Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
On Feb. 13, 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 at the urging of President Obama, who signed it into law four days later. A direct response to the economic crisis, the Recovery Act has three immediate goals:
- Create new jobs and save existing ones
- Spur economic activity and invest in long-term growth
- Foster unprecedented levels of accountability and transparency in government spending
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, represents a Presidential priority to deploy the cheapest, cleanest, and most reliable energy technologies we have – energy efficiency and conservation – across the country. The Program, authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) and signed into law on December 19, 2007, is intended to assist U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and Indian tribes to develop, promote, implement, and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs designed to:
- Reduce fossil fuel emissions;
- Reduce the total energy use of the eligible entities;
- Improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other appropriate sectors; and
- Create and retain jobs.
For the LED Demonstration Project information, please click here.
City of Warren Strategy and Projects
The City of Warren received a $1,358,600 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) allocation from the US Department of Energy.
The City of Warren’s proposed energy efficiency and conservation strategy is to reduce energy use by improving energy efficiency and conservation at city facilities while also developing a workforce for the employment opportunities in Michigan’s emerging green economy. Warren has selected activities that fulfill a need that the city previously identified in a more energy efficient manner, provide workforce development or gather information that will be used to identify and implement energy efficiency projects in the future. The overall objective is a 20 percent reduction in city owned building energy consumption in three years.
Warren has several publicly owned buildings of varying age, several in need of roof repair and rebuild. We have identified several that are suitable for a “green roof” including, the Police Headquarters and Sanitation Building.
Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TEC) is developing a post-secondary certification in the green roof and sustainable technologies market. Warren will partner with M-TEC on the proposed green roof projects. By partnering with M-TEC, Warren will provide on-the-job training for 16-24 Michigan Citizens. This partnership will provide students with the necessary skills for employment in the green roof industry as certified green roof installers.
A green roof is the roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium. Green roofs offer many benefits including: a longer lasting roof reduced cooling costs in the summer and a decrease in the amount of runoff water.
Warren also has several non-construction activities allocated under the EECBG program including energy audits and a biomass to energy feasibility study. These activities will provide information that will be used to seek funding and prioritize future projects based on greatest return on investment.
