Energy Sustainability

The importance of energy conservation and security has become and increasingly important national issue due to high fuel costs, the climate change debate, the United States’ reliance on energy from volatile parts of the world, and rising energy costs. As communities and individuals look to cut back, energy is an easy target for savings. Energy conservation can be achieved from both low cost and higher cost capital investments. Energy production currently relies on the burning of fossil fuels, which is a leading cause of air pollution. Fossil fuels are not an infinite resource. The combination of the rising demand for oil in developing countries and suggestions that oil production has peaked or will by 2035, will further strain our energy resources.

Energy Savings Performance Contracting

An Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) was used by the City of Farmington Hills to bring energy saving investments to seven of its facilities including the Costick Center, Division of Public Works, Fire Headquarters, Fire Station #3/ Jon Grant Community Center, Ice Arena, Parks and Golf Maintenance Building, and the Police Station. Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) included investments ranging from lighting retrofits to the replacement of old inefficient and problematic HVAC equipment. An ESPC is designed to create enough energy savings to pay back the upfront investment costs of the equipment.

• Lighting
• Building Automation Systems
• Solar Hot Water Heating
• Ice Control Technology Upgrades
• Energy Efficient HVAC Equipment

Sustaining Investment in Energy Efficiency

Knowing that grant opportunities are drying up, that City has taken steps to budget a portion of the energy savings realized, as compared to the 2007/2008 budget year (baseline), to provide ongoing funding for energy and environmental projects. Sustaining these investments help the City continue reducing its operational and maintenance budgets.

There are many opportunities for additional energy saving improvements throughout City facilities and operations. Staff works with the Commission for Energy and Environmental Sustainability to help identify and prioritize these opportunities.

Check out the City’s progress page to see the impacts of these investments.