It might not seem like it now... but sunny days will return to Northern Michigan in a few months... and the Grand Traverse County Civic Center plans on capitalizing on all those rays.

Danny Brown, Facility Director for Grand Traverse County said, "We're always really interested in saving dollars for the community.  Any time I change a boiler in any of our buildings or change a rooftop unit, we always go for the high efficiency."

A grant recently awarded to Grand Traverse County has allowed for the installation of some major money and energy saving appliances.

Brown said, "We installed 18 solar panels on the roof of this building.  What happens is, the sun heats the water, or the glycol that's in the system and goes into a holding tank into our mechanical room and helps offset to heat the water for our domestic hot water which is for our showering, for the pool and for our arena.  Here... is a solar display and it gives various things.  It tells you the current temperature, it gives you an idea what we've been saving."

Brown said this system will save about $8,500 per year.

So, not only do the improvements save money, they'll also eliminate over 150,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

But officials aren't stopping here, they hope to apply for more grants in the future, one of which could allow for new, high efficiency outdoor lighting for many county buildings.