From Tech Today May 12, 2015
Dozens if not hundreds of area homes can be made cozier, thanks to a gift from Dow Corning.
The Midland-based company has donated 1,200 tubes of clear silicone sealant to the Efficiency Through Engineering and Construction Enterprise (ETEC) at Michigan Tech. The gift will be used to weatherize area homes as part of the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) effort.
“We did it because we’ve always had strong ties to Michigan Tech, and because it’s an excellent program,” says Bob Schroeder, global procurement director for Dow Corning.
ETEC advisor Lynn Artman, a lecturer in Michigan Tech’s School of Technology and a HEET member, says the gift would be put to good use sealing leaks that let cold air into houses. “We focus on weatherizing homes for low-income residents,” she says. “That not only makes their homes more comfortable, it slashes their utility bills. I’m so grateful to Dow Corning for their support.”
HEET is a local volunteer group dedicated to helping Houghton County residents reduce their utility bills and to compete for the $5 million Georgetown University Energy Prize.
The Georgetown University Energy Prize challenges communities to rethink their energy use and implement creative strategies to increase energy efficiency.