Downtown Ann Arbor businesses have been using energy more sparingly by way of the widely subscribed Downtown Energy Saving Grant Program run by the Ann Arbor DDA. Over half of the DDA district businesses have signed up for the free energy audit and rebate program since its inception in 2008, according to David Konkle, energy programs engineer for the Ann Arbor DDA.
Thus far the DDA has committed $298,000 in funds for a total of 127 energy audits, 94 of which have been completed to date. It has also issued $176,172 in rebates to leverage $684,000 worth of energy improvements with an expected savings of $89,200 in energy costs per year. Improvements at 28 buildings have been rebated.
In the first
program phase, approved businesses within the DDA district are eligible for a free energy audit valued between $2,000-$5,000. In the second phase, businesses can receive rebates for eco-friendly upgrades such as more efficient lighting and windows, insulation, and enhanced HVAC systems. The DDA offers a match of up to 50% of upgrades with a five-year payback or less, with a cap of $5,000 for each building or business.
Konkle, a former longtime energy coordinator for the city of Ann Arbor, says, "I'm quite familiar with what's going on nationally and this particular program is one of the best energy efficiency programs in the United States." The DDA is currently accepting new applications for energy audits, but is holding off on conducting them until some financing issues are resolved, according to Konkle.
Ann Arbor's DDA is the first in the nation to be running an efficiency and rebate program, he says. "We've been setting this up as a model that other DDAs have been able to follow."
Source: David Konkle, energy programs engineer for the Ann Arbor DDA
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.