Battling winter — the green way

By Julie Snyder
C & G Staff Writer

There are plenty of ways to deal with Michigan’s tough winters and leave little or no carbon footprint.

Numerous companies and organizations based right here in the state offer products and services aimed at keeping you warm in your home or business while using the least amount of energy possible, and helping you mind the delicate nature of the environment during those tedious ice and snow removal projects with eco-friendly de-icers and snow blowers.

Great Deal Products in Brighton makes a de-icer that is safe for plants, pets and people.

Manager Mike Voories said the Hot Pink De-icer, which the company makes on site, contains organic materials, plant nutrients and anti-corrosives. It’s a blend of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium chloride, and urea, a fertilizer-based product that will not harm landscaping.

“Salt can burn the grass at the edges of sidewalks and driveways,” said Voories. “If it’s applied responsibly, (the de-icer) won’t do anything like that.”

That means too much of a product, even fertilizer, will damage landscaping.

Hot Pink De-icer became available two years ago. At the time, proceeds from sales went directly to charities that supported breast cancer research. Today, Voories said the goal has shifted to more local needs.

“Now proceeds support breast cancer causes in the community,” he said, adding that a most recent donation was made to a Brighton-area wife and mother fighting breast cancer. “It’s still for breast cancer causes. It’s environmentally friendly and has a good cause.”

Hot Pink De-icer can be found directly at Great Deal Products and any ACO Hardware store.

Then there’s the Traverse City-based Snow Plow Plus LLC, a company that makes the Snow Bully.

The Snow Bully is hand operated and boasts that it leaves no carbon footprint, creates no noise pollution, is easy to use and faster that any shovel or gas-powered snow blower.

Co-owner and innovator Paul Starner said the Snow Bully enjoys many other advantages, as well. There is no cost to operate it, and no annual maintenance is required. It has other uses, too — an optional accessory basket allows the Snow Bully to be used year-round as a utility cart.

“I have many physical challenges, including a prosthetic left arm and bilateral total knee replacements, that make moving snow difficult,” said Starner in a press release. “My neighbor and now partner (Snow Bully inventor Jerry Schichtel) saw me struggling with my snow blower and told me about a plow he and his brothers made out of wood over 60 years ago. I told him to make a modern version, and I’d sell it to the world if it worked. Well, it works so well that I’m selling it to the world.”

There are also ways to care for the environment and stay warm in the winter.

WARM Training Center is a nonprofit group that’s been promoting efficiency living for the past 30 years. Based in Detroit, the organization provides educational tools, training and even technical assistance to homeowners who want to keep warm in the winter while saving both money and the environment.

Jacob Corvidae, WARM’s green programs manager, said their goal is to help, educate and train people on how to live in environmentally friendly ways.

WARM also provides job training services and low-income programs for those at risk of having their gas or electricity shut off.

“We also offer a guide on ‘greening’ your home, a do-it-yourself guide,” said Corvidae.

And their website contains myriad tips on how to save money and energy in the winter months.

“First and foremost, don’t replace your windows,” said Corvidae. “Unless they are falling apart or are metal clad windows (which tend to cause drafts).

“It’s the first thing people do to increase energy efficiency, but most windows don’t need to be replaced; they need to be sealed or improved.”

He said new windows are expensive; costs can be anywhere between $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the number of windows and the type of window. “Put your money somewhere else, like improving your home’s insulation, installing a programmable thermostat, having an energy audit done or upgrading your furnace.”

An audit through Home Performance with Consumer’s Energy’s Energy Star program costs around $50, Corvidae said. He said the auditor will be able to say what needs to be done in order to make the home more energy efficient.

He said installing plastic liners over windows is a great energy-saving method. “In most cases, sealing air leaks really helps and makes your home a lot cozier. Get rid of that draft. It’s a big energy saver.”

For more information about Hot Pink De-icer, call (810) 588-4048 or go to www.hotpinkdeicer.com. For more information about WARM Training Center, go to www.warmtraining.org.

Other energy-saving tips can be found at www.consumersenergy.com/eeprograms/HPHome.aspx?id=4129.
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Julie Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1039.