Category: Sustainability

Climate Change Matters Now More Than Ever

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

The Importance of Climate Change

Climate Change – a Moral Imperative. Call climate change an environmental crisis, an economic opportunity, a matter of national security. Call it whatever you want as long as you don’t call it a “hoax” or “fake news.” Our world is literally burning as we still sit idly by arguing this as a partisan issue. Our children would be ashamed of us.

That is why it is important, now more than ever to be making changes for the betterment of not only our world, but for our children. We have the power to seek out better opportunities and solutions to help combat climate change. We have the power to prevent further deterioration create a positive impact on the environment. No step is too small when the outcome for a better is within our grasp.

I hope that one day we can put aside the noise and see this issue for the moral imperative that it is.

Climate change is THE defining issue of the 2020 presidential election. Come November I’m not voting for a candidate (per se) or overly simplified ideology. My vote will be cast in favor of making the world a better place for all future generations.

This photo is of my three children: Jack (8), Janie (4), and Benny (2). I am voting for THEM.

Climate change, it’s a moral imperative that affects our children and future generations to come.

Craig M. Davis
President & Employee-Owner

Climate Change Your Vote, three kids on a beach

Economic Recovery and the Clean Energy Revolution

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Recovery, Growth, and Clean Energy

Companies, non-profits, government organizations, healthcare facilities, and institutions of higher learning will soon look beyond survival to recovery, and eventually growth. It is a rising movement called the Clean Energy Revolution. It may be difficult to visualize this given our current state of affairs, but this too shall pass, and better times will come. Our culture has seemingly lost its ability to think and plan for the long-term; priorities, politics, and results are driven by short-term metrics. As such, I believe that we should use this opportunity to reinvent, rethink, and rebuild with the following attributes in mind: organizational resiliency, serving the common good, equability, and sustainability.

Sure, this all sounds great. But what do you mean?

I tend to think of nearly every problem (opportunity) in terms of the Pareto Principle, better known as the 80/20 Rule. It asserts that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of all causes for any given event. In business, for example, the goal is to identify what actions or inputs are most productive and prioritize them accordingly.

Bar graph of the pareto principle, effort vs result in red and blueSo, as it pertains to this concept, I believe there are two inputs we should focus on with respect to economic recovery, arguably the biggest global challenges of our time (COVID-19 + climate change), and the attributes I mentioned earlier (Resiliency, serving the common good, equability, and sustainability). Speaking broadly, they are 1.) Energy and 2.) Health.

No, seriously. I get it. Give me specifics.

OK, first we need to deal with the public health crisis at hand. Social distancing, wearing masks, and limiting travel — these practices are already in play and are driven by behavior. But the one thing we can do to make people feel more comfortable returning to our prior norms, such as returning to work, shopping, eating at restaurants, etc. is to invest in the

health of our buildings. By focusing on healthy buildings (HBs), we will not only make people feel comfortable, but help reduce the spread of the virus and make ourselves more productive. This leaves our employees, customers, and any other stakeholders feeling better and more productive.

So, what constitutes a healthy building?

First, seek to understand sick building syndrome (SBS) and building related illnesses (BRI). The EPA defines SBS as a situation in which occupants experience acute health and comfort effects linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. Indicators of discomfort include headaches; irritated eye, nose, or throat; coughing, dry or itchy skin, nausea, and difficulty concentrating among other symptoms. Occupants report relief soon after leaving the building. Physical evidence within the building itself includes an incoming draft at the front door; hot or cold spots throughout the facility; condensation on ceiling diffusers; slippery floors; mold; hard to open doors, high energy expenses, and other contributing factors. BRI is indicated by occupants reporting of symptoms such as cough; chest tightness; fever, chills; and muscle aches. These can be clinically defined and require some recovery, after leaving the building.

Holy cow. I hadn’t thought of all this being related to buildings. What are the primary causes of SBS and BRI?

Poor HVAC performance such as inadequate ventilation and negative building pressure.

OK so, how can I invest to make my building healthy as you suggest?

