As Berrien County’s lead economic development agency, Rob Cleveland’s team at Cornerstone Alliance is typically on the delivering end when it comes to incentives, but today they found themselves on the receiving end of more than $16-hundred dollars thanks to the Indiana Michigan Power Company’s Michigan-Custom Incentive Program for energy efficiency.
When Cornerstone renovated a 100-year old office building along West Main Street in Benton Harbor’s central business district, they did it right by employing energy efficiencies throughout with a strong potential for reducing its future energy use substantially.
Today, Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) presented the Cornerstone crew with a check for more than $1,600 for reducing future energy usage at its renovated building by participating in the I&M energy efficiency program.
Cornerstone will save about 21,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year – enough to power a typical home for nearly two years.
Jason Whitman is I&M Energy Efficiency & Consumer Program Coordinator. He says, “This project highlights the goals of I&M’s energy efficiency programs.” He says, “By approaching this renovation with an energy conscious design, Cornerstone Alliance was able to modernize a century-old building improving not only its appearance, but also its energy use. We hope other local business are encouraged by Cornerstone Alliance’s example and will take advantage of the incentives I&M offers to drive energy saving projects.”
When Cornerstone Alliance renovated the 100-year-old office building they included upgrades of old lighting by replacing it with new LED fixtures and installing occupancy sensors designed to reduce energy waste while a room is empty. Their project qualified for the Michigan-Custom Incentive Program, one of I&M’s energy efficiency programs.
As President of Cornerstone Alliance, Rob Cleveland says, “The Energy Efficiency Program offered by Indiana Michigan Power is of great benefit to businesses.” He points out that, “Energy-saving solutions were a top priority for us when designing the new Cornerstone Alliance offices in downtown Benton Harbor, and we appreciated the incentives from participating in this program. Indiana Michigan Power is a great economic development partner, and this is one of many ways they support business attraction and expansion in Southwest Michigan.”
Incentives are available for qualifying energy efficiency upgrades to I&M’s business customers in both Michigan and Indiana. Through the program, customers work with program-approved service providers who help identify system improvements and efficiency measures. Energy saving incentives are available to help offset the cost of implementation of the new efficiency measures. A few of the benefits of participation include – reduced energy consumption, enhanced building performance and extended life expectancy of equipment.
For more information about how your business can participate in the Energy Efficiency Program click the link below:
Shown in the accompanying photo provided by Indiana Michigan Power are: (from left to right)
- Christina Frank, Cornerstone Alliance, Director Investor Relations
- Jason Whitman, Indiana Michigan Power, Energy Efficiency and Consumer Program Coordinator
- Susan Cox, Cornerstone Alliance, Director of Marketing and Communications
- Cathy Tilley, Cornerstone Alliance, Business Development Manager
- Rob Cleveland, Cornerstone Alliance, President and Chief Executive Officer
