It was just a month ago that
Model D reported on the Economic Development Corporation's new
SmartBuildings Detroit program, which includes a $1.9 million grant pot for energy conservation improvements made to privately owned buildings in the downtown area. Already, the EDC has approved grants totaling $264,000 for three such projects:
- One Detroit Center, located on Woodward between Congress and Larned, will install high efficiency
light bulbs, which is estimated will save $155,600 per year. Of the total
$608,467 estimated eligible cost, $100,000 will be
reimbursed by the grant.
- New high-performance windows -- 314 of them -- will be installed at the Village of Brush Park Manor
Paradise Valley senior complex. Of the total $256,000 estimated eligible cost of the project, $64,000 will be reimbursed by the grant.
- Similarly, FData Consulting Group at 965 E. Jefferson St. will replace the windows in its three-story office building. In this case, $100,000 of the total $415,000
estimated eligible cost of the project will be reimbursed by
the grant.
SmartBuildings Detroit guidelines state that grants are capped at $100,000 or 40 percent of total eligible project costs, and must be leveraged at a rate of three-to-one by other funds. Grantees are required to monitor cost savings and report back to the EDC.
The EDC continues to accept applications for SmartBuildings grants as well as the related Green Fund, a $1 million loan program. Any improvements identified in an energy assessment for the building are eligible, which might include insulation and weatherization, glass replacement, HVAC, lighting and electrical improvements, the institution of a low flow plumbing system or an alternative energy generation system such as solar or wind.
Source: Robert Rossbach, DEGC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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