DTE-EnergySmarts Spring 2024

All about the lighting

Small-business owners Joe and Laurie Dixon win energy efficiency makeover from DTE

Stepping on the gas DTE expands Small and Medium Business Program

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

A CLOSER LOOK Storm prep 101: We’re all in this together.

SEASON’S SAVINGS Consider this your seasonal energy-saving checklist.

INDUSTRY INSIDER Save on high-volume, lowspeed fans with Instant Discount program.

5 QUESTIONS Here’s how DTE works to reduce outages and restore power quickly after storms.

DID YOU KNOW? Make the most of your thermostat with DTE’s Smart Savers program.

WORKING TO IMPROVE ELECTRIC RELIABILITY FOR OUR CUSTOMERS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE

At DTE Energy, we are committed to providing our customers with the reliable and affordable energy they need and deserve. The vast majority of our customers experience just that, going about their day at their home or business, empowered by the energy we generate and deliver.

However, with ever-increasing extreme weather, too many of our customers are anxious when storms strike, worried about the challenges that come with electric service interruption.

That’s simply unacceptable, and it’s why we are taking an aggressive, multifaceted, databacked approach to improving electric reliability that will benefit all our customers now and into the future.

It all starts with the continued execution of our four-point plan (scan the QR code to learn more), which is a carefully constructed road map that tackles the issue from several angles, including trimming trees, updating existing infrastructure, rebuilding some of our oldest portions of the grid and accelerating our transition to a smart grid.

Our plan begins with continuing to prioritize tree trimming, which is one of the most effective methods for improving reliability. Trees account for half of the time our customers are without power, and in areas where tree trimming is up to date, customers experience a 40% to 50% improvement in reliability. This past year alone, we trimmed more than 5,000 miles of trees throughout Southeast Michigan and the Thumb region, with the goal of having all 31,000 miles of DTE overhead electric wires on a five-year tree trimming cycle by the end of next year.

We are also updating our existing infrastructure. In 2023, we inspected and upgraded overhead electrical equipment across more than 1,300 miles. As part of this work, we replaced and upgraded crossarms, transformers and other pole-top equipment. We also replaced more than 3,800 poles across our service territory.

Additionally, last year, we completed rebuilding 120 miles of some of the oldest portions of the electric grid. This is just a start. From Detroit to Ann Arbor, and Pontiac to Port Huron, numerous cities and towns across our service territory will benefit from this work. And as we accelerate through our plans, we are working to put as much of the system underground as we can.

At the same time, we are transitioning to a smart grid, which will lead to smaller and shorter outages. The smart devices we are installing, called automated reclosers, help us quickly and remotely isolate many outages, pinpoint damage faster and reroute service to keep customers’ power on while we make repairs. We have plans to install 10,000 smart devices and achieve automation across our entire system within the next five years, and we’re already making progress; in 2023, we installed more than 200 of these automated devices.

To make all of this work a reality, through 2030, we plan to invest more than $9 billion in upgrading and modernizing the electric grid, with a goal of improving electric reliability for our customers by more than 60%.

It’s what every member of the DTE team wakes up focused on, and it’s what we are dedicated to delivering for you.

Matt Paul President and COO, DTE Electric

Published and distributed by DTE Energy, One Energy Plaza, Detroit, MI 48226 dteenergy.com

EDITOR

Anne Santori

EnergySmarts for Michigan Business welcomes your comments. Send inquiries, questions or comments to: EnergySmarts for Michigan Business 1590 WCB

DTE Energy

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EnergySmarts for Michigan Business magazine is published by DTE Energy. © 2024 DTE Energy. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. EnergySmarts for Michigan Business is a registered trademark of DTE Energy. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, EnergySmarts for Michigan Business and Hour Media LLC cannot be responsible for content, opinions, practices or how the information herein is said. All materials submitted, including, but not limited to, images, logos and text that appear, are assumed to be the property of the provider, and EnergySmarts for Michigan Business and Hour Media LLC are not responsible for unintentional copyright infringement. EnergySmarts for Michigan Business reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. DTE Energy and EnergySmarts for Michigan Business and Hour Media LLC make no endorsement of any company listed in this publication.

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Storm prep 101

We’re all in this together.

Spring promises warmer temperatures, greener views and longer days. It also brings the possibility of severe weather.

Try as we may, we cannot always accurately predict the weather or harness Mother Nature when a storm is on the horizon. DTE would like to remind you of a few key safety points as we go into this unpredictable season. It is important to keep these factors in mind and to share them with your customers, employees and family so that everyone can stay safe during and after a storm.

Use caution when heading outdoors or venturing into your basement

When the power goes out, look around and survey your outdoor areas before stepping out. If a wire is down or hanging low, stay away and be sure to keep your pets inside, too. Even if you don’t see sparks, it is imperative to stay at least 25 feet away. Report a downed wire to DTE immediately through the DTE app or website at outage. dteenergy.com, or by calling 800.477.4747.

Be wary of heading into your basement if the power is out and you cannot see what is going on. There may be standing water in the basement, and that water can be energized and highly dangerous. Although it is understandable to want to check on your belongings, it is best to wait until you are sure of what the situation holds.

Remember that many sump pumps have a backup. Consider checking that your sump pump has a backup system and replace it if need be — before a storm hits. Also check any medical equipment that is needed at work or at home. These items should also have an emergency backup system in place. Get in touch with your medical supply company if you are unsure.

We’re on the same team

Keeping everyone safe and restoring power quickly is everyone’s goal.

The problems that severe weather causes are frustrating for everyone, no question. DTE’s storm response plan focuses on responding quickly and efficiently to emergency situations. The safety of both customers and workers is paramount. DTE prioritizes taking care of hazards first and then working on restoring power. When a severe storm hits, it is all hands on deck. DTE employs a meteorologist who tries to anticipate and help prepare for severe weather as accurately as possible. DTE’s storm response crews work in all conditions and persevere until the job is done. Office workers, who have assigned storm roles, and field workers put in extra hours in times of need and pitch in to get systems back to normal as soon as possible. Working together with preparation, knowledge and patience can help everyone stay safe and take on whatever weather comes our way this spring. A

Stay safe on the road

If you happen to be behind the wheel when a line lands on your car and the car is not impacted by fire or any other life-

threatening factors, stay where you are. “The safest place to be is in the vehicle,” says Charles Crosby, manager of safety operations at DTE. “Call 911 immediately. If you must get out, don’t step out — using both feet, jump from the car as far away as possible. Then shuffle your feet on the ground until you are at least 25 feet away.”

Know how to use a generator

Portable generators are helpful for keeping essential equipment running, but they must be kept outside. Ventilation is key

A CLOSER LOOK, continued from page 5 while operating a generator because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Also remember to use a generator in a dry space and have dry hands when operating it. Always carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and operation.

Stay connected

The fastest and easiest way to report an outage is on DTE’s website (outage. dteenergy.com) or mobile app. In either of these places, you can easily report an

outage or a downed power line and check the status of an outage. In addition, DTE has revised and improved its outage map. Take a moment to acquaint yourself with these tools before a weather emergency.

TOOLBOX

To report or check the status of an outage or report a downed line … Visit: outage.dteenergy.com

To view DTE’s outage map … Visit: outagemap.dteenergy.com

MORE POWER OUTAGE TIPS

Spring into savings

Consider this your seasonal energy-saving checklist.

Spring is the perfect time for an energy-saving reset. As the temperatures go up and you find yourself turning down the heat but not reaching for your air conditioning just yet, consider spending a little time on equipment maintenance and upgrades. Here’s a checklist to get started.

1. Check your filters. Checking — and then cleaning or replacing — your HVAC air filters regularly is an easy way to improve energy efficiency. At a minimum, filters should be changed every three months. A dirty air filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep your business warm or cool, wasting energy in the process.

2. Schedule an HVAC tune-up. HVAC equipment needs to be tuned up periodically, in the same way that cars need regular maintenance to make sure they’re running smoothly and that they’ll last a long time. (Turn to page 27 to read about DTE’s CoolSaver program to see if your business might be eligible for a complimentary HVAC tune-up!)

You can help your HVAC system run even better with a little spring cleaning: Sweeping, dusting and vacuuming can help prevent dust from entering the HVAC system and making it work harder.

3. Insulate year-round. Spring — when the temperatures are milder — is a good time to check your insulation, which becomes particularly important during the hot summers and cold winters. Sealing air leaks and adding proper insulation can keep outside air from getting in, messing with the internal temperature and putting stress on your HVAC system. Ducts that help move air from a forced-air furnace, central air conditioner or heat pump are often big energy wasters, so sealing and insulating them can also have a major impact on the energy efficiency of your business.

4. Upgrade your tech. ENERGY STAR®–qualified computers can be a surprising energy saver for businesses. Desktops, laptops, workstations and small-scale servers are all eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR® certification. To learn more about ENERGY STAR® qualifications or to receive buying guidance, consumers can visit energystar.gov.

Additionally, using the power management features on your devices — like the low-power “sleep mode” that activates after a designated period of inactivity — can help you save energy.

Swapping out other technology can help with energy management, too. Thermostats, for example, are excellent upgrade candidates. Modern programmable thermostats are ideal for spaces that are unoccupied during set periods of time throughout the week; with them, you can make sure you’re not overheating or overcooling empty areas such as warehouses or closedfor-the-day office suites.

5.

Manage your lighting. Leaving exterior lights on during the day can result in wasted energy, particularly as the days get longer. Daylight sensors, or photocells, help to combat this common energy inefficiency by detecting when the outdoor lighting is needed and when it isn’t and turning it on or off accordingly.

In the same way, occupancy sensors can be installed indoors to prevent unnecessary light usage in unoccupied rooms.

Find even more energy-saving tips at dteenergy.com/ saveenergy.

DTE is offering complimentary compressed air nozzles to qualifying customers.

When Tom Kury first walked through his factory following an air nozzle retrofit, he thought something was wrong.

“I thought our air compressors had stopped operating,” says Kury, the president of Unicote Corp., a production and prototype powder-coating and parts-washing operation in Fraser. “It was too quiet.”

Kury had taken advantage of an offering within DTE’s Energy Efficiency Program for Business that provides complimentary compressed air nozzles to qualifying DTE commercial and industrial electric customers.

After learning about the program in a mailer, Kury had DTE’s compressed air nozzle team come through the factory to analyze which of his nozzles should be replaced.

In the end, 75 nozzles on three production lines were retrofitted at no cost to Unicote, which now has a facility so quiet that people can communicate better, Kury says: “Before, you could not carry on a conversation because the decibel level was so high. Now, I can have a discussion with someone next to the air compressors and we can hear each other.

Getting free compressed air nozzles is easy! All it takes is a phone call to get started. Qualifying businesses that use compressed air nozzles can call DTE’s energy advisors at 313.887.4300.

“It’s amazing the amount of noise reduction we’ve experienced with this — just amazing.”

Energy (and noise) savings

Since 2009, the DTE Energy Efficiency Program for Business has provided commercial and industrial businesses with rebates and cost-free materials to complete energy-saving projects. In all, the program has helped these businesses save more than 15,000 gigawatt-hours in electricity and more than 338,000,000 MCF in natural gas and paid out nearly $300 million in rebates.

The compressed air nozzle subprogram is an add-on to DTE’s suite of energy efficiency offerings available to qualified commercial and industrial customers, says Kevin Salatrik, program manager for DTE’s Energy Efficiency Program for Business.

In two years, the DTE team has overseen 234 such projects, which entailed the replacement of hundreds of air nozzles, consequently saving 17 GWh of electricity. On average, each participating customer has saved $9,000 in annual electric costs.

“Most people wonder what the catch is,” Salatrik says. “The good news is, there isn’t any.”

In addition to saving energy, the nozzles are designed to minimize turbulence, creating a uniform and smooth flow of air. This design decreases compressed air noise and is an immediate benefit for workers in commercial and industrial facilities, Salatrik says.

“Noise levels are reduced by up to 10 dB [decibels],” he says. “This prevents hearing damage, stress, sleep disturbances and other health issues associated with higher dB.”

How to participate

To qualify, commercial and industrial businesses must be DTE electric customers in good standing and have the following:

• A minimum 75-horsepower compressed air system that has either handheld air guns with a 1/4-inch orifice or fixed nozzles with a 1/8-inch orifice.

• A facility with at least a 40-hour workweek.

impact right out of the gate.”

—TOM KURY, PRESIDENT OF UNICOTE CORP.

