Adopt-A-Watt Program Kicks Off In Dearborn

A new program designed to improve municipal energy efficiency, developed in Dearborn but intended to be spread nationwide, is officially off the ground.

A couple of dozen initial sponsors in the National Adopt-A-Watt program gathered last week to celebrate the program's launch.

Adopt-A-Watt operates in much the same manner as those Adopt-A-Highway programs whose signs you see all over America -- only under Adopt-A-Watt, individuals, groups and companies donate money to help cash-strapped municipalities pay for energy efficiency technology.

Founder and CEO Thomas Wither said the donations might be used to cover the cost differential between a conventional vehicle and a hybrid or electric model, or the higher initial cost of LED or induction lighting fixtures.

Last week, Wither said groups have already adopted 66 lamps in Dearborn, and the heavy truck equipment maker Eaton Corp. had offered to provide an electric vehicle recharging station. The moves will save the city 784,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.

Wither said Adopt-A-Watt is beginning to solicit donations for similar moves in the city of Royal Oak. And outside Michigan, Adopt-A-Watt also is arranging for solar power installations at Philadelphia International Airport and solar area lighting for highway rest stops in New Jersey.

Besides Eaton, sponsors of the program signed so far include ACCESS, Auto Tech, BDT Light Source, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, Byblos Banquets, Central Michigan University, Co-op Services Credit Union, Critical Care Medicine, the Dearborn Agency, Dearborn Steel Center, Dearborn Surgery Center, Dearborn Sustainability, Doubletree by Hilton, Eppinger, Going Green Foundation, Grimwade-Norwood, Highland Associates Insurance, Illusion Signs, Jan Door, LaPita, Leon's Family Dining, Morse Moving & Storage, Nickel & Saph, Oakwood Healthcare, Roma Bakery, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Severstal NA.

More at www.adopt-a-watt.com.