This is a loaded question. There are A LOT of things you can do. I’ll try to keep this brief.

First and foremost, make sure the HVAC system has been well maintained. And think about the health issues described above. Are these currently problems? If not, you may not need to do much, though there’s certainly always room for improvement. If these are problems, consider consulting with an expert on HVAC and healthy buildings. Make sure they’re independent of whomever is responsible for your maintenance and certified to do so. They’ll likely perform an investigation and assessment on the HVAC system, as well as indoor air quality. The factors to be evaluated (and adjusted) on the HVAC system include but aren’t limited to verifying equipment operation; checking building pressure; inspecting filters, belts, and fans; and finally asking questions about comfort. The primary factors that influence indoor air quality are the occupants; the HVAC system; pollutants and their pathways; and internal and external contaminants such as chemicals, smoke, grease, molds, and pollen.

After these initial assessments are complete and adjustments made, get some form of system to monitor building health. Think of these monitors like having a FitBit for your building; empower yourself with data to maintain proper health. There are plenty of options out there and what you install should monitor some of the following attributes: differential building pressure (the #1 indicator of overall building health); C02; relative humidity; and temperature. Monitoring these core attributes will cover the 80/20. Other important, albeit

less impactful, attributes to monitor may include volatile organic compounds, water quality, noise pollution, occupancy, lighting quality, and energy usage.

Building health alone covers more ground than I imagined. But you also mentioned energy. What can I do there?

Invest in Energy Efficiency (EE), Renewable Energy (RE), and Clean Energy Transportation (electric vehicles or EVs). The Clean Energy Revolution is way more than just building health alone.

Why? And, how does this relate to helping with economic recovery?

There are a number of reasons. Quite honestly, too many to cover without writing a book. So, again, I’ll focus on the 80/20.

Economic Opportunity

First, and most pressing is economic opportunity. Energy, and the cost of it, flows through everything. Think about that. The cost. of. energy. flows. through. everything. As far as EE goes, the cost of energy saved is the lowest cost of energy. This is a no-brainer with a guaranteed ROI. Further, the cost of RE is at or below the cost of traditional fossil-fuel based sources, depending on the state, scale, and application. And EE, RE, and EVs are driven by technology — not sources of fuel. In terms of economic growth, every measure of kWh or BTU saved by EE or generated domestically by RE translates into wealth we are not exporting to foreign nations. Put that into perspective, relative to the cost of energy, which is buried in the cost of everything.

Moral Imperative

Making the transition is a moral imperative during the Clean Energy Revolution. The science is clear and indisputable. We are harming our earth. If we do not reverse course, soon, the damage will be irrecoverable. Remember how quickly COVID-19 swept the globe and how we’re still reeling from its devastating impacts. Climate change is a crisis in slow motion. Yet, unlike this virus and the subsequent public health crisis, the impact will change the face of the earth — and humanity —forever. I cannot, in good conscience, put that burden on my children and grandchildren. We have borrowed at their expense for far too long.

National Security

Making the transition is a matter of national security. How many global conflicts have been fought over the allocation of natural resources? This strategy not only protects the

lives of future generations through preserving the earth but, quite literally, may prevent them from fighting avoidable wars. When we leverage technology for our energy, we are not subject to the whims of foreign nations and their strategic interests. As the world seems increasingly less stable, this also seems like a no-brainer, let alone the cost savings relative to current military spending. Simply put, an investment in clean energy is an investment in our own national security.

 

Shaping Our Future

Finally, consider how past industrial revolutions have shaped our nation. The emergence of water, steam, and coal as sources of power and how they expanded industries such as railroads, steel manufacturing, electric lighting, automotive, and the digital revolution — which brought forth widespread globalization, low-cost economies, and new business models. What is next? I pronounce we are in the beginning of the Clean Energy Revolution. And once we have hindsight, I truly believe it will surpass prior examples in terms of how it changes the world. Do we want to be the leaders of this revolution? Or will we continue to cede this opportunity for other nations to embrace? If we do not lead this New Age, what’s next for America? Let’s dismiss coal and oil to embrace the future. The potential for job growth and opportunities for continued innovation are beyond comprehension.