Since the program’s inception, Salatrik’s team has connected with commercial and industrial customers through mailers, emails and doorto-door cold calls.

“We figured out that the best way to approach people was to knock on their doors, talk to them and walk through their operation,” Salatrik says. “We found that once we started talking, it drove additional savings and customer awareness about energy efficiency opportunities for them.”

Once contact is made and an appointment is scheduled, the team determines during a site visit if the customer qualifies for free nozzle replacements. From there, the process is “very simple,” Salatrik says.

“We place an order [for the nozzles], and once they arrive, the customer is responsible for installing them,” he says.

The team follows up with a visit three weeks later to help with any questions or concerns and make sure the customer has successfully completed the installation.

Kury says that since the retrofit, he has recommended the compressed air nozzle program to others for a couple of reasons.

“It was a great experience; it was very simple and straightforward,” he says. “DTE did what they said they were going to do, and it was a big impact right out of the gate.”

Stepping on the gas

DTE rolls out expansion of

Small and Medium Business Program.

DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program provides customers with a complimentary energy assessment at their business, no-cost energy-saving products (when applicable) with on-the-spot installation, and a report outlining other optional upgrades and available rebates to help pay for them. Since its inception in 2020, the program has helped DTE customers save 183,000 megawatthours of electricity and 53,870 MCF of gas. This year, the program is expanding its reach even more.

According to Jeremy Cappello, who leads the Small and Medium Business Program, one of the biggest changes for the program is its expansion to gas customers.

“The program now includes gas energy efficiency upgrades, and there are rebates available for those improvements,” he says.

Program rebates now include gas-powered furnaces, boilers and water heaters, clothes washers and dryers, and gas-fired

“The Small and Medium Business Program helps reduce emissions and saves customers on their energy use. It’s a win-win.”

—JEREMY CAPPELLO, DTE PROGRAM LEAD

infrared heaters, which are an increasingly popular heating alternative. The program also provides incentives for gas heating equipment tune-ups.

“They wouldn’t qualify for a rebate last year, but this year they will,” Cappello says. “We’re excited to expand the offerings and reach even more businesses across the state.”

Energy smarts = business smarts

Energy efficiency is a business strategy, and trimming usage can have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line. According to the National Federation of Independent Business’s energy consumption poll, energy costs are among the top three business expenses for 35% of small businesses.

Utilities are considered “semivariable overhead” — “overhead” because they are required for day-to-day operations but don’t contribute directly to generating revenue, and “semivariable” because they can change. That second point is good news for businesses.

Energy-efficient upgrades and retrofits can help businesses lower energy usage. Still, many companies can’t afford the up-front cost to replace appliances and equipment —

5 steps to savings

Here’s how to trim energy usage with DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program:

1. Sign up for a complimentary energy assessment.

2. Get applicable energy-efficient products installed on the spot at no cost.

3. Get a custom report with recommendations for optional energy-saving upgrades and information about available rebates.

4. Opt to make upgrades with a contractor of your choice or a participating contractor — or make the upgrades yourself.

5. Get your rebate in two to four weeks and enjoy your savings!

and that’s where DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program comes in.

“The program is designed to help customers understand where they’re using energy and how they can improve that,” Cappello says. “The rebates can help them make the changes and increase the return on investment.”

Expanded program eligibility

All DTE electric — and now gas — business customers are eligible to participate in the program. Business owners can go online and self-schedule a no-cost energy assessment at a time that’s convenient

for them. A DTE energy advisor will then come out, tour the facility and assess ways the business can trim energy usage.

“We just need [business owners] to raise their hand and say ‘yes,’ and we’ll be there,” Cappello says.

Driving in style

While on-site, the advisor will directly install applicable energy-saving products, such as LED light bulbs, advanced power strips, smart thermostats, LEDs in exit and “Open” signs to replace incandescent bulbs, faucet aerators, showerheads and hot water pipe wrap. These immediate improvements are offered at no cost to the customer.

Then, the energy advisor will leave behind a detailed, customized report listing other optional energy-saving upgrades and highlighting information about rebates that are available for those optional upgrades. Rebates cut the cost of purchasing and installing energy-efficient equipment.

The report may also refer the customer to other DTE programs that are designed to help businesses save energy.

More than energy savings

DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program is one of many initiatives designed to help DTE reach its ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 (see page 18). The energy company will get there in part by assisting one business at a time.

“The program helps reduce emissions and saves customers on their energy use,” Cappello says. “It’s a win-win.”

TOOLBOX

Schedule your no-cost assessment today!

Keep an eye out for DTE team members driving vehicles with updated branding this year, too. dteenergy.com

Visit: dteenergy.com/smallbusiness

Email: DTE-small-business@ franklinenergy.com

Call: 855.748.2525

A DTE energy advisor performs an assessment at Garden City Café in Garden City. DTE offers complimentary energy assessments as part of its Small and Medium Business Program.

Save is a verb

Lighting contractor helps businesses trim energy usage.

As a participating contractor in DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program, Kevin Riley, owner of Livonia-based Verb Energy, helps companies save energy by upgrading to LED lights.

Here’s how a participating contractor like Verb fits into DTE’s program.

Program steps

DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program sends out energy advisors to tour businesses and pinpoint ways they can trim their energy usage. While on-site, the advisors may install complimentary energy-saving products such as power strips, pipe wraps, faucet aerators, smart

thermostats and screw-in LED lights. Then, they provide the customer with a personalized report outlining optional energy-saving upgrades and highlighting available rebates from the program to help lower the cost of completing the projects.

If businesses opt to carry out the projects, they may do the work themselves or use a contractor of their choice. Alternatively, they can visit DTE’s website to browse a list of participating contractors who are familiar with the Small and Medium Business Program’s rebates and financing options. Many of these contractors specialize in lighting, and Verb is among them.

Kevin Riley, owner of Verb Energy, is a participating contractor in DTE’s Small and Medium Business Program.

Choosing an LED color temperature

Color temperature is measured on a Kelvin scale. The higher the number, the cooler the light.

Soft white (2,700 K–3,000 K) = warm and cozy. Best for living and dining rooms, dens and bedrooms.

Bright white (3,100 K–4,500 K) = whiter light. Increases color contrast. Best for kitchens, high-bay fixtures, bathrooms and garages.

Daylight (5,000 K–6,500 K) = like noon on a clear day. Produces the best color contrast. Best for reading, vanities, crafting, and project and display areas.

