Three Detroit Buildings Earn $264,000 in Energy Conservation Grants
The Economic Development Corp. of the City of Detroit has approved grants totaling $264,000 from its $1.9 million SmartBuildings Detroit fund, for energy conservation improvements in three buildings in the Woodward corridor.
Under the program guidelines, grants are capped at $100,000 or 40 percent of total eligible project costs, and must be leveraged three-to-one by funds from the owners or other sources. Grantees will monitor and report to the EDC their actual cost savings from the work.
One Detroit Center at 500 Woodward Ave. will install high efficiency light bulbs in a portion of the 45-story office building. Of the total $608,467 estimated eligible cost for the project, $100,000 will be reimbursed by the grant. The projected energy cost savings is $155,600 per year.
The Village of Brush Park Manor Paradise Valley at 2900 Brush St. will install 314 high-performance, low-e glass windows in the 113-unit senior living residential community owned and operated by the Joint Fraternal Development Corp., the Brush Park Development Corp., and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan. Of the total $256,000 estimated eligible cost of the project, 25 percent, or $64,000 will be reimbursed by the grant.
Data Consulting Group at 965 E. Jefferson St. will replace all the windows in its three-story office building. Of the total $415,000 estimated eligible cost of the project, $100,000 will be reimbursed by the grant.
The EDC continues to accept applications for the SmartBuildings grants and related Green Fund loans. In general, any improvements identified in an energy assessment for the building are eligible.
These might include:
* Building Enclosure - Insulation and weatherization, glass replacement
* Building Systems – Interior and exterior lighting and electrical, HVAC, low flow water/plumbing
* Alternative Energy Generation - Solar panels, geothermal, wind, & water systems
The program area is generally bounded by the Detroit River on the south, the Lodge Freeway (M-10) on the west, Seward on the north and the Walter Chrysler Freeway (I-75), including the Eastern Market area, on the east.
The SmartBuildings Detroit energy efficiency program is funded by $10 million of a $30 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant to the State of Michigan and a number of its partners as part of the BetterBuildings for Michigan Program.
The Economic Development Corp. of the City of Detroit is managing the SmartBuildings Detroit program. The Detroit Economic Growth Corp. acts as staff for the EDC.
More information about the SmartBuildings Detroit Program and how to apply for a grant or Green Fund loan are posted on www.degc.org.