Melink Volunteers: Green Business Groups of Cincinnati

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Supporting green business groups and clean energy initiatives is important to Melink as a company, and many employees have made a personal commitment to such initiatives as well. Melink employee-owners donate their time and expertise to serve on sustainability groups, advisory board committees, or professional boards at the local and regional levels.

 

 

Green Business Council of Cincinnati 

Joel Geiman, General Manager
Allison Sternad, Director of Marketing & Sustainability

The Green Business Council of Cincinnati (GBC) was founded in 2011 by several Cincinnati area corporations to help local business leaders collaborate on sustainability initiatives, such as energy benchmarking, waste management, and composting. The council meets on a bi-monthly basis to help guide its members to apply best practices for delivering a better social, economic, and environmental future. Melink employees not only offer their expertise on renewable energy and LEED building certification but also share their experience with their own internal sustainability programs.

Melink is also part of the GBC Executive Committee, which meets on a monthly basis. “Melink’s responsibility on the committee is to manage the list of all council members, keep members accountable on attendance requirements, and to help set expectations for new members in the GBC’s mentorship program,” said Geiman, who has been volunteering his time with GBC for about a year.

 

 

Beyond 34

Joel Geiman, General Manager
Allison Sternad, Director of Marketing & Sustainability

 

Beyond 34 Logo

Through the GBC in early 2020, Melink became involved with Beyond 34, an initiative facilitated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Beyond 34’s goal is to increase the current 34% recycling rate in the United States through a multi-stakeholder approach. An implementation model was created for a pilot city (Orlando, FL) to increase and improve its recycling and recovery rates. The test program was successful in Orlando, so the U.S. Chamber Foundation chose Cincinnati in 2019 as its second region to apply its model.

 

 

Green Energy Ohio 

Randy Miles, Vice President

 

Green Energy Ohio Logo

Green Energy Ohio (GEO) is a statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting clean energy practices through education, outreach, and representation. GEO has presented testimony to Ohio legislators in support of policies and projects that advance the development and deployment of clean energy. Melink’s Randy Miles serves on GEO’s Board of Directors. Annually, Melink participates in the Green Energy Ohio Tour, which showcases renewable technologies in homes, businesses, and public buildings.

 

 

Green Workplaces Cincinnati

Natalie Heltman, Account Coordinator
Allison Sternad, Director of Marketing & Sustainability

Sustainable Workplaces Cincinnati is a program through the Hamilton County Waste and Recycling Office. The group consists of sustainability committee leaders from local businesses. Through monthly meetings, the program gives members a chance to connect to outside resources and share best practices. Great Workplaces Cincinnati supports the 513 Green Workplace Certification, a sustainability designation that recognizes businesses in Hamilton County that voluntarily operate in an environmentally friendly manner.

 

 

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful

Melink supports Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, an organization that focuses on building community through neighborhood revitalization and education. The organization is active in each of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods and sponsors the Great American Cleanup where participants pick up litter, plant flowers, paint buildings, and more.

 

 

GoZERO Composting

Matt Meyer, Director of Field Service

 

GoZero Compost Collection at Melink Corporation

GoZero is a Cincinnati non-profit that provides food waste collection and compost delivery services. Its main goal is to divert food waste from landfills as a self-described “compost courier.” Essentially, GoZero organizes residential and commercial drop-off sites for food waste collection, picks up the waste, delivers it to a site to be composted, and then delivers the cured compost once ready for application. Melink has had a GoZERO food waste compost drop-off station on its campus since 2016. Area residents can subscribe to get a collection bucket and start dropping off food scraps from home. Learn more.

 

 

EV Cincy, Cincinnati Office of Environment
& Sustainability

Nate Schmidlin, Account Specialist

EV Cincy is a project out of the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability. Increased adoption of EVs reduces local air pollution, improves public health, and slows climate change. Schmidlin serves as an ambassador to educate others about the benefits of electric vehicles. However, due to the pandemic, original outreach plans like going on test drives are on hold.  “COVID-19 has forced us to switch gears from our original outreach plan. Now it’s all about getting the EV awareness message out on social media to help people stay informed,” said Schmidlin.

