Wayne County will save 10 to 15 percent on its headquarters’ annual utility costs, starting in August, thanks to a new energy operation center, along with other capital improvements and technological advances.
The energy operation center is part of a more than $1-million pilot project — funded entirely by Korea Micro-Energy Grid (K-MEG), a consortium of 80 Korean companies — that aims to improve energy efficiency using system controls and automation.
“The technological enhancements will improve the operational efficiency of the Guardian Building,” says Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.
Located on the 16th floor of the Guardian Building in downtown Detroit, the energy operation center uses a high-tech “smart grid” system to control operating systems. From there, K-MEG can monitor energy flow, airflow usage, and utility output for the Wayne County controlled floors in the Guardian Building.
“It’s a win for our general operating budget and the taxpayers in Wayne County,” Ficano says. “We continue to look for and use the latest technologies, so we can reduce our overhead in the short-term, while making us more efficient in the long run.”
The project, which focuses mainly on electricity and gas energy conservation while aiming to also conserve other utility offerings, was launched in September 2013. The county will unveil the Wayne County Energy Operation Center to media officials this afternoon.
