For July 18, 2014

 

If you’re going to be spending time in the sun, protect yourself with sunglasses, sunscreen, and take a break in the shade.

Your eyes and skin need protection while swimming, hiking, boating or fishing. The sun emits radiation in the form of ultraviolet (UV) rays. Those rays will be highest around noon on a clear sunny day. UV levels also will be highest near surfaces that reflect sunlight — like water and sand.

Exposure to UV rays can cause sunburn, skin aging, eye damage and skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. An estimated 76,100 United States residents will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2014. For Michigan, the estimates are 2,830 people, according to the American Cancer Society.

July is UV Safety Month.

 

The sun is not all bad. It provides plenty of opportunities for clean energy generation.

The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association has announced a partnership with Localstake Marketplace of Indiana. The company has launched a renewable energy crowdfunding Web page to encourage the development of solar and renewable energy projects in Michigan.

The idea is to connect investors to Michigan projects. The new program is called the Michigan Solar Funding Platform.

Localstake will review and vet all Michigan projects that use the platform. The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association will encourage business and individual members to use the site and provide education on crowdfunding to project developers, investors, and the general public.

Right now, businesses and potential investors are being asked to sign up. Later on, nvestors will be able to research proposed renewable energy projects in the state and support those they want to see built by investing as little as $250.

 

— Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 9 a.m. Fridays in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR.