southfield, is a nonprofit that helps faith communities become better stewards of the earth by promoting and implementing energy efficiency, renewable energy and related sustainable practices through education, advocacy and action.

Efficiency UNITED is committed to educating their residential and commercial customers about energy efficiency and offering cost-effective solutions and rebates for reducing energy use.

The Houghton Energy Efficiency Team will be on hand to recruit volunteers and identify residences for its low-cost winterization program, part of its effort to compete for the $5 million Georgetown University Energy Prize (guep.org). which challenges communities to rethink their energy use and implement creative strategies to increase energy efficiency.