Environment & Sustainability

Coverage of green innovations, and climate and environment issues and developments, especially those told by local voices and that offer solutions for community concerns.

Ford and U-M team up to open battery lab

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Community Development

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October 24, 2013

Developing the next generation of hybrid and electric battery for autos is tricky business. Innovations don't always square with nusiness needs. Ford and U-M are hoping to close that gap by joining forces. Excerpt: "The center, on the university's campus in Ann Arbor, will bring together battery makers, car companies and researchers who will test new batteries for prototype vehicles. Ted Miller, who manages battery research at Ford, said the lab will be unique in the U.S. He said that labs currently testing new battery chemistries can't produce them in the amounts or formats needed for automotive research. And battery companies aren't always sure that what they're developing could be useful to the automotive industry." Read the rest here.

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Schramms Mead sweetens Ferndale’s bar scene

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Arts & Culture

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October 24, 2013

The Metro Times (Ferndale's newest media resident) has a terrific profile of mead connoisseur Ken Schramm and his newly open tasting room. Excerpt: "Now, at 54, Schramm is finally getting into the production game. With laughing candor, he says, “I’ve had the books out for 10 years, and now I’m finally getting into the business when other people have had a five-year head start — and I’ve told them all my tricks! What kind of a businessman goes out and teaches everybody everything they need to know to be more successful than you are? Apparently that’s me.”" Read the rest here.

Strategic Energy Solutions adds 8 employees in Berkley

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Economic Development

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October 17, 2013

When it comes to growing Michigan’s green economy, companies like Strategic Energy Solutions aren’t the ones that normally stand in the spotlight. That’s because the Berkley-based firm designs and implements the energy infrastructure in large commercial and institutional facilities. It figures out what type of core systems (heating/cooling, electrical) should go into a building, the best opportunities to integrate alternative energy sources, and the best combination of all of the above to maximize energy usage. “It’s all the stuff people never see,” says Steve DiBerardine, president of Strategic Energy Solutions. Strategic Energy Solutions has been doing a lot of work with architecture firm Kraemer Design Group, taking on redevelopment projects in downtown Detroit for Bedrock Real Estate Services. It is also handling more work for local school districts in Livonia and Waterford, among others. “I think communities are again open to passing bonds,” DiBerardine says. That is all adding up to revenue growing by 20 percent over the last year. Thus, Strategic Energy Solutions has hired eight people, randing from engineers to CAD professionals. It currently employs 28 people. Source: Steve DiBerardine, president of Strategic Energy Solutions Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Lawrence Tech shows small biz the ways of digital manufacturing

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Arts & Culture

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October 17, 2013

A new partnership is forming at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield with the goal of making access to digital manufacturing more accessible to small- and medium-sized manufacturers. The university has paired up with the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences to open a 1,200-square-foot facility where manufacturers will have access to software, hardware and training that teaches them how to incorporate typically cost-prohibitive digital manufacturing, modeling, simulation and visualization technology. NCMS is described as the largest cross-industry collaborative research-and-development consortium in North America. It is dedicated to driving innovation in commercial, defense, robotics and environmentally sustainable manufacturing industries. The new training facility is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2014 in LTU's General Services Building at 21301 Civic Center Drive. "This collaboration will truly help Michigan SMMs become more competitive on a national and global scale,” says NCMS President Rick Jarman. Organizations such as the Michigan Manufacturers Association, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Aerospace Association of Michigan will identify manufacturers and publicize the program. “As a nation, we suffered a great deal when we shifted away from manufacturing," LTU president Virinder Moudgil says in a statement. "Now we have an opportunity to make manufacturing strong once more by helping the small and mid-sized companies that are the backbone of the U.S. economy.” Source: Eric Pope, spokesperson, Lawrence Technogical University Writer: Kim North Shine

Wanderlust Boutique brings affordable Euro fashion to Rochester

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Arts & Culture

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October 17, 2013

The women behind the new Wanderlust Boutique in downtown Rochester are bringing their love for European fashion to locals. Ally and Denise Martin say they've figured out a way to make Euro style affordable by scouring hundreds of vendors, looking not only for good prices but original styles. Besides casual clothing, the store sells accessories such as jewelry, watches, belts and shoes. Wanderlust opened Oct. 11 in a redone store painted in aqua blue mixed with exposed brick walls. A ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce is planned for Nov. 1. Source: Ally Martin, co-owner, Wanderlust Boutique Writer: Kim North Shine

