An Approach to Energy Efficiency in Detroit: How DTE Energy Can Emerge as a Leader in a Unique Urban Landscape

摘要

With the release of the ACEEE’s 2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, it is apparentrnthat Detroit has a long way to go to match the efforts and results of other major American citiesrnwhen it comes to energy-saving programs and policies. DTE Energy, the electricity producer andrnthe supplier and distributor of gas and electric energy for the greater southeastern Michigan region,rnholds many of the keys to turning this trend around. Indeed, Detroit is the only municipalityrnwith over 500,000 people in the DTE Energy service territory. Therefore, many opportunitiesrnexist for DTE to play a larger role in energy efficiency measures at a city-wide scale, thusrnproviding a more comprehensive and long-term impact on energy usage than focusing on reducingrnthe consumption of buildings alone. To do so, important steps and considerations includernprioritizing restorations, retrofits, and renovations over new construction; using urban planningrntools such as zoning ordinances, site plan reviews, and livability metrics to set benchmarks; analyzingrnhow other municipalities in the nation employ local government, community, utility, andrntransportation initiatives to shape energy programs; and recommending policies, innovations, andrnstrategies that DTE Energy can adopt to enhance outreach to customers and improve energy efficiencyrnon a city-wide scale. Keeping this framework in mind, Detroit has great potential to risernin the rankings for the next ACEEE Scorecard evaluation scheduled for 2015, with DTE Energy,rnan established corporate presence in the community, leading the way.