Our
Special Projects
Community
Energy Initiative
Even before Hurricane Katrina ravaged
the Gulf Coast in late August 2005, home heating costs
had been rising dramatically. In the two years from
winter 2002-2003 (October through March) to winter 2004-2005,
home heating costs jumped 36 percent. Now, post-Katrina,
the U.S. Department of Energy predicts even more dramatic
increases this winter on top of last year's jumps:
estimates are that families will pay 41 percent more
than last winter for natural gas, 27 percent more for
fuel oil, and 21 percent more for propane. More than
half of all U.S. households are heated with natural
gas.
| Energy
Tip of the Month - Dial Down |
| » |
Each degree you set your
thermostat below 72°F reduces your heating use
by approximately three percent |
| » |
Install a programmable thermostat
to automatically dial down at night and when your
house is unoccupied |
| » |
Lower the temperature on
your water heater to 120°F |
| » |
Wear warmer clothing |
| More energy tips |
| Find more Energy
Wise tips on the DTE Energy website or order
their free
DVD to learn more about enhancing your home's
energy efficiency. |
| Free home energy
audit |
| Use these free
home energy audit tools from DTE Energy for
valuable tips on how to reduce your energy bills.
|
| Tax credits |
| The Energy Policy
Act of 2005 provides energy efficiency tax credits
for homeowners, home builders and commercial buildings.
See the federal government's ENERGY
STAR Website for information. |
| Other
Helpful Links |
|
Alliance to Save
Energy
www.ase.org
Partnership for
Energy Efficiency
U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development
www.energysavers.gov
DTE Energy
www.mydteenergy.com
U.S. Department
of Energy - Energy Savers
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
Michigan Public
Service Commission
www.Michigan.gov/documents/bewinterwise
Home Energy Saver
Web-based do-it-yourself energy audit tool
www.hes.lbl.gov
Urban Options
www.urbanoptions.org
Energy Star
Iinformation about energy saving appliances
www.energystar.gov
Consumers Energy
www.consumersenergy.com
|
The Community Energy Initiative
Group (CEIG) is a collaborative body working
to respond to the ensuing energy crisis in southeastern
Michigan.
Convening for the first time in October 2005, the CEIG
is working to develop a more coordinated regional response
to the substantial increase in home energy costs.
Collectively, CEIG members are working to ensure that
all metro Detroit residents survive the winter safely.
Looking for Help? Check out
these resources.
Energy Resource Listing
Developed by the CEIG, in conjunction
with United Way's 2-1-1 information and referral
service, the Energy Resource Listing is a directory
of Human Service Agencies available to help with energy
costs.
Heat and Eat: Using Federal Nutrition
Programs to Cushion the Shock of Skyrocketing Heating
Bills
Developed by the Food Research
and Action Center, the leading national organization
working for more effective public and private policies
to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition. Sign-up
for FRAC's weekly News Digest at http://www.frac.org.
CEIG Members
- DTE Energy
- United Way for Southeastern Michigan
- State of Michigan Governor's Office
- American Red Cross, SE MI
- City of Detroit Mayor's Office
- Consumers Energy
- Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS)
- Michigan Department of Human Services - Macomb
County
- Michigan Department of Human Services - Oakland
County
- Michigan Department of Human Services - Wayne
County
- Fox2
- Friendship House
- HUSS
- Acts 29/HUSS
- Kephera
- Macomb Community Services
- Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO
- Michigan League for Human Services
- Michigan Public Service Commission
- Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency
- The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW)
- WARM Training Center
- Wayne-Metropolitan Community Action Agency
- World Medical Relief
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