GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids Boys & Girls Club is cutting energy costs thanks to a new $1.2 million grant from the state of Michigan.

“We got a brand new roof, brand new HVAC, we got all new LED lighting throughout the whole building,” said Director of Development Angie Stempo.

In addition to lighting and temperature improvements, the club’s game room received new solar blinds — a big help in keeping things cool for kids during hot days.

“It gets really hot in this room, so those are the shades,” Stempo said.

The most recent additions include solar panels and a high-tech generator designed to prevent the disruptions the club has experienced in the past.

“We have had instances in the past where the power’s been out and we have no other option but to close, ’cause obviously we can’t run our programs or have hundreds of kids in the building with no power,” she said.

Stempo says the improvements are going to help the club save money on utilities.

“It’ll save us a lot of money in energy costs," she said. "You know with the brand-new roof, all the LED lighting, all of that will bring down our electric bill.”

Those savings make a big difference for the organization, which relies heavily on state funding to operate. Stempo said the team felt relief after recent uncertainty over out-of-school-time funding in the state budget.

“There was a point in that process where that out-of-school time funding was taken out, and so we were pretty nervous about that," she said. "But we’re very happy to say in the final budget that passed not only was it included, but there’s even more money available this year.”

In addition to the upgrades made possible by this grant, the team is now working on another major project — a $4.6 million renovation of the Seidman Club off Crofton Avenue. The site remains under construction, but Stempo says the goal is to reopen by next spring once fundraising is complete.