Downtown development authority gets into the mix
Here’s an example of yet another type of organization that is working to improve the energy efficiency of an existing building stock. The Downtown Development Authority of Ann Arbor, MI, is in the 2nd year of its Downtown Energy Saving Grant Program. In this program, participating companies receive a free energy audit from a city-approved contractor, worth anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. The auditor will identify list of improvements that would boost energy efficiency, and after consultation with the DDA, landlords then pick which energy efficiency improvements to make. After the improvements are made, the DDA rebates half of the landlord’s cost, up to $20,000.
Do you know about other programs like this? We’d like to hear about them. And whoever you are in the food chain, whether a contractor who does energy audits or a building owner or manager, you can push for programs like this in your area.