DTE Gives Oakland University a $131,000 Rebate

When the new Human Health Building at Oakland University opened this fall, the campus community applauded its cork floors, bamboo cabinets, solar panels and geothermal heating system.

Now, those green, energy-efficient design features are paying off.

DTE Energy recently awarded the university a $131,000 rebate check. The reimbursement is part of DTE's New Construction Energy Efficiency Program for Business. 

"This rebate certainly is testimony that Oakland University is doing its part to reduce energy consumption in Michigan and to help Michigan's environment," said Terry Stollsteimer, Oakland's associate vice president for facilities management.

University leaders say they anticipate the Human Health Building will realize annual energy savings of more than 50 percent over a conventional building of its size and design.

Some green features of the new building:

• Cork floor and bamboo cabinets throughout.
• 256 geothermal wells underneath the parking lot to boost energy efficiency.
• Solar panels for cooling, humidity-control and heating water supplies. 
• Floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural light.

The 160,000-square-foot, $64.4 million Human Health Building was built by the Michigan-based Christman Company and designed bySmithGroup.

Read more in OU's Newest Addition is All About Health and Healing.