For Immediate Release
December 6, 2019
Contact
Hilarie Carpenter (616) 742-6397
DeVos Place Receives Energy Savings Rebate from Consumers Energy
Lighting Project Significantly Increases Energy Efficiency at the Convention Center
Pictured (from left to right): Chris Anderson (ASM Grand Rapids Director of Facilities), Dave Broekstra (ASM Grand Rapids Chief Engineer), Jordan Lawrence (Voss Lighting), Mark Bates (Consumers Energy), Jacob C. Moll III (Consumers Energy), Jim Paschen (Voss Lighting), Aaron Prince (Consumers Energy), Eddie Tadlock (ASM Grand Rapids Assistant General Manager), Steve Heacock (CAA Chairman), Rosalynn Bliss (CAA Board Member & Mayor of Grand Rapids)
Grand Rapids — Consumers Energy presented a rebate check for $111,068.70 to Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) Chairman Steve Heacock this morning for energy savings at ASM Global-managed DeVos Place. New lighting and controls recently installed in the Exhibit Hall have greatly reduced the building’s energy usage.
The lighting project reduced the number of fixtures from 788 to 407, decreasing energy use from 434,505 watts to 96,676 watts. Despite the energy savings, the new lighting can reach brightness settings up to two and a half times higher than the previous lighting system. Additionally, the building installed new controls allowing staff to more efficiently control light usage from anywhere based on the specific needs of each event and the amount of natural light in the Exhibit Hall.
The project is one of many at DeVos Place that have saved the building 1,877,306 kilowatt hours of energy since 2014. To put this total in perspective, this amount is equal to the carbon emissions of 282 cars, the annual electric use of 232 homes, or 463 tons of waste recycled. DeVos Place has received $148,969.00 in rebates from Consumers Energy over that time.
Aaron Prince, Mark Bates, and Jacob C. Moll III with Consumers Energy’s Business Energy Efficiency Programs and Jim Paschen and Jordan Lawrence with Voss Lighting, the contractor of the project, were on site at the CAA meeting at Van Andel Arena this morning for part of the presentation as well.
“Energy efficiency is and will continue to be a priority in our buildings. Not only because it is cost-effective, but also because it helps us play a part in increasing the sustainability of the community,” said Eddie Tadlock, ASM Assistant General Manager of DeVos Place. “We are proud to call West Michigan home, and we’re grateful for the support of our community partners such as Consumers Energy.”
DeVos Place is committed to its environmental responsibility. The convention center is a founding member of the Grand Rapids 2030 District, which is a public-private partnership committed to creating high-performing buildings and smart mobility options that drawdown carbon in Grand Rapids’ built environment, increase marketability and profitability for property owners, and strengthen the greater community’s vibrancy. DeVos Place also finished in second place in the 2016 Michigan Battle of the Buildings and achieved certification as a “Green Venue” from the state of Michigan in 2010. Grand Rapids was named Green Generation Customer of the Year by Consumers Energy in May of 2009. Read more about sustainability efforts on the DeVos Place website here.
About The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena
The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA) is the seven-member board that administers DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall and Van Andel Arena. The CAA was established on March 29, 2000 by the City of Grand Rapids and County of Kent under the Convention Facility Authority Act, Act 203 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1999.
About ASM Global
DeVos Place is managed by ASM Global. ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company was formed by the combination of AEG Facilities and SMG, global leaders in venue and event strategy and management. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 300 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through the unique power of live experiences.
ASM Global’s diverse portfolio of clients benefit from the company’s depth of resources and unparalleled experience, expertise and creative problem-solving. Each day, the company’s 61,000 passionate employees around the world deliver locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to deliver maximum results for venue owners, and operations, and amazing experiences for guests. By consistently looking for new ways to envision, innovate and empower the spaces and places that bring people together, ASM Global elevates the human spirit while delivering the highest value for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.asmglobal.com.
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