Source: DTE

Did you know …

LED bulbs use much less energy to produce light.

Wattage refers to the amount of power a bulb uses to produce light. Lumens denotes the amount of light emitted. A 60-watt incandescent bulb requires 60 watts of electricity and emits about 900 lumens.

A 9-watt LED, on average, produces the same amount of light.

Source: DTE

From left: Kate Lozon, Mark Olschanski, Laura Olschanski, Kevin Riley, Kari Lang and Mike Grandell.

Small-business helpline

Riley chose to specialize in lighting because of the impact it can have on a business’s bottom line.

ENERGY STAR® LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can save about $55 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb. They are more durable and, since they last 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs, reduce replacement costs as well.

Riley got into the lighting business in 2008, during the Great Recession. Times were tough, and while coldcalling family-owned businesses for a completely different industry, he noticed people working in the dark and cold, keeping lights off and turning the heat so low they had to wear coats and gloves in the office.

“They could hardly pay their utility bills,” he says. “I started to think about how I could help small businesses save money, and it led into lighting because it’s the biggest bang for the buck.”

Riley began to carve out a career serving manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings and schools. Through his business, Verb, he retrofits or replaces existing lighting, helping his customers save energy and get rebates on the equipment and bulbs he installs.

“We’ll handle all the rebate paperwork, purchase all the lighting and do all the installation,” he says. “It’s a turnkey process.”

The power of LED tech

Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs produce photons by passing electric current through the diode, a

semiconducting material. Customers can choose the lumens, or brightness, of the bulbs, as well as their color temperature, from soft white to daylight (see sidebar on page 13).

The wattage — or amount of power — it takes to get the same brightness in an LED bulb that an incandescent bulb has is considerably less. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb requires 60 watts of electricity and emits about 900 lumens. A 9-watt LED, on average, produces the same amount of light. The LED’s quality of light is also considered superior.

For added energy efficiency, LEDs provide a better dimming solution than fluorescent bulbs and can be equipped with motion sensors and timers so light is only used where and when it’s needed.

They last longer as well. ENERGY STAR®–certified LEDs come with a minimum three-year warranty.

Riley says his customers are usually extremely happy with the improvement LED lighting makes to their work environment. He recalls retrofitting a Detroit-area machine shop with new LEDs and seeing one of the workers make a beeline straight for him as he wrapped up the job.

“He literally reached out and shook my hand to thank me,” Riley says.

The man told Riley he no longer had to open his visor shield to do his welds. Because of the new lighting, his work was much easier to see.

“The biggest complaint people have is that once the lighting is replaced, they realize how dirty their carpet is,” Riley quips.

Energy-saving tips

Use ENERGY STAR® products. Compared with standard fixtures, they typically use one-quarter of the energy and distribute light more efficiently.

Look for the UL seal. It means bulbs have been tested by UL and meet rigorous safety and environmental standards. UL-certified LED bulbs perform better and last longer than specialty or inexpensive bulbs.

Take advantage of natural daylight.

Determine areas where natural light can substitute for light fixtures during peak office hours. Besides reducing energy use and saving money, taking advantage of natural daylight has been shown to increase employee wellness and productivity.

Switch to LED bulbs. Swap out incandescent bulbs for ENERGY STAR®–certified light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which use less energy and generate considerably less heat, reducing cooling needs.

Install dimmers on LED bulbs. Daylight sensors automatically dim room lights based on the available natural sunlight.

Use timers and sensors. Many ENERGY STAR®–certified LEDs are now compatible with motion and touch sensors as well as timers that automatically turn lights on and off in frequently unoccupied areas like restrooms or supply rooms. These reduce energy usage and cut down on maintenance costs.

Source: DTE

TOOLBOX

Start saving today!

Visit: dteenergy.com/smallbusiness

Email: DTE-small-business@ franklinenergy.com

Call: 855.748.2525

Kate Lozon installs lighting.

Small-business owners Joe and Laurie Dixon won an energy efficiency assessment and $5,000 in energy efficiency improvements from DTE.

It’s all about the lighting

Small-business owners Joe and Laurie Dixon win a $5K energy efficiency makeover from DTE.

Joe and Laurie Dixon are no strangers to hard work. As small-business owners and entrepreneurs, the Dixons — who own three businesses between them — know a penny saved is a penny earned.

One of their three businesses is the Executive Office Suites in downtown Trenton, which houses Laurie’s real estate business and Joe’s financial advising practice along with 16 other tenants.

The Dixons renovated the vintage building, a former Chevrolet car dealership, more than 10 years ago. Along with the charm, the couple inherited some outdated, energyinefficient equipment, like the old fluorescent lighting and the 1980s air conditioning units that service the 20 office suites.

ENERGY JOURNEY, continued on page 16

“[With this contest] we not only get to acknowledge our small-business community, but we also get to help these hardworking people attain additional crucial energy efficiency upgrades. It’s a personalized approach with a multifaceted, positive outcome.”

—JESSICA BRIDEAU, DTE PRINCIPAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

DTE is awarding $5K in energy efficiency upgrades to 3 grand-prize winners

“With so many individual offices, we need to keep everyone warm in the winter, cool in summer and literally keep the lights on,” says Joe, who pays the building’s energy bills and began retrofitting common-area lighting to LEDs last year.

After seeing an item this past September about the Small Business Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest in one of DTE’s newsletters, the Dixons decided to enter for a chance of winning one of 10 available energy assessments or one of three grand prizes: an energy efficiency assessment, $5,000 in energy efficiency improvements and business promotions through various DTE marketing channels.

In a matter of moments, the couple filled out the online application and submitted it, never expecting they would win one of the grand prizes.

“We didn’t expect to be a winner, but of course we were very happy [when we found out we won],” Joe says.

How the contest works

Small-business owners like the Dixons who are taking steps to become more energy efficient attract the attention of the contest judges, says Jessica Brideau, a principal marketing specialist for DTE.

“We chose their business because they demonstrated a clear understanding of the importance of energy efficiency and were proactive in trying to make further improvements and upgrades,” she says.

Showcasing the Dixons and their office businesses also broadcasts the idea that energy efficiency is for everyone, Brideau adds: “Small-business owners like the Dixons winning the contest further highlights the breadth of programs and resources we have for all types of business owners.”