 

 

Green Umbrella

 

Green Umbrella logo

Green Umbrella is the regional sustainability alliance of Greater Cincinnati with more than 200 member organizations, including Melink Corporation. They facilitate collaboration among non-profits, businesses, educational institutions, and governmental groups. The organization hosts the annual Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit and serves as a thought cultivator for sustainability initiatives in Cincinnati’s Tri-State area.

 

 

Cincinnati 2030 District

 

Cincinnati 2030 District Logo

Facilitated by Green Umbrella, the Cincinnati 2030 District’s goal is to create healthy, high-performing buildings in Cincinnati. Members, including Melink Corporation, make a commitment to reduce their buildings’ energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions 50% by the year 2030. The company is actively helping Cincinnati meet its 2030 goals by providing industry expertise (through events like educational seminars) but also building data to help the city understand what can be accomplished and how.

Home Sustainability Projects

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Melink Employee-Owner Natalie Heltman offers tips for home sustainability projects.

 

 

At work, I’m a member of Melink’s Sustainability Committee. We are a group of approximately 10 employee-owners working toward community involvement and education related to sustainability. Our team focuses on initiatives like ensuring our fellow Melinkers are educated on recycling and composting best practices. We conduct a monthly waste audit at our facility. We’ve set up initiatives to recycle items that typically aren’t recyclable, like toothpaste tubes and Plastic #5 items. Being part of the committee made me wonder how I could incorporate sustainability into my home life, too.

I began thinking of ways to add green infrastructure to my house. Based off electricity stats sent by my utility company, my house is ranked among the most energy efficient in the area. So instead of thinking inside my house, I wanted to “green” aspects on my home’s outside.

 

 

DIY homemade sustainability project rain barrels at gutter downspouts

 

 

DIY Rain Barrel

So, I decided my first project (thanks to YouTube university) would be a set of three 55-gallon rain barrels to use in the summer when Cincinnati goes through its driest months. Full disclosure: Making a rain barrel is noted on most DIY sites as an easy project. I am not a handy person; I had never picked up a drill before this, and I was able to complete the project in about a day.

Rain barrels are an interesting project because there are many options. There are kits sold at home improvement stores, or you can reuse food-grade 55-gallon drums as an inexpensive alternative. With sustainability in mind, I went for the reusable option and was able to buy my drums online from a soy sauce wholesaler for around $10. Also, I purchased spigots to install on the barrel to give us the option to use a drip hose on especially dry days.

I use the collected water for watering my lawn, vegetable garden, and hanging flower baskets. I haven’t noticed a return on our water bill, but I do feel less guilty watering my lawn and garden when I’m using water from the barrels.

However, having large, blue barrels near our downspouts is not the most aesthetically pleasing look for our backyard. Before starting this project, especially if you live in a neighborhood, check to see if there are any restrictions. I followed our subdivision’s guidelines by installing the barrels on the back side of the house behind a fence. Make sure to reach out to your local officials to confirm any guidelines on water capture.

If you’re ready to get started, I recommend this video.

 

 

DIY homemade compost bins

 

 

DIY Compost Bin

Since the rain barrels were so easy to make, I decided to step up my green infrastructure game with a second project. We already had a couple of compost boxes, but I wanted to try building rolling compost containers. This project required a few more tools but was also very simple.

If you’re a gardener, composting is a great way to boost your soil and, ultimately, your harvest. Composting enriches the soil by helping to retain moisture and suppressing plant diseases and pests. It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

I made two rolling compost bins, using two additional barrels I purchased online. I am able to move them around the yard to add compost to our vegetable garden and potted plants. Compost is the “black gold” of soil. My vegetables grow really well with the compost, and there is almost no need to use any fertilizer.

This video gives a nice overview on how to build your own compost bin.

