The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Tuesday,.October 11, 2011- 5
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tsesday~October 11, 2011 - 5
Council approves program
to green commercial areas
PACE program to
decrease energy
costs for properties
By JENNIFER LEE
Daily StaffReporter
In the city known for its trees, a
new program is aiming to encour-
age commercial properties to be a
little bit greener.
The program, the Property
Assessed Clean Energy program,'
will limitAnnArbor's greenhouse
gas emissions by urging commer-
cial property owners to install
more energy-efficient infrastruc-
ture. The Ann Arbor City Council
approved the PACE program at its
meetinglast week.
PACE is a statewide initiative
passed last' December that local
governments have the option of
implementing. It is estimated that
the PACE program will enable
$26 million per year to remain in
the city's economy, according to
an Oct. 4 City of Ann Arbor press
release.
Through the program, com-
mercial property owners can
apply for an assessment to deter-
mine the feasibility of installing
energy-efficient systems in their
buildings. The possible energy
M improvements - costing between
$1,000 to $350,000 - include
geothermal systems, Energy Star
appliances, solar panels, efficient
heating and cooling systems and
improved insulation.
The projects are financed
through the city's revenue bonds
and offer property owners lower
operating costs and several eco-
nomic incentives such as fixed
interest rates and an extended
repayment period. The program
will only carry out plans for a proj-
ect that will yield greater energy
savings than costs, accordingto
the Ann Arbor City Council web-
site.
Ann Arbor resident Conan
Smith, a member of the Washt-
enaw County Board of Commis-
sioners, voiced his appreciation
for the PACE program during
the public hearing portion of last
week's City Council meeting.
Advocating for sustainable solu-
tions to improve the economy,
Smith said the PACE program will
create valuable opportunities for
businesses.
"When we look at economic
development into the future, the
green economy is going to be a
critical component of that," Smith
said. "And making sure that our
businesses have a means to par-
ticipate in it is going to be equally
important for us."
Wendy Barrott, the city's com-
munity energy coordinator and
an employee of the Ann Arbor-
based non-profit Clean Energy
Coalition, said the PACE program
is using voluntary assessments
because energy efficiency is con-
sidered a public good.
"Cities and townships have the
authority to levy assessments o'n
purchases of property to imple-
ment projects that are for public
good," Barrott said. "They've been
used, historically, for sidewalks,
sewer disconnects, storm sewer
disconnects and a wide variety of
projects like that."
At last week's City Council
meeting, Smith said the Washt-
enaw County Board of Commis-
sioners might follow the city's lead
and create a county wide program.
He said implementing a similar
program at the county level would
give commercial properties in
smaller towns the opportunity to
increase their energy efficiency.
"In Ann Arbor, we have a den-
sity of commercial property that
makes a program like this viable
at the city level," Smith said. "But
when you look at some of our
smaller townships, for example,
they aren't going to have that kind
of population, so they're never
going to be able to offer the bonds
that would finance a program like
this or qualify for granting from
the federal government."
REGENTS
From Page 1
BOARD TO REVIEW
PROPOSED ADDITION TO
NEW WOMEN'S AND
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Slottow and Ora Pescovitz,
the University's executive vice
president for medical affairs,
requested the regents' approval
to fund a project to accommo-
date the University's second
cardiac catheterization labora-
tory for pediatric cases.
The project, estimated to cost
$3.45 million, proposes to house
the laboratory in the approxi-
mately 1,100 square feet of space
on the 11th floor of the new C.S.
Mott Children's and Von Voigt-
lander Women's Hospital. The
hospitals are scheduled to offi-
cially open next month.
If approved, the project is
expected to be completed in
fall 2012. Funding would come
from the University of Michi-
gan Hospitals and Health Cen-
ters' resources, according to an
Oct. 10 communication to the
regents by Slottow and Pesco-
vitz.
THREE FACULTY MEMBER
RECEIVE HENRY
RUSSEL AWARDS
University President Mary
Sue Coleman announced that
three University faculty mem-
bers have received the 2012
Henry Russel Awards, which
recognize exceptional schol-
arship and teaching ability, utive editor of the Times - a
according to a Oct.10 communi- position she assumed on Sept.
cation to the regents. 6. Abramson has worked at the
The three recipients are Lada Times since 1997. She previ-
Adamic, associate professor of ously served as the newspaper's
information and assistant pro- managing editor and Washing-
fessor of electrical engineering ton bureau chief.
and computer science, Aaron Cantor, who will receive a
Pierce, associate professor of Doctor of Laws degree, has been
physics, and Haoxing Xu, assis- chancellor of Syracuse Univer-
tant professor of molecular, sity since 2004. She also served
cellular and developmental biol- as University of Michigan pro-
ogy. vost from 1997 to 2002. During
The award "is one of the her time in Ann Arbor, Cantor
highest honors the University wps influential in the two 2003
bestows upon junior faculty Supreme Court affirmative
members," Coleman wrote. action cases that involved the
Adamic, Pierce and Xu will University.
be formally presented with Benet and Putnam will both
their awards at the Henry Rus- be awarded Doctor of Science
sel Lecture on Feb. 23, 2012. degrees. Benet, a biopharma-
ceutical scientist, earned three
REGENTS TO VOTE ON degrees from the University
HONORARY DEGREE and studies the way in which
RECIPIENTS the human body cleanses itself
of drugs. Benet's work has led
The regents will also con- to better treatment for different
sider whether to bestow honor- types of cancers.
ary degrees to four individuals Putnam, a professor of pub-
at Winter Commencement this lic policy in Harvard's John
December - including New F. Kennedy School of Govern-
York Times Executive Editor ment, developed the two-level
Jill Abramson, who will deliver game theory that says accords
the commencement address at between international play-
Crisler Arena on Dec. 18. ers can be agreed upon only
The other nominees to if domestic advantages are
receive honorary degrees are included for everyone involved.
Syracuse University Chancel- He also wrote "Bowling Alone,"
Ior Nancy Cantor, Leslie Benet, which describes how people are
a professor at the University of participating in fewer commu-
California, San Francisco, and nity activities compared to 50
Harvard University Prof. Rob- years ago.
ert Putnam.
Abramson, who will be - Daily News Editor
awarded a Doctorate of Humane Joseph Lichterman
Letters, is the first female exec- contributed to this report.
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