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MICHIGAN BATTLE OF THE BUILDINGS PRESENTS

DETROIT ENERGY CHALLENGE

The City of Detroit challenges all Detroit building owners to reduce wasted energy in buildings across the city. The buildings with the greatest reductions from their prior-year baseline will be recognized at the Detroit Energy Challenge Award Ceremony.

Enroll Once for your chance to win twice!

All Detroit Energy Challenge competitors are automatically enrolled in the Michigan Battle of the Buildings giving you the opportunity to be recognized as one of "Michigan's Biggest Losers" in the state-wide competition.  

FREE TO COMPETE!

Collaborating Partners

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2021 was the First Annual Detroit Energy Challenge

Square Feet Competing in 2021
In 2021 competitors avoided
metric tons of CO2e
Equivalent to
acres of U.S. forest in one year
In 2021 saved
$
in energy costs
detroit pic for website

DETROIT ENERGY CHALLENGE AWARDS BREAKFAST

June 15, 2023

Zero Net Energy Center at 1358 Abbott Street in Detroit, Michigan

As part of the Michigan Battle of the Buildings, in partnership with Detroit
2030 and the City of Detroit, a Detroit-specific energy competition was
created to commend the energy efficiency efforts of Motor City Battle of
the Buildings participants.

Detroit Energy Challenge's Biggest Losers will be celebrated on June 15, 2023
at an Awards Breakfast hosted by the Detroit 2030 District in Detroit, Michigan.

We cannot wait to celebrate and award our Biggest Losers!

Thank You to Last Year's Detroit Energy Challenge Breakfast Sponsors:

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Last Year's Biggest Losers!

1_Beach Club

Shelbourne Development

Beach Club Detroit
1st Place Biggest Loser
59.63% Reduction

In 2019, the Beach Club Detroit rebranded from River Terrace Apartments and the redevelopment prioritized energy efficiency and sustainability. This began with a conversion of the 90-year-old steam heating system to an advanced geothermal-heat pump system. Additional improvements included LED lights, nest thermostats to optimize heating and cooling in each of the 177 units, a cool roof rated system, and a specifically designed field in the front of the complex that consists of 150 energy efficient wells that draws groundwater. As their name suggests, a beach covers the groundwater well system, providing a beautiful community area tenants can enjoy on the Detroit River, looking out at Belle Isle.

2_Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bank

8 Mile & Livernois
2nd Place Biggest Loser
21% Reduction

 This Fifth Third Bank location is one of many that are efficiency driven. The bank completed an exterior LED lighting upgrade, which included replacing lighting controllers that were not working properly. 

3_Bedrock

Bedrock

Detroit Media Partnership
3rd Place Biggest Loser
20.78% Reduction

Like many shared spaces and office buildings, the building automation system was no longer optimized for the intended use of the space. The building completed DTE’s Retrocommissioning Program, which involves a process used to tune-up existing equipment for more efficient performance rather than replacing it. The building saw savings of over 12% annually on electric consumption, the simple payback period was 2.3 months, and the annual energy cost savings were estimated at 5.7%. 

HM1_Huntington Place

Huntington Place

Honorable Mention
20.54% Reduction

The 2.4 million-square-foot space is a place where people gather, a place for the community- with that in mind, when COVID-19 hit, they became a hospital, a food bank, a vaccination and testing center, and a center for the homeless with medical services, laundry services, meals, and shower services, and on the coldest days, a shelter. The building adapted and strategically picked where to put each entity so that they would be in the safest and most energy efficient spot. They adapted for air flow and negative air in the spaces that were not directly in use, and built a decontamination area for masks. They held their vaccination center in the garage, where they pumped 13 million BTUs of heat. They also practiced smarter temperature regulation-controlling temperatures in the building based on the season to use less energy, and conditioned the specific spaces being used, using energy to make those spaces comfortable and saving energy in the connecting spaces. In the same realm of smart energy usage, they emphasized the use of natural light or “daylight harvesting” more and used electricity when absolutely necessary,

HM2_Comerica

Comerica Bank

CBRE
Honorable Mention
16.36% Reduction

Comerica Incorporated partnered with CBRE to reduce the environmental impact of Comerica’s facilities and operations. The team works closely toward a common goal of reducing emissions, water, waste and paper consumption. The biggest savings have resulted from the installation and use of a Building Management System to better control the heating and cooling needs, as well as routine updates. Comerica has set goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water consumption, and waste sent to landfills.

Number of Detroit Buildings Participating in the Detroit Energy Challenge

Square Footage of Detroit Buildings Participating in the Detroit Energy Challenge

REAP THE BENEFITS OF THE CHALLENGE

IMPROVE YOUR
BOTTOM LINE
Improved energy efficiency can decrease operating expenses and increase property asset value. For example, a 10% decrease in energy use can result to a 1.5% increase in net operating income.

GET RECOGNIZED
Your business/building will receive free recognition & promotion of your participation in the Detroit Energy Challenge and the Michigan Battle of the Buildings.

EDUCATION & NETWORKING
As a participant in the Detroit Energy Challenge, you will have access to a network of organizations and companies that provide education and resources such as Detroit 2030 District and Michigan Battle of the Buildings.

 

SHOW MOTOR CITY PRIDE & LEADERSHIP
Your participation will help Detroit be recognized as a community that prioritizes green building operation and practices.

HAVE FUN
Let’s have a good time! Sign up to make sure you get all the event announcements. Saving energy is cause for celebration!

“The Detroit Energy Challenge is a great way for building owners to save operating expenses, foster healthier indoor environments for employees and residents, and to play an important part in reducing our emissions. I would like to personally challenge all Detroit building owners to be a part of this exciting challenge!”

- Joel Howrani Heeres,  Director of Sustainability for the City of Detroit