 

 

My Future Home Sustainability Projects

The great part about both of these home sustainability projects was how I was able to reuse items. Materials that might be deemed “trash” or unwanted were saved from going to the landfill. I was able to build both projects with materials I had around the house or from the barrels that had already served their purpose.

What’s next? During my time in the Peace Corps, I focused on community gardening and that is something I would like to revisit now. I think my next project will be a raised vegetable garden — maybe a keyhole garden with compost in the middle.

 

 

 

 

Melink envisions clean energy transforming the world by improving our global economy, security and environment — for ourselves, our children and future generations. “Walking the Talk” stories showcase Melink employee-owners that are making sustainable choices in their personal lives.

Sustainability

Melink 2025 Pledge

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Happy Earth Day 2020!  Though we are living through a pandemic that is killing thousands, sickening millions, and affecting billions of jobs, we need to have a vision and purpose beyond this time that gives us hope for a better world.

Earth Day gives us the permission to think big again and to imagine the bold goals we have long supported finally being implemented and realized.  However, since government often lags rather than leads when it comes to the environment, we need individual action more than ever.

Sure, the clean energy movement is well underway.  Countless government, business, and education leaders are investing in solar and wind farms across the United States and around the world. Electric cars and batteries are slowly but surely going mainstream.

But certain headwinds are preventing this clean energy movement from becoming a revolution.  Yes, the current administration is one of them.  And the fossil fuel industry and climate change deniers are another. And, to some extent, so are you and me.

How many of us complain about someone else not doing their part to lead on climate action, and then fail to do so ourselves?  For example, is every one of us buying clean energy from our utility? And is every one of us at least planning to upgrade to an electric car in the future?

It is in this spirit that I make the Melink 2025 Pledge. Though our company has long been a pioneer and leader in clean energy solutions and Zero-Energy buildings, we have typically allowed our employees to make personal choices that run counter to our mission.

Now that we are an ESOP and every employee is an owner, it is more incumbent than ever for us to walk the talk on our vision and mission. The world already has enough headwinds. But Melink shall continue to lead and live up to its calling even during the hardest times.

 

 

Melink 2025 Pledge

 

 

  • Every Melink employee-owner shall select the clean power option from his/her utility. (The average monthly cost of doing this is a Starbucks cup of coffee).

 

 

  • Every Melink employee-owner shall drive an electric car using clean energy. (Our EV incentive, leasing program, and lower market prices should make this possible).

 

 

  • Melink Corporation shall give everyone five years to transition to this commitment. If there are personal financial reasons preventing this, we will support him/her.

 

To further leverage this pledge, we ask that other local, regional, and national partners or stakeholders join us.  It’s a small premium to do the right thing, and it’s getting smaller every day.  Let’s create more demand so that in five years it’s cheaper than doing the wrong thing. Like the pandemic and any war, we can only win if we all do our small part. Let’s create a better world for our children and grandchildren — all of us, together.

 

Sincerely,

 

Steve Melink signature

Steve Melink
Chairman & CEO
Melink Corporation

Earth Day

Making the Switch to Reusable Straws

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Melink Employee-Owner Janice Scheid offers tips for switching to reusable straws.

 

 

Janice Scheid, Melink Corporation’s Controller,
made the switch to reusable drinking straws, and she’s not looking back.

“If I can give up normal straws, anyone
can,” said Scheid, who calls herself “The Straw Queen”  — that’s how much she loves them!

So why did she make the switch? Scheid credits her son and the organization 4ocean with opening her eyes to her straw consumption. She estimates she was using two straws per day on average.

“When you think about two straws per day
for 365 days a year, that adds up. They were heading to a landfill or
potentially into the environment,” said Scheid.

In fact, Scheid’s disposable straw consumption is on par with the U.S. average. It’s estimated the average American uses 1.6 straws per day. This equates to each person in the U.S. using about 38,000 straws between the ages of 5 and 65. (Check out this article from the National Park Service for more stats.)

Thus, she decided to change her habit, a
promise she has committed to for more than a year. She purchased a straw
cleaning brush and multiple types of reusable straws — stainless steel and hard
plastic — to suit her drink preferences. She also purchased bent metal straws
and Tervis-sized plastic straws to fit specific cups.

