In 1973, Paul Nefouse opened his golf accessory business just two years out of college – and he’s been succeeding in the industry ever since. JP Lann Golf specializes in golf umbrellas, tees, head covers and more, selling to every major golf retailer in the United States such as Walmart, Dunham’s, Amazon, and Meijer. Over the past 50 years, a lot has changed in terms of how a business runs, including how it uses energy.
“I’ve become very conscious of energy in general,” said Paul. “20 years ago, I was trying to put solar panels on my roof, but it was very restrictive and expensive. Anything I can do to save money and energy is very important to me, but at the time, I had to take care of my business and my employees first.”
That’s why Paul was thrilled when he found out about DTE’s MIGreenPower program. By enrolling in MIGreenPower, JP Lann is attributing a percentage of its energy use to DTE’s wind and solar parks without having to deal with the cost, maintenance, and inflexibility of installing its own solar panels.
“I was taken aback that it had taken me so long to investigate this and get involved,” said Paul. “The cost of enrolling in MIGreenPower was so insignificant that I was embarrassed. Everyone I work with is very conscious of sustainability issues, and this is the kind of thing that is foremost in our minds.”
Paul Nefouse, President, JP Lann Golf/Nefouse Ent. Inc.
JP Lann’s MIGreenPower commitment reduces its environmental impact while supporting the development of future renewable energy projects in Michigan. For Paul, playing a role in creating a cleaner future is vital, and an effort everyone should participate in.
“I have grandchildren, and I do not under any circumstances want them to worry about running out of energy,” said Paul. “I believe we have to pay attention to our resources and not take them for granted. Everyone needs to help; you can’t just have one particular group of people do the work.”
JP Lann also makes an effort to recycle everything, and exclusively sells biodegradable products and packaging. Paul believes we are fortunate to have so many resources at our disposal, and if everyone does their part, we can ensure their availability is sustained for future generations.
“If I take actions like enrolling in MIGreenPower, and so do several hundred or even thousands of others, it will save a lot of energy and help everyone in the long run. It may be hard to see now, but together, we truly can make a difference.”