LANSING, MI – In recognition of significant energy efficiency investment and demonstrated energy cost savings at facilities throughout the state, Energy Services Coalition – Michigan Chapter (ESC) announced today six recipients of the Leaders in Energy Efficiency award. The honorees at the ESC’s Seventh Annual Awards event included Branch County, City of Grand Rapids, Monroe County Community College, Oakland University, Parchment School District and St. Ignace Area Schools.
Collectively, this year's recipients invested over $39.5 million in energy efficiency improvements through performance contracting. These investments will be recouped over time from the energy savings. The 2017 awardees are saving a combined $2.1 million in energy annually. In the period of 2011-2017, the ESC Michigan Chapter has recognized recipients for a total of $152.7 million in energy efficiency and renewable energy investments that have resulted in $9.5 million in annual energy cost savings.
Performance contracts allow building owners to make energy and water cost-saving improvements in facility operations and equipment, and pay for the improvements using future avoided energy costs. Some common improvements include upgrades, repairs and/or replacement of HVAC equipment and building controls, building envelope, interior and exterior lighting, pumps and motors, and other deferred maintenance items. Improvements can also include renewable energy generation systems.
The annual awards event attracts energy efficiency experts from around the state and this year the event was held at the offices of the Michigan Agency for Energy. The event featured a keynote address by Representative Beth Griffin (District 66) and a facilitated panel discussion with the award recipients.
Following is the project list by size and savings that were honored with a 2017 ESC–MI Chapter award.
- Branch County: $1.36M and $87,222 in annual energy cost savings.
- City of Grand Rapids: $6.25M and $108,657 in annual energy cost savings.
- Monroe County Community College: $16.1M and $275,000 in annual energy cost savings.
- Oakland University: $12.7M and $1.476M in annual energy cost savings.
- Parchment School District: $2M and $113,625 in annual energy cost savings.
- St. Ignace Area Schools: $1.125M and $33,808 in annual energy cost savings.
The Energy Services Coalition is a public-private partnership that promotes the benefits of providing education on, and serving as an advocate for the widespread use of energy performance contracting in public and private facilities. http://www.energyservicescoalition.org/.
About Energy Services Coalition – Michigan Chapter
The mission of the ESC-Michigan Chapter is to accelerate the use of performance contracting in the State of Michigan to support infrastructure modernization, sustainability, economic development, and national security. The state chapter was formed in August 2010. The benefits of Energy Savings Performance Contracts include: self-funded building improvements and deferred maintenance through cash-neutral projects, guaranteed cost savings, and support for local job creation and local economic stimulus. For more information visit http://mi.energyservicescoalition.org/