DTE launched the annual contest in 2016 to connect with small-business owners and introduce them to DTE’s programs that can

The Dixons plan to use the $5,000 they won in DTE’s contest to update the rest of the lighting at their office building.

“It was a benefit having a DTE representative stop by our offices and take a look at our energy systems in person. We were happy to learn about important cost-saving measures that could be directly applied to our operations.”

—JOE DIXON, WINNER OF DTE’S SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY EFFICIENCY MAKEOVER CONTEST

help them better manage their energy use. The contest is open to legal residents of Michigan who are current DTE commercial customers with either an electric or a combination gas-electric account.

The entrants — who apply from September to November — boil down to 10 finalists at most, each of whom receives a complimentary business energy assessment from a DTE energy advisor to determine what upgrades they could make to improve efficiency.

From that point, Brideau says, three finalists are selected as grand-prize winners based on the quality of their answers as

well as the action they’ve taken to become more energy efficient or their apparent willingness or plans to make improvements in the future.

Since the contest’s inception, DTE has given Michigan businesses across the state the tools and information they need to improve their energy efficiency, Brideau says.

“We not only get to acknowledge our smallbusiness community, but we also get to help these hardworking people attain additional crucial energy efficiency upgrades,” she says. “It’s a personalized approach with a multifaceted, positive outcome.”

What the winners learned

After an initial site visit with the DTE energy advisor, Joe has a new appreciation for a couple of things: (1) the importance of an engaged energy partner and (2) the concept of strategic planning for facility operations.

“It was a benefit having a DTE representative stop by our offices and take a look at our energy systems in person,” he says. “We were happy to learn about important cost-saving measures that could be directly applied to our operations.”

In addition, the busy financial planner says he was inspired to incorporate deeper, more intentional planning into his facility operations.

“As business owners, we are all busy with the day-to-day challenges we face from our customers’ needs and the changing regulatory environment,” he says. “However, taking some time to do strategic planning, including improving energy usage and efficiency, will pay us back over the lifetime of the business.”

Although the Dixons have a few more efficiency upgrades they are considering, like replacing the air conditioning, Joe says his main objective is to finish the lighting retrofit with the prize money.

“With our winnings, we will certainly be able to convert all the remaining old lighting to modern and efficient fixtures,” he says. “We need to do this not only for our bottom line but to also improve the comfort and ambience for our tenants.”

good for business

DTE programs make it easy to help protect the environment — and your bottom line.

To reach its CleanVision goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, DTE has been following a detailed blueprint that calls for sweeping action on multiple fronts.

By 2026, DTE will have converted the coal-fired Belle River Power Plant to an on-demand natural-gas peaking resource, and by 2032, the energy company will have completed the phased retirement of the coal-fired Monroe Power Plant.

By 2042, DTE plans to have 18,400 megawatts of renewables in its electric portfolio (that’s enough power for about 5 million homes) and 2,900 MW of energy storage, more than doubling its current storage capacity.

Along the way, DTE customers can join the effort to protect the environment for future generations — while in some cases helping their own bottom line — by participating in DTE’s CleanVision programs. Enrolling in MIGreenPower, Natural Gas Balance and DTE’s various energy efficiency programs is both easy and impactful.

Take it from these DTE customers (previously featured in EnergySmarts for Michigan Business), who partnered with the energy company on its CleanVision goals while reaping the rewards at their own businesses.

CLEANVISION, continued on page 20

Customers who join DTE’s CleanVision programs help the energy company protect the environment and reap the rewards at their own businesses.

MIGreenPower

Joining MIGreenPower, a program that enables DTE electric customers to attribute a percentage of their electricity use to renewable resources, just made sense for outdoorrecreation outfitter Bivouac in Ann Arbor.

energy, it’s worth it,” Davidson said. “It’s important, whether it’s personal or business, that you’re doing whatever you can — as small as it might be — to combat this climate change that we are seeing.”

“Our customers love the outdoors and want to preserve it as much as possible,” said company President AJ Davidson in the spring 2022 issue of EnergySmarts. “This program goes hand in hand with preserving the outdoors and the areas that we love to explore.”

With MIGreenPower, DTE electric customers like Davidson don’t need to install expensive solar panels on their properties to reap the benefits of clean energy. Enrolling is as simple as visiting dteenergy.com/migreenpower, selecting the percentage of your electricity usage you want to attribute to Michiganmade wind and solar energy (up to 100%), and feeling good that you are helping the environment — all at no additional cost to your monthly bill. The program is entirely voluntary, and customers can cancel at any time.

“Knowing your business is doing something to be more sustainable, more environmentally friendly, to [support] renewable sources of

To learn more about MIGreenPower, visit dteenergy.com/migreenpower or email the team at migreenpower@dteenergy.com.

Natural Gas Balance

Coffee shops can be energy-intensive businesses. Just ask Trevor Corlett, cofounder and CEO of Grand Rapids–based Madcap Coffee, who was featured in the summer 2021 issue of EnergySmarts

“The coffee shop — its energy usage and water usage and creation of waste — has the largest negative impact [of the coffee industry as a whole] on our environment,” said the DTE gas customer. “So, we’ve constantly been trying to figure out ways we can be net zero on that.”

Enrolling in Natural Gas Balance was an easy way for Corlett to make a positive environmental difference at Madcap and join DTE’s net-zero journey. The voluntary and inexpensive DTE program works by compensating for a percentage (25% to 100%) of an average home’s greenhouse gas emissions via carbon offsets from Michigan forests and Michigan-made renewable natural gas. As part of the program, DTE helps protect Michigan trees —  nature’s carbon dioxide “scrubbers” — from being overharvested by commercial loggers. DTE also supports the use of renewable natural gas sourced by trapping and purifying methane that otherwise might enter the atmosphere and affect the environment negatively.

Natural Gas Balance is an important part of DTE’s goal to reach net-zero emissions. That goal resonates with customers like Corlett, who noted that CleanVision “parallels so much with what [Madcap is] trying to do.”

“If a company the size of DTE can do it, then there’s no excuse for a small business such as ours not to pursue something at that scale,” he said, adding that “even a small coffee shop has an opportunity to have a positive global impact.”

Learn more about Natural Gas Balance at dteenergy.com/ naturalgasbalance.

Madcap Coffee

Bivouac

Energy efficiency programs: Electric

DTE offers a host of programs that help business owners become more energy efficient and potentially save on their energy bills as well.

