Michigan Department of Corrections

Conserve and protect┬áMichiganÔÇÖs state prisons are conserving energy with new technologies and the pragmatism of Jerry Elmblad, Gary Toushek learns. Jerry Elmblad is one busy guy these days. HeÔÇÖs on the road a lot, driving from one Michigan state prison to another in his capacity as energy use reduction coordinator for the Michigan Department of Corrections (part of his official role as Building Construction Specialist). There are 41 prisons, some as old as a century, and eight prison camps as well.  Elmblad also makes time for trade shows and seminars, where he devours all the information he can on alternative energies and conservation technologies. HeÔÇÖs a down-to-earth, practical guy with a huge challenge: stretch the departmentÔÇÖs budget for utilities, related maintenance and upgrades as much as possible, and find smart alternative sources of energy. ItÔÇÖs no secret that MichiganÔÇÖs tax revenues are down; the state is hurting due to the decline of the automotive industry and the resulting unemployment. So funding isnÔÇÖt sufficient to support measures that departments such as Corrections would like to undertake to upgrade its systems. ÔÇ£We do what we can, and weÔÇÖve had to be creative,ÔÇØ Elmblad says. ÔÇ£We start with the obvious things, such as cutting back on lighting in specific areas. Maybe some prisons want more lighting than they actually need; in that case weÔÇÖll go out and talk to them, to see if we can somehow reduce the amount of lighting. And we will take that opportunity to talk about other energy reduction measures as well.ÔÇØThe budget that Elmblad works with is about $47 million for utilities (natural gas, electricity, water) to cover all facilitiesÔÇöeach probably built in a different year, with a different design and operationÔÇöa total of 952 large buildings. Last year the utility bills were about $15 million for natural gas, $16 million for electricity, and water and sewer combined were about $12 million; the remainder of the $47 million was for a combination of fuel oil, purchased steam and propane. So heÔÇÖs working with less funding and is expected to do moreÔÇönot unlike other public sector agencies. ÔÇ£We donÔÇÖt operate our facilities the way typical businesses do,ÔÇØ Elmblad says. ÔÇ£We have certain mandates and regulations that we abide by, including ensuring the safety and security of everyone in the state prison system. We turn on the lights in our buildings and yards at night, and we canÔÇÖt turn down the heat at night in winter, since we have to keep employees and inmates warm.ÔÇØ The majority of MDOCÔÇÖs facilities use natural gas as their primary fuel. Its more modern prisons are about 20 years old and have independent heating systems, and all facilities have a backup fuel sourceÔÇömainly liquid petroleum gasÔÇöin case the primary source goes down or becomes more expensive. Some facilities use number two fuel oil as a backup and can potentially use biodiesel. ÔÇ£We built two new power plants in 2006,ÔÇØ says Elmblad, ÔÇ£and their backup fuel is a blend of biodiesel. But thereÔÇÖs work and expense involved in adapting an older system to biofuel.ÔÇØ In terms of water, there are waterless urinals, minimal water for toilets, flow restrictors, timers for showers, whatever technology is available. ÔÇ£If we can fund it, weÔÇÖll test it for application in all facilities.ÔÇØ Elmblad tries to deliver the message about conserving energy in an effective way, by meeting with the wardens and their senior staff and touring their facility with them, showing them areas where improvements can be made with lighting efficiencies and use of water control devices, sometimes simply by using new technologies.Currently his department is looking at energy performance contracts for all facilities, which means looking for outside help in the private sector, asking for cooperation in pilot projects. ÔÇ£Since we donÔÇÖt have the funding to pay for any new capital projects, weÔÇÖre hiring companies such as Johnson Controls, which won a bid for a pilot program for our Newberry facility,ÔÇØ Elmblad says. ÔÇ£They did a Level One energy audit that told us they offered the best bang for the buck, so they then became an energy service company for us, and then performed an investment-grade audit that determined how we could save $2.5 million in that one facility.ÔÇØ Elmblad likes LED, induction, and exterior fluorescent lighting, because the lighting has instant-on capability for security. ÔÇ£I can put motion sensors on some areas and shut those lights off at night. One of our camp facilities is in a pilot test scenario with that kind of pole lighting along the perimeter fence. If someone approaches the fence, it alerts a warning device and the light comes on. For that perimeter lighting system alone, weÔÇÖre saving about 80 percent of our normal electricity cost.ÔÇØ MDOC is getting inquiries from across the country for what could be up to $100 million worth of work in energy performance contracts. ÔÇ£It will be a large, aggressive, complicated program,ÔÇØ Elmblad says.HeÔÇÖs also investigating low-grade wind turbine and solar photovoltaic systems for electricity generation. ÔÇ£Michigan is bordered by large lakes, so thereÔÇÖs a potential for wind turbines. And our facilities combined have over 15,000 acres of roofs, ideal for solar panels. For appropriate facilities weÔÇÖre looking at a combination system, for possible electrical generation when itÔÇÖs cloudy or not windy.ÔÇØ Elmblad is also excited about the Department looking at putting together an educational program with Michigan State Industries on alternative energies and conservation, for the prisoner population in Michigan. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs about showing them how much energy we normally consume and how we can lower it, gradually making us less dependent on the electricity grid and fossil fuels. ItÔÇÖs instructive for state employees and inmates alike.ÔÇ£I get a lot of positive feedback,ÔÇØ Elmblad continues. ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs an interesting job and a big challenge. I enjoy working with a good team of state employees. ItÔÇÖs rewarding when weÔÇÖre able to apply new technologies to the rigid requirements of a prison setting. With the correct technology, there certainly is potential for significant reduction in energy consumption.ÔÇØ