Listed below are some topics that should be considered to help make our community more energy efficient.

Buildings
Transportation
Electrical Grid
Industrial
Waste Reduction
Local Economy
Energy Efficiency Working Group   To select and implement actual projects and programs, CCLEP has formed an Energy Efficiency Working Group made up of engaged citizens meeting about once a month. Click on the link above to see what we've been up to, and let us know if you're interested in joining the effort to make our community more energy efficient.

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Buildings
Our buildings consume about 40% of our total energy usage. So finding more efficient ways to heat and power our buildings represents a huge opportunity to cut back on our use of fossil fuels, save money, and support local businesses offering energy efficiency services and supplies. Below is a breakdown of key issues that must be considered to make our buildings more energy efficient.

Lighting
Other electrical (appliances, electronics, etc.)
Insulation Air-tightness
Windows and doors
Heating appliances (furnaces, wood stoves, etc.)
Passive solar design
Water heating
Geothermal heat pumps
Commercial Applications

Strategies:

• Initiate a systematic, comprehensive, and yet voluntary process to evaluate and optimize the energy efficiency of all buildings throughout Cook County.
• Initiate an educational program about the benefits of energy efficiency and the best ways to put it into practice in our homes and businesses.
• Partner with Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission, Arrowhead Electric Co-op, and other organizations - both governmental and non-profit - to make energy efficiency programs, practices, and tools more available in our community.
• Pull together resources and information about various funding opportunities to help community members implement energy efficiency measures.
• Consider formal adoption of county building efficiency standards or guidelines such as Passive House or MN GreenStar.
• Prioritize efforts and focus on county's largest energy users.

Local Resources:
City of Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission
1 218 387 1848

Arrowhead Electric Co-op
1 218 663 7239

Chris Norman
Cook County Building energy audits, ratings, and inspections.
1 218 475 2227
1 218 370 0890

McKeever Well Drilling
Geothermal heat pumps
Schroeder, MN
1 218 663 7574

Web Links::
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (supplies power to Grand Marais PUC)
1 800 237 8992
Great River Energy (supplies power to Arrowhead Electric Co-op)
1 888 521 0130
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Energy Star Program
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
MN Pollution Control Agency - Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program
MN Department of Commerce Clean Energy Resource Teams
MN GreenStar Certified Homes and Remodeling - Building standard for energy-efficient homes
Passive House Institute U.S. - Energy-efficient building standard

Transportation


Electrical Grid
Our electrical grid is the infrastructure upon which we hope to build a more efficient and renewable energy system. It needs be updated for greater efficiency and to accommodate potential new sources of renewable energy. Federal funding may soon be available for this important investment.

Strategies:

• Improve efficiency of electrical grid in Cook County.
• Enhance electrical grid's ability to handle a variety of new, distributed power generation sites throughout Cook County.
• Evaluate and adopt digitally enhanced grid or "smart grid" technologies.

Local Resources:
Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission
1 218 387 1848

Arrowhead Electric Co-op
1 218 663 7239

Web Links:
U.S. Department of Energy Smart Grid Page
Smart Grid News

Industrial
Although we don't have a great deal of industrial uses of energy here in Cook County, increasing the efficiency of those we do have could reduce our use of fossil fuels, improve the economic viability of important local businesses, and save money for local governments.

Strategies:

• Comprehensively determine industrial energy uses in Cook County and systematically work to improve their efficiency.
• Assist businesses and local governments in finding resources to help them evaluate and improve the energy efficiency of their industrial energy uses.

Local Industrial Energy Users:
Hedstom's Lumber Mill
Lutsen Mountain Ski Hill
Taconite Harbor
Grand Marais water treatment and pumping facilities
Grand Marais, Grand Portage, and Bluefin Bay sewage treatment facilities.
Countywide street lighting

Web Links::
MN Pollution Control Agency - Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Waste Reduction
Currently most of the waste we produce, and even our recycling, is trucked at least as far as Duluth. By reducing waste, we can save energy and keep more dollars in our local economy.

Strategies:

• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle; preferably finding local uses for recycled materials.
• Upgrade county secondhand store to include construction materials, appliances, equipment, etc.

Local Resources:
Cook County Recycling Center
1 218 387 3044

Web Links:
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce - Waste Wise Program

Support of Local Economy
There is an emerging recognition of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of a strong local economy. Producing and purchasing more locally reduces the amount of energy we use for transportation; supports local jobs and businesses, and reduces financial support for some aspects of the global economic system that may contribute to faraway environmental and social abuses such as overseas sweatshops, and the loss of rain forests.

Strategies:

• Produce and purchase more local goods and services.
• Consider local food production programs and projects.
• Consider local energy production programs and projects.

Local Resources:
Cook County Businesses

Web Links:
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Yes Magazine - Local Economy Resource Guide
The Relocalization Network
The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
Slow Movement