State of Michigan owned facilities reduce energy usage, saving taxpayers $81 million

LANSING, MICH – Today, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) announced they have achieved a cumulative cost avoidance energy savings of $81 million in state-owned facilities. Savings in 2025 alone totaled $8.2 million, which accounted for 10% of all annual tracked savings in the 38 state buildings since 2005.

In September 2020, Governor Whitmer announced the MI Healthy Climate Plan to advance clean energy goals and position the state to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of this effort, Executive Directive 2020-10 tasked DTMB with reducing energy intensity in state-owned buildings by 40% by 2040, which DTMB surpassed in 2022.

“Michigan is leading the world in growing clean energy, lowering energy costs, and protecting our air, land, and water,” said Governor Whitmer. “I’m proud of our work to achieve the ambitious goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and save taxpayers $81 million by reducing energy consumption in state buildings. Let’s keep working together to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050 and build a bright future where everyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

DTMB’s Building Operations Division has an ongoing commitment and proactive approach to system optimization, which has served as the foundation for these reductions. Some of the successful energy reduction programs that have been implemented include:

• A cogeneration system that was completed at the state’s Secondary Complex and accounts for approximately 30% of portfolio-wide savings.
• LED conversion in 93% of all lighting fixtures in DTMB-managed facilities and plans to convert all others in the near future.
• The incorporation of Advanced Lighting Controls technology into recent LED conversions, which saves an additional 30% in energy use over LEDs.
• The establishment of the Michigan Building Intelligence System, an energy controls platform that enables remote monitoring and management of building systems.
• Conducting building energy audits on all DTMB-managed facilities to identify opportunities for energy efficiencies that the DTMB trades team then enacted.
• The use of Smart Metering technology to provide real-time data and allow DTMB to track actual energy usage at each individual DTMB-managed facility.

“DTMB’s 57% energy reduction and $81 million in savings demonstrate our strong commitment to efficiency and Michigan’s climate goals,” said Kyle Guerrant, DTMB acting director. “This progress is a testament to the outstanding work of our Buildings Operations teams.”