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What is RETAF?
The Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Foundation, or RETAF, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Michigan Corporation, incorporated on September 6, 1996. Listed among the purposes for which the Foundation was created are the following:
To operate exclusively for benevolent, charitable, educational, social and civil purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code ... including ... the following specific purposes:
- providing free, voluntary, non-regulatory, confidential waste reduction opportunity assessments to public and private entities in Michigan;
- promoting and encouraging waste reduction and pollution prevention among all public and private entities in Michigan;
- providing outreach assistance to out-of-state entities in the planning, development and implementation of waste reduction and pollution prevention programs;
- communicating the successes of waste reduction achieved by public and private entities in Michigan;
- educating public and private entities in non-proprietary waste reduction and pollution prevention techniques and procedures;
- encouraging and assisting in research to further the cause of waste reduction and pollution prevention; and
- forming a resource center for waste reduction and pollution prevention information for public and private entities in Michigan.
RETAF operates with a small staff, consisting of an Executive Director, an Assistant Project Manager, and an office manager. Further support is provided by two subcontractors: a second Assistant Project Manager and an Accountant. Policy direction is provided by a nine-member Board of Directors.
Since its creation, the major activity of RETAF has been to provide the technical services in support of the State of Michigan’s Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP). This program is described in greater detail on the State of Michigan website, under the Department of Environmental Quality.
Working with RETAF staff, as independent subcontractors, are about 50 dedicated retired engineers and scientists with extensive experience in a wide variety of disciplines. These retired professionals, whose efforts, dedication and hard work are the essence of RETAP, provide pollution prevention, waste reduction and energy conservation assessments to small businesses throughout the State, upon request.
For additional information about RETAP, click here.
For businesses interested in requesting a RETAP assessment, click here.
If you are interested in volunteering to become a RETAP Assessor, click here.
If you want to contact RETAF or want more information about RETAP, click here.
| RETAF/RETAP News |
108 ASSESSMENTS, $5.6 MILLION IN SAVINGS!
The Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) provides free, confidential, onsite pollution prevention and energy efficiency assessments to businesses (with 500 or fewer employees in Michigan) and institutions of any size. A written report containing specific recommendations to save money, reduce energy usage, conserve water, and eliminate waste generation is provided to the assessed facility within 60 days of the assessment. Each report includes waste reduction and cost savings estimates of significant recommendations identified during the assessment.
In calendar year 2007, RETAP completed 108 assessments at a broad range of manufacturing facilities and other businesses, such as greenhouses, hotels, and print shops. The total estimated annual reductions in energy and water usage, waste disposal, and facility operating expenses of the significant recommendations from these assessments are as follows:
| Reductions | Amounts |
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| Electricity Usage: | 40.0 million kWh |
| Natural Gas Usage: | 0.7 million CCF |
| Water Usage: | 50.2 million gallons |
| Waste Disposal: | 28.7 million pounds |
| Operating Costs: | 5.6 million dollars |
To date, RETAP has conducted over 1200 assessments, with the capacity to assess 125 facilities per year. For each assessment, the RETAP assembles a team of retired engineers appropriate for the operations of the facility to be assessed. Currently, 51 retired engineers participate in the RETAP, each having 30–40 years of professional experience.
(Reprinted from MDEQ ESSD Bulletin, February 2008.) |
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