 

 

 

Reusable Straw Tips

Feeling
inspired? Here are sip-worthy tips from Melink’s Straw Queen:

 

  • Keep a straw close
    You made the investment, so make sure your straws are available at all times! Besides having her reusable straws at home, Scheid keeps straws in her car, at her desk, and in her purse.
  • Speak up to skip the disposable straw
    When going out to eat, Scheid asks for no straw when she places her order.
  • Educate your family and friends
    Just like her son inspired her to consider her straw consumption, she tries to make others aware. She has gifted her friends and family with sets of reusable straws, saying her mom and sisters are hooked now. “Little changes add up,” said Scheid.
  • Shop around
    Scheid purchased her first reusable straws through Amazon, but she said they are easier to find as they become more common. She has even found them in unlikely places, such as JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores.
  • Consider your other habits
    Scheid also has made changes in other areas. She avoids buying drinks sold in plastic beverage rings (i.e. 6-pack of bottled soda) because of the rings’ impact on the environment and wildlife. And to avoid single-use plastic grocery bags, she purchased heavy-duty, reusable canvas shopping bags. Additionally, she has swapped out one-time-use plastic sandwich bags (i.e. like Ziploc brand) for reusable options.

 

 

Melink envisions clean energy transforming the world by improving our global economy, security and environment — for ourselves, our children and future generations. “Walking the Talk” stories showcase Melink employee-owners that are making sustainable choices in their personal lives.

Reusable straws
Janice Scheid's reusable straw collection

Tips for Purchasing an Electric Vehicle (EV)

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Buying an electric vehicle (EV) can be challenging, especially if you haven’t done so before. Here are four tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

 

 

EV Purchasing Tip #1

 

Double Check Your Incentives

EV incentives are always subject to change at the federal and state level. As of December 2019, the reduced federal tax credit of $7,000 is no longer available to automakers that have reached cumulative sales of 200,000 vehicles. This places Tesla and GM vehicles at a higher price point, as the federal tax credit no longer applies to these automakers. All other automakers have available tax credits in the United States, with Nissan seemingly next in line to hit the 200,000-vehicle mark. Plus, certain states (such as California and Colorado) offer EV incentives. Check energy.gov for current credits.

 

 

EV Purchasing Tip #2

 

Define Your EV’s Intended Use

Vehicles can serve many purposes such as daily drivers, road tripping, and towing/hauling. It’s best to define early on what the use of your EV will be. Are you taking road trips in this vehicle? How long is your daily commute? How many miles do you typically drive in a day, a week, a month? This will help you to narrow down vehicles that are best suited for you, as EVs come in various projected ranges.

Typically, older, used EVs have lesser ranges per charge. A few examples:

 

  • 2015 Nissan Leaf with 84 miles of range
  • 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf with 83 miles of range
  • 2015 BMW i3 with 81 miles of range

Newer EVs tend to have longer ranges:

 

  • 2020 Tesla Model 3 with a minimum of 240 miles
  • 2020 Nissan Leaf with a minimum of 150 miles
  • 2020 Chevrolet Bolt with a minimum of 240 miles

With the capacity of a longer range, there of course comes a higher cost. That said, used EVs tend to be much less expensive than new ones, when compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. EVs not only depreciate as they go from “new” to “used” vehicle, but they depreciate even further as the federal tax credit is not available to used vehicles.

For example, if a new EV sells for $30,000 in 2020, why would a prospective buyer purchase the same vehicle a year later for $26,000 when he/she can buy the same new vehicle for $31,000 (anticipating a price increase) and potentially apply a tax credit? Therefore, new EVs tend to depreciate more quickly than ICE vehicles, so take this into your equation.

 

 

Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle (EV)
Source: Colton Sturgeon, Unsplash

 

 

EV Purchasing Tip #3

 

Consider Your Climate

An EV’s expected mileage range is greatly affected by the temperature. When an EV is parked where temperatures are at or below freezing, the projected mileage range can be decreased by 30% or more. This is due to both the efficiency of the batteries decreasing in cold temperatures, as well as the additional electric load to heat the car, seats, steering wheel, etc.

