Metro Earth Day 2010: Follow JARC lead E arth Day marks its 40th anniversary on April 22 this year,and businesses are finding ways to become greener as more consumers seek to buy or work with companies that support sustainable practices. Nonprofit organizations also are learning the same lesson as people like to support organizations not only for their charitable mission, but also because they are carrying out environmentally sound practices. JARC, a 40-year-old nonprofit based in Farmington Hills, is a national leader in serving people with developmental disabilities and their families in a variety of ways, including those that help sustain the environment. For example, last November six women moved into a barrier-free green home designed by JARC from the ground up. "The Nusbaum Home was designed to be equally functional and aesthetically pleasing for anyone who lives there said JARC CEO Richard Loewenstein. "We believe this home is one of the first bar- rier-free green homes in the United States. Our design goals were to cre- ate a functional, efficient and fully accessible group home, to employ as many green construction principles as possible within budget con- straints, and to provide the ability to incorporate the future addition of solar and wind technologies." JARC has made a conscious choice to make all future renova- tions to its other homes as sustain- able as possible. "While sustainable renovations may be more expensive initially, they will lessen our energy, fuel and water consumption and waste, saving JARC dollars in the long run by decreasing, in some cases dramatically, our utility bills," Loewenstein said. An active green committee made up of staff members reviews cur- rent practices and institutes energy and resource-saving measures in group homes and the administra- tive offices. And each spring, JARC involves the community and invites people to plant flowers at each JARC home. "By implementing green initia- tives, JARC helps to erase barriers and enrich the lives of those it touches," Loewenstein said. Li SAVE MONEY! Modify your mortgage rates as low as 2%! PAYMENT RELIEF Citibank - West Bloomfield $317,000 mortgage 5.625% $2,597/m Modified to 2% > $1,771/m Monthly savings $826! Wells Fargo - Oak Park $114,598 mortgage 5.63% $1,127.61/m Modified to 2% > $865.83/m Monthly savings $261.78! WaMU - Franklin $555,000 mortgage 6.38% $4,205/m Modified to 2% > $1,823/m Monthly savings $2,382! cOST 10 y o u ! Wells Fargo - Southfield $214,000 mortgage 5.125% $2,239/m Modified to 2% > $1,684/m Monthly savings $555! Chase - Southfield $160,800 mortgage 6.50% $1,878/m Modified to 2.25% > $1,221/m Monthly savings $657! Bank of America - Farmington Hills $259,000 mortgage 6.0% $3,454/m Modified to 2% > $2,241/m Monthly savings $1,213! Aurora - Huntington Woods $334,757 mortgage 6.75% $2,909/m Modified to 2% > $1,456/m Monthly savings $1,453! •Whether you are up to date on payments or delinquent. •Take advantage of government programs • Short sale and foreclosure counseling available • FREE CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION Call Jewish Housing Association and save thousands of dollars every year 1.800.458.0404 Jewish Housing Association 27777 Franklin Road, Suite 1700 Southfield, MI 48075 1.800.458.0404 www.jhamd.org Jewish Housing Association of Metropolitan Detroit (lc Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit WE'RE PART OF THE TEAM A Michigan non profit organization 1594790 ;it 22 2010 19