Ecotelligent Homes expands into commercial, adds hires

Ecotelligent Homes has gone from a side project for an automotive engineer to a growing business employing a handful of people and counting.

Amanda Godward started the Farmington Hills-based business in 2009 while she was working as a mechanical engineer in the auto industry. The business, which helps building owners make their structures more energy efficient, was an outlet for her passion for the environment. By 2011 it had become her full-time job.

Today Ecotelligent Homes employs four people and the occasional intern. It recently hired a residential energy auditor and is looking to hire an energy consultant now. Godward's staff primarily handles energy audit work for residential structure but started expanding into commercial work last year. It is also looking at expanding into installation of energy-efficient options.

"By the end of 2014, our goal is to have insulation and heating-and-cooling crews on staff," Godwards says.

Ecotelligent Homes won the Emerging Company award at the Pure Michigan Social Entrepreneurship Challenge last week. The $10,000 prize goes to the company in the Fostering Energy Affordability category.

"It (the competition) helped us formalize sharpening our focus," Godward says.

Source: Amanda Godward, owner of Ecotelligent Homes
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.