Grand Valley received an incentive from DTE Energy for its 2010
energy conservation projects. The $38,800 incentive comes from DTE
Energy’s “Your Energy Savings” program and will help the university
offset its energy costs. Campus-wide energy efficient efforts save the
university $1.4 million annually.
Terry Pahl, an engineer in Facilities Services at Grand Valley,
and Tim Thimmesch, assistant vice president of Facilities Services,
accepted the check and gave a presentation on utility incentives at
the 2011 Energy Conference and Exhibition, which was hosted by the
Engineering Society of Detroit and DTE Energy, May 10 in Novi, Mich.
“We are continually trying to reduce cost and save energy across
the university, so this incentive is a great representation of our
efforts this year,” Pahl said.
DTE Energy provides the incentives or rebates to companies
participating in the “Your Energy Savings” program throughout the
state for their energy saving measures, such as high efficiency
heating and cooling equipment and energy saving lighting.
Pahl said there is room for creativity when finding ways to
reduce energy consumption and costs. “We were the first university in
Michigan to install Aircuity Systems, which monitors fresh air supply
in classrooms and labs through motion sensors and environmental
measurements. The technology helps us to conserve energy when people
aren’t occupying the spaces,” he said.
Pahl added that since 2000 Grand Valley has also saved $1.3
million in one-time energy saving projects.
Grand Valley was one of two organizations that received an
incentive from DTE Energy, Detroit Media Partnership was the
other.
DTE Energy awards GVSU incentive for energy conservation efforts
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