For those who park indoors, this may not be as much of a factor because your car is kept at a higher ambient temperature (60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) when not in use, so your battery efficiency won’t decrease nearly as much.

 

 

EV Purchasing Tip #4

 

Check the Battery Life

When purchasing a used EV, one of the deciding factors should be the condition of the battery. An EV’s range decreases over time due to the degradation of its batteries. How much a vehicle’s batteries degrade over time depends upon the specific vehicle/battery, as well as the utilization of the vehicle by the previous owner(s). Some vehicles may decrease in range by 1% each year, whereas others may decrease by 3% or more each year. Thus, this battery degradation directly decreases a vehicle’s range.

So, if you’re considering purchasing a used EV, what can you do? Do your research; check the online forums of the specific make/model to read about other owners’ experiences with battery life. If you’re purchasing from a dealership, ask them to run diagnostics to check the health of the battery. If purchasing from a private party, take the vehicle to an independent shop or a dealership to have the battery evaluated.

 

 

If you’re purchasing your first EV or just considering what EV options are on the market, I hope these tips help. Good luck!

Electric vehicle. EV

Melink’s Super-Green HQ2

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Melink’s super-green HQ2 is approaching the 90% completion mark.  The windows are installed, and the curtain walls and doors are next.  The sidewalks are being poured and the solar canopy will be erected very soon.  Then the courtyard pavers and asphalt parking lot will be installed.  The two ponds will be combined into a larger one and the landscaping will follow.

Inside, the framing and drywall is nearly completed.  The zone heating/cooling, plumbing, and electric is also nearly completed with our super-hybrid geothermal system going in after the floor area is epoxied next week.  Most of our innovations and patentable products will revolve around this showcase system.  Stay tuned for more information on this as we work through the details.

Painting and carpeting should begin in October with the furniture and fixtures quickly following.  The super-green building should be 99% complete by the end of that month with just punch-list items and commissioning in November.  Melink Solar & Geo should be able to move-in in December and officially start its first month of lease in January.

SonLight Power’s staff will also be relocating to our HQ2 in January as part of strategic partnership to promote solar and all the positive benefits, including lower operating costs and long-term sustainability and resiliency. In February, we will have our annual Company Meeting and hold an internal grand opening for our employees.

In April we plan to host a separate grand opening for our customers and other stakeholders.  We hope to attract a national keynote speaker to further promote the message that Zero-Energy Buildings are proven, practical, and profitable.  If Melink can design and build an affordable zero-energy building, all architects and engineers in the building industry should do the same.

Melink Solar HQ2, parking canopy, HQ1

Climate Change: A Moral Imperative

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

As the President of Melink Corporation, I’ve always been a bit uneasy publicly commenting on anything that is political or could even be perceived as political.  We live in extremely polarizing times and I’ve never wanted to ostracize anyone; I’m too pragmatic.  It’s not my job to get political.  My job is to run a company, to serve our customers, employees, strategic partners, and other stakeholders.

Isn’t it?

…No.

Our climate is changing and the vast majority of scientific evidence clearly suggests that humankind is the cause.  So why should you or I stay silent just because the issue has been politicized?  For one thing, climate change should never have become a political issue.  It’s a moral imperative, a matter of national security, and an unfathomable economic opportunity.  Fighting a changing climate is the right thing to do, because it’s the right thing to do.  Our children and grandchildren deserve the same chance at a healthy and happy future as we, our parents, and grandparents had.  How many wars have been fought, lives lost, over natural resources?  Clean energy comes from technology – not fuel sources such as oil or natural gas.  Pursuing a sustainable future also means pursuing a more peaceful future.  And as for economic opportunity – the world is going green whether you like it or not.  The United States led the industrial and technological revolutions of the past.   Leadership of the clean energy revolution is ours to seize.  Doing so would foster unparalleled economic growth for decades to come.  Not doing so will leave us lagging behind in a world that moves faster today than at any point in human history.  United we stand.  Divided we fall.

