GreenLife Wins ENERGY STAR Award from Governor

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm and DLEG Director Keith W. Cooley Award Federal Grants to Five Builders to Construct Energy-Efficient Houses

Contact: Mario Morrow

517.373.9280

www.michigan.gov/dleg

mediainfo@michigan.gov

April 1, 2008 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Director Keith W. Cooley today announced that five Michigan builders have been awarded federal grants from the Energy Star Home Grant Program to construct energy-efficient houses.

“With rising utility costs, this energy program is a great way to educate home builders and buyers about the latest technology and energy-efficient products,” Granholm said.

Cooley presented the grants on April 1 at Urban Options Energy & Environmental Demonstration House in East Lansing to each of the five selected builders. The recipients are:

· Kloha Contracting, Freeland - Project Location: Freeland. Grant: $8,000

· GreenLife Homes, Wyoming – Project Location: Wyoming. Grant: $6,920

· T. Hawkins Builders, Negaunee – Project Location: Marquette Township. Grant: $8,000

· James D. Compo, Inc., Farmington Hills – Project Location: Franklin. Grant: $8,000

· Sean McCardel Construction, Traverse City – Project Location: Traverse City. Grant: $8,000

Builders compete for the U.S. Department of Energy funded grants based on energy-efficiency, marketing plans and innovations. Each house required an Energy Star rating based on a National Home Energy Rating System to be eligible for the grants. Home energy ratings help buyers identify energy efficient homes as well as understand energy costs and how to lower them.

Some of the innovative energy-saving features of the five houses include: solar powered attic fan, 95+ efficient furnace, geothermal heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilator system, passive clothes drying closet, radiant floor heating, and construction recycling systems.

The homes will be marketed through websites, presentations to building trade professionals and technical schools, special displays at the sites, tours for students and construction teachers, on-site building workshops, open houses and Parade of Home showcases.

“Builders and consumers are becoming increasingly interested in energy-efficient products with each year we present these grants,” Cooley said. “It’s been our experience that energy-efficient products pay for themselves and then some with the money they save in future utility bills.”

For more information, visit the Energy Office website at: http://www.michigan.gov/energyoffice.