DTE Energy is starting to enjoy some of the fruits of its energy efficiency programs, which the downtown Detroit-based utility says have enabled its customers to save $50 million in 2011.
In recent years, DTE Energy has launched a number of energy efficiency programs to help its consumers integrate green technology into their homes and businesses. Those programs have ranged from energy audits to appliance recycling. These programs have outfitted more than 76,000 apartment units with energy efficiency measures, recycled about 23,000 appliances, performed approximately 50,000 home energy consultations and distributed more than 4.5 million discounted CFL light bulbs.
"These programs are still going full bore and we hope our customers take advantage of it," says Scott Simons, a spokesman for
DTE Energy.
He adds that these programs make sense for the utility because it means it will tamp down overall energy usage. That means DTE Energy and its subsidiaries will have to build out less infrastructure to support it.
"If our customers use less energy we will have to build fewer power plants," Simons says. "That costs our customers less in the long run."
Source: Scott Simons, spokesman for DTE Energy
Writer: Jon Zemke
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