Energy for change in Leelanau County

April is a month that folks seem to think about more wisely using resources. This week’s Enterprise has a nice feature on community power consultant and Leelanau resident Steve Smiley.

Smiley’s home serves as a case study for the Michigan Energy Office, Department of Labor & Economic Growth and is an example of energy (and fuel) savings.

…Smiley said he hopes his home’s carbon-neutral energy consumption will become more the rule than the exception. His vision for Leelanau County includes the creation of shared utilities (heat, water, electricity) which are powered by natural fuel from the sun and wind and renewable sources such as trees, which absorb carbon.

You can see a case study on Smiley’s home at the Energy Office case studies page and read Renewable energy powers home of county couple in the Leelanau Enterprise.

The photo is Windmill by j lakechick and seeing it made me think about how once necessity forced folks to take advantage of the energies inherent in nature as a matter of course. Funny how we appear to be returning to that point.