Ferndale-based Schramm’s meets the need for mead

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Arts & Culture

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October 17, 2013

A decade since Ken Schramm started on the path to becoming one of Michigan's -- if not the country's -- mead authorities, he has opened his own meadery and bar. Schramm's Mead served its first customers Sept. 26 and celebrated with a grand opening party last Friday. After some unexpected hurdles, there was all the more reason to whoop it up. Schramm, whose day job is as manager of video services and manager of instructional technologies for Wayne County Schools, withstood delays brought on by the government sequester in April -- delays that caused crucial approvals from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to take several weeks or months longer than usual. Schramm says he's thrilled to see that his financial projections are being met. That's even after paying rent, building costs, salaries and going through refinancing to survive the delays. Schramm is the author of the Compete Mead Maker, which was published in 2003 and has sold about 60,000 copies. He started making mead a decade ago, knows its history, the many forms it takes, and realizes that turning craft mead into the next craft beer is "somewhat of an uphill battle" even when at least four metro Detroit craft brewers are succeeding at making mead. B. Nektar Meadery, also in Ferndale, is a supporter of Schramm's. The two make different styles of mead and B. Nektar is making mead as fast it can to keep up with demand. For Schramm the opening of his own establishment and the growing taste for mead is a dream come true. "I've worked hard to build this industry...I'm working hard to promote this hobby and this industry," he says. "This is such an exciting time for me." His daughter Allison is managing Schramm's Mead and "doing everything except making the mead," which is Ken Schramm's job. She has the help of several employees. Schramm's Mead will serve its fermented honey-based beverage with cheese plates and charcuterie. Schramm smokes meats too. It's located at 327 W. 9 Mile Road. So far the customers coming for a glass are about half mead drinkers, half not. "Some are familiar with it or know it well. They come from craft beer and wine circles," he says. "Some know who I am and were looking forward to the place opening. Others have never tried it, are interested in seeing what mead is." Source: Ken Schramm, founder and mead-maker, Schramm's Mead Writer: Kim North Shine

Wayne County opens new 30-mile greenway to the public

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Community Development

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October 10, 2013

Get in that last long run or bike ride before winter sets in. Wayne County's got a new 30-mile path to celebrate. Excerpt: "Events are planned this week to mark the completion of a 30-mile greenway for bicycle riders, walkers and runners in southeast Michigan...On Saturday, a community celebration takes places at Huroc Park in Flat Rock. The mile-long trail is the final piece of a 30-mile east-west greenway connecting Oakwoods Metropark and Lake Erie Metropark." More here.

C.A.Y.A Smokehouse Grill opens in Wolverine Lake

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Arts & Culture

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October 10, 2013

There is a lot to go on about with the C.A.Y.A Smokehouse Grill in Wolverine Lake, and customers are coming, from the nearby lake crowd to destination diners, to see what's it's all about. There is the food -- a specially smoked and creative menu made up of locally sourced ingredients from farms within 100 miles and never treated with chemicals or artificial ingredients. For example, the pork is pink because it comes from farms that don't pump it up with solutions. There is the building itself, a mix of rustic and industrial with copper, barn wood, iron, exposed cement-brick walls, exposed ceilings and an eye-catching, sleek black onyx bar. The bar serves specialty drinks and has six Michigan craft beers on tap. Jeff Rose, co-owner and chef, comes from two of metro Detroit's top restaurants: Michael Symon's Roast in Detroit and Toast in Birmingham. Rose co-owns C.A.Y.A with Rachel Mandell. They have 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Rose has also manned kitchens at Tribute, Big Rock Chophouse and Iridescence. Rose broke away to introduce his own restaurant concept -- a smokehouse bistro -- a casual restaurant that shows off what can be done with a smoker. Many of C.A.Y.A's meats are smoked for 10-14 hours over hickory, maple, oak, apple and cherry woods until they are tender. They emerge with a caramelized outside and are served by chefs specializing in sides and desserts. "It's important for us to be able to provide our guests with not only a great dining experience," Rose says,"but also offer the highest quality and freshest food available." There's room at the grill for 100 to eat inside and 60 on the covered patio. The restaurant is located at 1403 Commerce Road at Pontiac Trail. Source: Jeff Rose, co-owner, C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill and Jaclyn Robinson, spokesperson Writer: Kim North Shine

Vibe Credit Union brings e-banking to Birmingham

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Arts & Culture

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October 10, 2013

Vibe Credit Union's online and handheld-technology-driven style of banking has come to a new branch in Birmingham. Vibe's e-Center, or remote branch, at 163 W. Maple opened Sept. 25, adding to Vibe's other locations in Berkley, Canton, Livonia, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield and Sterling Heights. A downtown Royal Oak location will open later this year, says Tom Reagan, president and CEO of Vibe Credit Union. Vibe's new e-Center is staffed with a customer service rep who will tell customers how to use Vibe's mobile and online services, which include banking apps, mobile deposits, quick online loans and other programs geared toward different audiences. Vibe rounds out its banking services with rewards programs, lower fees and other offerings such as bill pay. An ATM is located at the e-Center, and Vibe has more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs. Vibe banking can also be completed by phone. “We are very excited to grow our business and reach out to new communities," Reagan says. "The design of this new eCenter was built around technology and a way for more people to bank differently.” Source: Vibe Credit Union Writer: Kim North Shine

The Acme Group leverages green products for growth

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Environment & Sustainability

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October 10, 2013

The Acme Group is finding its inner-green self with its latest two products to hit the market. The Bloomfield Hills-based firm is launching its ComfortSpan seating technology, which should allow vehicle seats to become lighter and use less materials. It's also starting to sell its NueBond filtration system that helps facilitate the recycling of industrial waste. The company, which employs about 150 people, has hired three over the last year. "We are heading toward our break-out year," says Stephen Couchman, director of marketing for The Acme Group. "We have two products that are really taking the industry by storm." The NueBond technology takes things like paint sludge left over from manufacturing and filters it out to be used as plastic resin. It is currently working with Detroit Diesel to take this waste that would normally end up in a landfill and turn it into a viable commodity the company can sell. "It's literally millions of pounds per year," Couchman says. The ComfortSpan technology utilizes new suspension fabrics in vehicle seats. This technology eliminates the need for the springs, foam, clips and other bulky attachment mechanisms. That can save up to nine pounds per seat in extra material. "It's super durable," Couchman says. "We have broken testing equipment on this." Source: Stephen Couchman, director of marketing for The Acme Group Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.