Did you know? Coleman A. Young Municipal Young Ctr. is already green...and just getting greener

Unbeknownst to many Detroiters, the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center has already gone green -- in fact, it did so when in was constructed in 1955. New efforts of the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority, its owner and operator, will take it to the next level.

One of the building's greenest components is its use of the flow of the Detroit River in its air conditioning system. Gregg McDufee, DWJBA's general manager, estimates that its saves the building over $700,000 per year in water charges.

CAYMC received EnergyStar designation in 2006, placing it in the top 25% of all commercial buildings in the country in terms of energy usage. McDuffee says this reduction in energy consumption has saved taxpayers $1.5 million over the last 15 months.

DWJBA's board of commissioners just approved the following additional efforts:

• The implementation of recommendations in the recently-completed facility master plan that defines a pathway to LEED certification;

• The restoration of the intended green patina on the Spirit of Detroit statue so that, hopes McDuffee, "The importance of the statue will translate to the notion of environmental stewardship through its spirit in the context of the region;"

• The re-engineering of restrooms to reduce water and energy consumption as well as improve public health;

• The use of green cleaning and paper products and the implementation of green standards for all tenant improvements and capital investments; and

• The enhancement and expansion of the building's recycling program.
  

Source: Gregg McDuffee, DWJBA
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh