HEC vision session will educate on how to go ‘green’

An article by Angela Niemi    No Comments

It may be easier being green than is often lamented by a certain popular puppet frog.

At least, that’s the message Sharon Greene, public relations director for the Highland Equestrian Conservancy (HEC), is hoping to get across with the organization’s Green Sustainability in Our Communities visioning session on Monday, Feb. 27.

“We will be talking about how residents, small farms and businesses, and even township officials can focus on saving energy and learning tools to reduce energy consumption,” Greene said.

There will be presentations from both Nina Misuraca of Oakland County’s Planning & Economic Development

Services and Jason Iacoangeli from the White Lake Township Planning Department.

“It just made sense to promote both what the county and our local communities are doing to help our sustainability and land preservation, as well as what they are doing to support green and energy efficient ideas,” Greene said. “This will give us a chance to share ideas and begin networking to begin to make changes to improve homes and businesses in the community.”

Misuraca will be discussing the county’s OakGreen program, an initiative to share information, encourage collaboration, and connect county residents, businesses, and communities to resources that can advance environmental stewardship, economic growth, and strong communities. She will also be talking about the business/residential energy challenge, as well as the county’s multi-community sustainability planning efforts.

Meanwhile, Iacoangeli will be discussing White Lake’s master plan, which has a “high sustainability component,” as well as incentives for both residents and businesses to go green.

“White Lake’s master plan encourages green practices in future developments with an incentive program that really is revolutionary for the area,” Greene said. “And we felt this was a concept that needed to be recognized. It doesn’t matter if someone is from a small rural community or an urban area. The message is worth sharing.”

Iacoangeli also plans to dispel a common misconception about those who follow green practices.

“I’m going to try to explain that being green doesn’t always have to be associated with the left-leaning stereotypes out there,” he said. “Sometimes sustainability and going green gets people’s hackles up. But you don’t have to be a Democrat to be green. You can be green and a Republican, too.”

The visioning session starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Highland Station House, located at 205 W. Livingston Road in Highland Township. A $2 donation at the door will go to support the Huron Valley Council for the Arts.