City of Portage Collaborates with NORESCO to Reduce Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

PORTAGE, Mich. -

The City of Portage identifies itself as “a natural place to move.” With building improvements that will reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, the city is further demonstrating its support of long-term environmental quality and carbon footprint reductions. It has contracted with NORESCO, a national leader in energy efficiency, resiliency and infrastructure solutions, to implement a $1.1 million energy efficiency project that will improve key city buildings and parks for years to come.

NORESCO analyzed city facilities to determine and design energy and non-personnel operational cost reduction measures. Nearly all interior lighting at city hall will be upgraded to LED technology, as will much of the lighting in the public safety building. In city parks, energy efficiency, lighting quality and maintenance demands will improve when remaining high intensity discharge fixtures that light pathways are retrofitted with LED technology. Building systems at city hall will operate more efficiently and with improved air quality and comfort as a result of improvements to the mechanical and energy management control systems. New high efficiency boiler, chiller and roof-top units will be installed at the public safety building to boost overall energy efficiency and replace equipment at the end of its useful life. The city will benefit from reduced energy and maintenance costs and will avoid relevant projected future capital expenditures.

“The City of Portage has a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer funds,” said Adam Herringa, Acting City Manager. “Our partnership with NORESCO will yield financial savings while protecting the environment in our beautiful city.”

The project also provides decarbonization benefits and is expected to reduce the city’s annual emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents by 418 metric tons. The expected reduction in greenhouse gases equates to carbon sequestered by 495 acres of U.S. forests in one year, providing air quality improvements to the community.  

“We commend the City of Portage for commissioning a thorough analysis of operational and budgetary cost opportunities,” said Jim Williams, Vice President, NORESCO. “Even cities like Portage that have a proven history of budgetary acumen and responsible use of city funds − including frequent award recognition by the Government Finance Officers Association − can benefit from a deeper dive into energy budgets and building operations.” 

About NORESCO

NORESCO helps customers create modern, sustainable and healthy buildings, campuses and communities, while saving energy and water, and optimizing operational and capital budgets. NORESCO is also a leader in the effort to address the modern energy infrastructure challenges facing the nation and our world, including decarbonization, electrification, grid flexibility, sustainability and resiliency. Through its projects, NORESCO has guaranteed more than $5 billion in energy and operating cost savings at more than 10,000 facilities throughout the U.S. and abroad, while reducing customer CO2 emissions by more than 25 million metric tons, equivalent to planting 1.4 million acres of forest.

About City of Portage

Portage has shown itself to be the municipal equal to a renewable resource. The city offers its citizens a dynamic living environment, energized and sustained by quality of life characteristics that are unmatched in the region, punctuated with great retail, and enriched by a unique pledge to share the natural environment with its citizens. Portage residents enjoy low municipal taxes, safe and well-maintained neighborhoods, world-class healthcare, enriching activities and entertainment, and a unique parks system that connects citizens to each other and the natural world. Portage has a great past and its citizens anticipate a rewarding future for their children and grandchildren. The people of Portage have a character and willingness to make our city a special place to live, work and play. The city continuously engages its citizens to address current challenges and develop a future vision for our community - and ultimately ensure the city remains A Natural Place to Move!