So, the way I see it, it’s not just
my responsibility to speak up – it’s up to all of us.  Silence only
gives the political rhetoric more power.  Leaning on the facts, using our
voice, and taking action, will literally change save the
world.  Honestly, who doesn’t want to help save the world?

Climate change

Future is getting warmer, but still bright

Posted on by Lindsey Burbee

Originally published on Cincinnati.com

In recent months, I have come to notice an interesting shift in the news coverage of climate change. Stories have moved away from debating its scientific merits and causes, toward accepting it as a reality. In fact, most coverage has focused on the current and future impact of climate change as well as coping strategies.

Take for example the following headlines: “19 schemes to survive climate change,” “Climate change puts our military bases at risk,” and “Your children’s Yellowstone will be radically different.” This shift suggests, at least to me, that as a society we have finally accepted that the climate is changing, and humankind is the cause. Though I would generally prefer that we collectively focus our efforts on preventing rather than accepting it as an inevitability, I view this as a positive development. The first step to solving any problem, is recognizing the problem exists.

As a father of three wonderful children, it is clear to me that taking action against climate change is a moral imperative. Those who are willing and able to think beyond the present, and who are selfless enough to act on behalf of future generations, know that the time to make a difference is extremely limited. I’m reminded of my grandfather, who arrived in Normandy, D-Day plus two. He didn’t join the fight, at age 17 no less, because he expected to get rich. He did it because it was the right thing to do; it needed to be done. I am now convinced that the risk climate change poses to our children and grandchildren will dwarf any threat humanity has faced before.

As a kid, my dad used to say to me, Craig, your problems are like mountains. You can climb over, go around, or tunnel through it. You can never just stand still and do nothing.  Until recently, I think most folks have been waiting on the federal government to lead the charge against climate change up over, around, or through the mountain. But it’s clear Uncle Sam’s current interest is in removing the mountaintop and mining its coal. The cavalry isn’t coming. We need to lead the charge.

Though we are now experiencing the increasingly impactful effects of a changing climate, such as unprecedented heat, flooding, and wildfires, I remain more determined – and encouraged – than ever. Every day I see more selfless leaders, particularly from private industry and local government, leading our way to a brighter future.

For example, look no further than our own back yard. The city of Cincinnati has developed a plan consisting of 80 strategies aimed to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by the year 2050. Separately, a group of local professionals worked for a full year to launch a 2030 District in Cincinnati. Several founding members of this district have made an aggregated commitment to reducing their building’s energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions by 50 percent by the year 2030.

Site Selection Magazine, a publication covering real-estate and economic development, has named Cincinnati the Most Sustainable Metro in the U.S., beating out Chicago, Boston, Seattle, and San Diego. In 2018, Fifth Third Bank signed a Power Purchase Agreement allowing them to achieve 100 percent renewable power consumption.  Proctor & Gamble, the largest consumer products company in the world, has diverted 70 percent of its manufacturing waste from landfills; in two more years P&G will have achieved 100 percent diversion.

At Melink, we have just broken ground on our second Zero-Energy building, HQ2, located in Milford. And for me personally, I am in awe of my colleagues and the impact they’re making on a global scale. Every day I have the unique privilege of serving alongside some of the most passionate, best-at-what-they-do, group of professionals working in energy efficiency and renewable energy today.

While there’s no silver bullet for combating climate change, saving the future will be the culmination of many collective efforts from men, women, and children who are committed to changing the world. Though we should pay attention to the buzz around climate doom and gloom, we shouldn’t worry about it. Instead, let’s take action where we have an opportunity to make a difference.

Someone far wiser than myself once said, “Don’t carry the weight of the world on your shoulders… carry the weight of your world on your shoulders.” If each of us acts to preserve our world, and we maintain faith in one another, the collective impact will far outweigh the risks we face. Therefore, I choose to believe that our children and grandchildren will have an exceptionally bright future.