The best way for small-business customers to get started is to sign up for a complimentary energy assessment through the Small and Medium Business Program. That program team can help business owners understand how to improve their energy efficiency, identify available rebates to help offset the cost of potential upgrades and recommend other relevant energy efficiency programs to explore.

Cliff Denha, co-owner of the Wine Palace in Livonia and a DTE electric customer, has gotten value out of the Small and Medium Business Program for more than a decade. His energy-saving journey, featured in the summer 2022 issue of EnergySmarts, has been steady and manageable; over the years, he’s worked with DTE to install LED lighting at his store, replace door gaskets and install night covers on various coolers, and more.

Along the way, the DTE team has performed complimentary energy assessments at the Wine Palace to help Denha determine where he should focus on making improvements. Denha has also gotten

rebates from DTE to help offset the cost of the upgrades, and now, he’s using less energy at his business, which has been a big change.

“We were wasting a lot of energy [before the upgrades],” Denha said, adding that DTE is “helping me achieve my goals.”

Sign up for a complimentary energy assessment at dteenergy.com/smallbusiness.

Energy efficiency programs: Gas

DTE’s gas customers can benefit from energysaving programs as well. Take Holton Public Schools, featured in the winter 2023 issue of EnergySmarts, which remodeled its kitchens

districtwide and saved big on equipment purchases through DTE’s Food Service Instant Discount Program.

In this program, DTE customers can buy marked-down energy-efficient equipment from participating distributors — no paperwork required. The discount is applied at the point of sale.

“I didn’t have to do anything,” said Facilities Director Todd Conzemius, who oversaw the equipment upgrades at the western Michigan schools. “It was like, ‘Boom — here’s your money.’”

Installing energy-efficient appliances meshed well with Holton Public Schools’ long-standing efforts to save energy. For about a decade, the district had been making a variety of upgrades that encompassed LED fixtures and bulbs, lighting control systems, boilers and digital heating equipment control systems.

“We began slowly moving toward energy efficiency not only because it serves us on the financial side, but also, we want to be good stewards of the community and the environment as a whole,” Conzemius said.

The district ended up saving $2,000 on the purchase of two ENERGY STAR® Garland convection ovens, which freed up resources for other parts of the remodel. The benefits went beyond those initial savings, too. Since the upgrades were made, the district’s kitchens have experienced faster cooking times and processes and have been using less energy.

“I would absolutely recommend this program to any district facing commercial kitchen retrofits,” Conzemius said. “It’s fiscally and environmentally the responsible thing to do.”

Learn more about DTE’s Instant Discount programs at dteenergy.com/instant-discounts.

Learn more about DTE’s CleanVision plan at dtecleanenergy.com.

Wine Palace

Savings in the air

Save on high-volume, low-speed fans with DTE’s HVAC Instant Discount Program.

You don’t always need fancy, high-tech equipment to save energy. Sometimes the simplest devices can make a difference.

Take high-volume, low-speed fans, used in warehouses, machine shops, garden centers, certain retail spaces and other types of businesses. These fans help regulate temperature in an energy-efficient way. When they circulate the air, the thermostat can get a more accurate reading on the temperature of the room and control the HVAC system more efficiently. Good air circulation also means that cool air is distributed more effectively during the summer and warm air is distributed more effectively during the winter.

Finding affordable high-volume, low-speed fans for your business is easy thanks to DTE’s HVAC Instant Discount Program. DTE commercial and industrial customers with an active electric account can purchase qualifying fans from participating distributors and get a markeddown price then and there — no paperwork or waiting required. Instant discounts start at $200. To find a participating distributor and explore available products, visit dteenergy.com/ instant-discounts.

“These fans are a great way to have a more comfortable workspace for employees and a more comfortable space for customers, too,” says David Glanville, a program manager at DTE, who oversees the Instant Discount programs. “They are a fantastic option for businesses looking to save energy. It’s a great opportunity.”

DTE’s HVAC Instant Discount Program doesn’t just have fans available at reduced prices.

HVAC systems account for ~40% of commercial buildings’ energy use

The program also incentivizes certain air conditioners, water source heat pumps, aircooled chillers, boilers, water heaters and more.

Just like DTE’s other energy efficiency programs, this one makes it easier for business owners to take control of their energy use.

“These fans are a great way to have a more comfortable workspace for employees and a more comfortable space for customers, too. They are a fantastic option for businesses looking to save energy.”

—DAVID GLANVILLE, DTE PROGRAM MANAGER

“Everything we offer … [has] an energy savings benefit,” says Mark Kowal, senior trade ally manager at Energy Solutions, which helps DTE implement the program. “Anything in our programs [is] going to be more energy efficient than your standard items you see on the marketplace.”

Considering that HVAC systems account for roughly 40% of commercial buildings’ energy use, going with an energy-efficient model can make a big difference. DTE’s HVAC Instant Discount Program makes it easy to do just that.

Learn more about DTE’s Instant Discount programs at dteenergy.com/instant-discounts.

RCx to the rescue

DTE’s Retro-Commissioning Program helps commercial and industrial customers optimize their existing equipment and systems.

Chris Currie was unsure initially about DTE’s Retro-Commissioning (RCx) Program.

The vice president of manufacturing for Delaco Steel, a Tier 1 automotive supplier headquartered in Dearborn, says most money-saving programs typically come with a hitch.

“Everyone can tell you, ‘Well, I can save you this or that,’ and it usually either costs you money or a lot of time,” Currie says. “But DTE’s program was nothing like that.”

DTE’s RCx Program offers a

complimentary assessment of qualifying commercial and industrial businesses’ existing buildings and process systems to optimize their efficiency. The goal is to improve comfort and functionality while saving energy and reducing maintenance costs over time, all without having to upgrade or replace equipment.

In Currie’s case, the air compressors in his three facilities were surveyed, fixed and optimized, yielding annual energy savings worth $140,895.

RCX PROGRAM, continued on page 26

With DTE’s RCx Program, Delaco Steel can save ~$141K a year on energy

Two case studies

Industrial vs. commercial retro-commissioning

Commercial and industrial buildings are “two different animals” when it comes to retro-commissioning, says Diana Nash from Energy Sciences, which helps DTE implement its Retro-Commissioning (RCx) Program.

Industrial buildings are more process-intensive, and commercial buildings require a focus on building management.

