DTE Energy cut carbon emissions amid energy efficiency push, customers to save nearly $400M

Amid a concentrated push to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2040, DTE Energy reported this week that its customers will save nearly $400 million over their lifetime energy bills.

Simultaneously, efforts from last year alone will reduce lifetime greenhouse gas emissions by about 6.1 million metric tons of CO2, 2,869 metric tons of NO2, and 3,785 metric tons of SO2, according to the company’s figures. A big pusher for this has been the DTE Energy Efficiency Assistance program, which pairs energy-saving efforts with help for limited-income customers. In 2020, that program had 10,926 electric and 12,273 natural gas participants, who benefited from energy efficiency assistance, income-qualified heat pumps, and the income-qualified components of the company’s multifamily and home energy consultation programs.

The program was honored for its efforts just this year.

“We feel fortunate to be able to offer these income-qualified programs to DTE customers who are most in need,” John Boladian, director of Energy Efficiency at DTE, said. “We’re proud to accept the Inspiring Efficiency Impact Award, but we also want to give credit to the Michigan Community Action Agency Association, municipality and county agencies across the state, public housing commissions, faith-based institutions, community development corporations, and non-profit organizations with existing housing and energy programs.”

The company has also rolled out enhancements benefitting commercial and industrial owners, offering incentives to swap existing equipment and fixtures with new energy efficient equipment and incentives to design and construct new projects or remodeling efforts. Last year, more than 400,000 customers took advantage of this.

Beyond this, last year saw 85,000 customers benefit from energy efficient product rebates from purchases made on the DTE Marketplace and 11,400 natural gas and electric appliance rebates gained by customers. Customers took advantage of more than 5,000 electronics incentives, and more than 29,000 HVAC applications were processed for residential applicants. DTE also conducted thousands of energy consultations, both for homes and businesses within its service territory.