Ferndale accepts $100,000 EGLE grant to audit DPW and Fire Station 1 for energy savings

Ferndale City Council on May 20 voted to accept a $100,000 Community Energy Management Grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to pay for ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits of the Department of Public Works main facility and Fire Station 1.

According to city staff, the grant requires no local match and will fund two detailed ASHRAE Level 2 audits and an energy-efficiency action plan to guide short- and medium-term capital improvements. The work will be performed by Energy Sciences under a contract the city previously authorized to pursue grant opportunities.

Why it matters: the audits will produce operational and capital recommendations aimed at reducing energy use and operating costs at two of the city's older municipal buildings. Staff said those findings will be used to update the city’s facilities capital improvement plan and to identify projects that could reduce long-term energy expenses.

City staff noted Ferndale’s municipal facilities are older and historically less energy efficient: the DPW main building dates to 1923 and Fire Station 2 to 1952, the staff presenter said. The grant was pursued in partnership with Energy Sciences; staff said the company will perform the ASHRAE Level 2 reports and deliver an energy-efficiency action plan within a 12-month project timeline.

The staff presenter summarized past work: a 2021 facilities condition assessment that included energy audits, and a facilities capital improvement plan based on that assessment. The EGLE grant will extend that work by funding ASHRAE Level 2 audits, which the presenter described as going beyond initial audits to analyze operations and provide prioritized efficiency measures. The presenter said the city applied for $100,000 and was awarded the full amount.

Council action: A council member moved and the council approved the resolution to accept the EGLE grant and amend budget line items to reflect the revenue and expenditure increases. The vote recorded yes from Councilmembers Johnson, Kelly, Polica and Leaksmae; one councilmember was absent. Staff said work will begin once contracts and grant acceptance paperwork are complete.

Context and next steps: Energy Sciences will prepare the ASHRAE reports and an action plan with short-term steps and longer-term recommendations for inclusion in the city's capital planning. Staff estimated the project timeline at 12 months and said the city will return to council with deliverables and project recommendations.