Here’s what retro-commissioning has looked like for an industrial business and a commercial business, both of which participated in DTE’s RCx Program.

Delaco Steel, RCx Industrial

Delaco Steel in Dearborn is a mix of three industrial facilities that underwent a compressed air survey to pinpoint and fix leaks, a rescheduling of the air compressors and an air turnover adjustment.

Once those were completed, the total energy savings were 1,354,083 kilowatt-hours, or $140,895 per year in electricity costs, says Nash, who praised the Tier 1 automotive supplier for its top-to-bottom team involvement in the process.

“The entire team was engaged and involved,” she says. “The process spurred people to think outside the box and come up with their own ideas.”

Liberty Center, RCx Commercial

The mostly glass Liberty Center in Troy comprises two 140,000-square-foot towers built in 1986. Over time, its building management system settings had become outdated. To bring the system back to optimal functioning, DTE’s RCx team adjusted the operating schedules, air temperature resets and economizer set point.

Nash calls the commercial RCx case study a “very successful project” that translated into annual energy savings of 610,803 kWh, or $61,691.

Property manager Trevor Duke says the process was remarkable in that it was enjoyable and efficient for his team.

“[The DTE contractors] knew what they were doing,” he says. “They knew what to focus on, and they understood the obstacles we faced with an older property. There’s just no reason to not do it.”

How the program works

The processes for qualifying commercial and industrial customers may differ, but the benefits are the same: immediate cost savings and improved energy efficiency with potentially little to no up-front costs or risk because of robust incentives, says Diana Nash, customer engagement manager for Berkley-based Energy Sciences, who works with DTE to implement the program.

“The customer has a tremendous amount of support from engineering and sales; we function as an extension of the customer’s team,” Nash says. “We designed this program to be seamless, painless and as empowering as possible.”

As an extension of the client’s team, Nash says, the RCx engineers act as a “third set of eyes.”

“Our customers are busy running their building, so our job is to look at the details and ensure their equipment is operating the way it was designed to operate,” she says.

Since the program is focused on optimizing existing equipment for more efficient performance rather than upgrading or replacing it, the success lies in collaboration. So, the RCx team works closely with a range of client stakeholders: facilities, operations and sustainability managers; directors of energy; and C-suite executives.

“Our customers are busy running their building, so our job is to look at the details and ensure their equipment is operating the way it was designed to operate.”

—DIANA NASH, CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT MANAGER FOR ENERGY SCIENCES

But that doesn’t mean clients need to dedicate a lot of time to the process, Nash says.

“While there may be many different people involved in an RCx project, they are typically involved at specific times during the process to best use their expertise,” she says. “We greatly value the time they spend.”

Benefits of RCx

Incentives potentially can offset a significant chunk — or even all — of the costs of the optimization measures, which typically include the following:

• Repairing compressed air leaks and optimizing compressor operation.

• Scheduling equipment and lighting to operate only as needed.

• Adjusting supply air temperature and fan speed controls.

• Aligning zone temperature set points to match building occupancy patterns.

• Optimizing process heating and cooling.

• Enhancing industrial refrigeration performance.

Beyond the financial benefits, Nash says that other outcomes her clients enjoy are prolonged equipment life spans, better indoor air comfort and quality, and decreased operating costs.

Plus, those who work on the project tend to benefit in other ways, she adds: “It can really be a boost to someone’s role and career. On the client side, you are seen as taking initiative to not only reduce costs but also your carbon footprint, which is such a positive.”

TOOLBOX

To learn more about DTE’s

Retro-Commissioning Program …

Visit: dteenergy.com/rcx

Email: DTERCx@esciences.us

Call: 248.430.5579

DTE is always looking for ways to connect with customers and provide them with energy-saving solutions. Often, those solutions take the form of easy and complimentary programs, such as DTE’s new CoolSaver program.

Jeremy Cappello and Raymond Zoia, program leads for some of DTE’s energy efficiency programs, are here to answer some questions about CoolSaver.

What is the CoolSaver program?

The complimentary air conditioning tuneup is available for DTE electric and combo commercial customers with any type of air conditioning equipment, but the program is specifically targeting rooftop units. The driving force of this project is DTE’s desire for customers to manage and control their energy consumption and increase the equipment’s life expectancy. We are always looking into new offerings we can bring to the table to help our customers become more energy efficient, and this program fit the bill.

What are the benefits of joining this program?

Customers may be surprised to know that they can extend the life span of their current HVAC system and save energy

with simple, no-cost tune-ups. Through this program, participating contractors will evaluate the systems in commercial spaces such as schools, restaurants, offices, houses of worship and convenience stores. These contractors assess and can potentially correct issues within the HVAC system while also providing preventive maintenance on the unit.

Why is HVAC maintenance important?

Similarly to when it is performed on a car, preventive maintenance can prolong the life span of a customer’s HVAC system. Car owners know that tire rotations, oil changes and routine maintenance on a vehicle can keep the car running smoother, longer. The same is true for preventive maintenance on HVAC systems, which is why this program is so important.

What makes a CoolSaver tune-up different from traditional HVAC servicing?

The CoolSaver tune-up goes above and beyond a standard tune-up provided by most HVAC service providers. During the project, the contractor will perform traditional tune-ups like cleaning the condenser coil, cleaning the blower assembly, changing the air filter and adjusting the refrigerant charge. In addition to that, the CoolSaver team will clean the evaporator coils, measure and correct airflow, measure the capacity of the unit and the power, and calculate the energy efficiency ratio, or EER.

How much does the program cost?

For a limited time, this program is being offered at no cost to qualifying DTE electric and combo commercial customers.

How do I sign up?

Schedule your tune-up today by calling 774.224.0849 or emailing DTECoolSaver@ CLEAResult.com.

Power plan

Here’s how DTE works to reduce outages and restore power quickly when the weather gets dicey.

Whether spring comes in like a lion or a lamb, it ushers in a season of storms that can lead to power outages. According to Bill Hutchinson, director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for DTE, Michigan’s greatest risk for outages occurs from June through October, when weather is most likely to bring tree limbs down onto power lines.

“Even lower-level wind can cause leaves to act like a wind sail, and that force can cause the limbs to break,” he explains. “When those limbs fall on our equipment, outages can occur.”

