Michigan has thousands of old, energy-inefficient factories, apartment complexes and office buildings. Nationally, the U.S. government estimates that the average building wastes a third of the energy it uses. My guess is that figure may be even higher here. How important is that?
Huge. According to federal government estimates, building operations account for 44 percent, or nearly half, of the nation’s entire energy use. Why doesn’t the private sector do more about this?
Simple: It would cost too much. Most banks only do commercial lending for a three to five year period. Realizing net savings could take fifteen years or more, and few businesses can afford to wait that long. But there’s a little-understood program that can solve that problem, and an enthusiastic attorney named Andy Levin is its main apostle. Read more.