DTE’s goal is to increase reliability for customers by trimming trees around wires and poles, updating existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid and accelerating the transition to a smart grid.

Bill Hutchinson, director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for DTE.

“We’re investing more than $1 billion a year to make our grid more resilient to the increasing extreme weather,” Hutchinson says. “But when we do have outages, our goal is to have a world-class process that allows us to restore customers faster.”

Here, Hutchinson answers five questions about DTE’s five-year strategy to keep outages from happening and restore power quickly when they do.

1.What is your strategy to restore power outages quickly?

First off, we’ve increased the number of people who are available to restore power during a storm and to help look

at wire downs.

Traditionally, we’d have a few hundred wire down resources. Now, we’re up to nearly 1,000 people who are out in the field immediately following a storm to protect the public from downed wires and assess damage — paving the way for our skilled field teams to do the restoration work.

We’ve also done a lot of work around our internal processes, increasing our capacity to manage the number of extreme weather events. We used to see these events happen once in a decade, but they’re now hitting Michigan once a year or more. So, we’re making sure that we’re ready.

2.How do you know when to mobilize your restoration teams out in the field?

We watch the weather. We begin monitoring weather systems a week or more before the weather arrives in

DTE is busy (from left) updating existing infrastructure, rebuilding significant portions of the grid, training future tree trimmers, accelerating the transition to a smart grid and trimming trees.

Michigan. We look at historic data from similar storms, run algorithms and create models so we’re prepared with plans and resources when the weather hits.

3.

How do you assess potential risks in the grid and take action to mitigate those risks and protect customers from outages?

First, we know that half of the time that our customers are without power is caused by trees. We’ve been aggressively pursuing a tree-trimming strategy to get our system back on a five-year cycle to ensure that the area around our equipment remains clear. We’re within about a year of completing that, with 80% to 90% of the system back on cycle. That’s shown large reductions in the number of customers who experience an outage.

Another major initiative is upgrading our existing equipment — replacing crossarms, putting on new insulators, and replacing and upgrading mechanics that can fail.

We’re also rebuilding older areas of the grid and moving our equipment underground where that makes sense.

We’re also driving a transition toward a smart grid, including automation. Smart grids utilize reclosers, which can help us identify the exact location of damage, potentially restore power remotely and, for many customers, reroute power while we make repairs.

4.

Can you tell us more about DTE’s smart grid automation?

Our goal is to install 10,000 automated devices on the grid in the next five years. With those devices, we’ll be able to isolate areas of a circuit. For example, if you have an outage in the middle of a circuit, rather than the whole circuit losing power, we’ll be able to isolate that section and back-feed the rest of the customers within a few seconds. We think that will substantially reduce the amount of time customers are without power or even prevent them from losing it altogether. The nice thing about these devices is they retrofit well, so you can install one of these newer devices on an older system and instantaneously the system becomes smarter and starts behaving better. Reclosers provide short-term

improvements while we execute the longterm rebuild strategy for the grid.

5.

Once an outage occurs, how do you prioritize restoration?

We’re extremely focused on the safety of our customers and employees. We immediately start dispatching our public safety teams to assess, mark and guard downed wires. From there, our crews focus on hospitals, police stations and fire departments. Then we move to nursing homes, schools and other similar customers. Once crews are assigned to those priority customers, we work to restore circuits that affect the most customers so we can get the lights back on for the largest number of customers as quickly and safely as possible.

To report an outage, check the status of an outage and receive updates about it, and view DTE’s outage map, visit outage.dteenergy.com.

Make the most of your

thermostat

Unlock even more savings with DTE’s Smart Savers program.

The Smart Savers program is one of DTE’s many offers to help customers save energy and money. Here, Ryan DeKimpe, a principal marketing specialist at DTE, answers questions about the thermostatbased program.

What is the Smart Savers program?

Smart Savers is a bring-your-ownthermostat (BYOT) program offered by DTE to small-business and residential electric customers that have an eligible Wi-Fi–enabled smart thermostat already installed in their home or small business. Customers enrolled in the Smart Savers program can save money by agreeing to allow DTE to make brief, limited thermostat adjustments during periods of high electric demand that can occur on high heat days.

Ryan DeKimpe, a principal marketing specialist at DTE.

How does the program work?

The program works in response to Demand Response (DR) Events. DR Events typically occur during extremely hot days in summer months that cause high tension on the electric grid. DR Events occur only on weekdays between the hours of noon and 8 p.m. When a DR Event is called, DTE will send out a signal to enrolled devices to increase the thermostat by up to 4 degrees from its original set point based on need. These events typically last between two and four hours, with the thermostat returning to its original set point after the DR Event ends.

The program offers a $50 bill credit for enrolled customers who participate in DR Events. Customers can join the program for free if they meet the program qualifications.

Which smart thermostats qualify for this program?

Nest, ecobee, Vivint, Honeywell Home, Lux, Alarm.com, Sensi and Amazon Smart Thermostats all qualify for this program. For more information on signing up or to check if your thermostat qualifies, visit dteenergy.com/smartsavers.

Why should customers consider joining this program?

Smart Savers is designed to help customers save money while easing demand on the grid. The program

contributes to DTE’s commitment to sustaining and improving grid reliability in times of high demand, like a heat wave. The program also promotes home energy efficiency and savings: A smart thermostat gives customers control to manage their household or business to save with daily schedules. Also, participants earn a $50 bill credit annually by enrolling and participating in thermostat adjustments during DR Events in the summer season.

How have participating customers responded to this program?

Below are responses received in a recent customer satisfaction survey conducted by DTE:

• “I feel like I’m contributing to saving the environment, and I can save my money. Furthermore, I have received some incentives from DTE! In every aspect, it is beneficial.”

• “Help the environment and get rewarded — win-win!”

• “It makes me feel like I am helping since it can adjust on its own.” TOOLBOX

Sign up for Smart Savers at dteenergy.com/smartsavers or scan the QR code.

KEY TO BETTER BUSINESS? EFFICIENCY.

DTE’s here to help you manage your energy usage and increase saving s — freeing up resources for your business. Lighting alone can account for more than half of your bill. So install energy efficient alternatives, like L EDs and motion controlled lighting. Want to save even m ore? Cooling with a highly efficient, w ell-maintained HVAC system will help you do that. We’ll focus on e nergy efficiency, so you can focus on business. Visit dteenergy.com/savenow to learn more.