Washington, DC, March 26, 2018 – The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) today released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Annual Report Building the Future of Energy in the District. The report highlights the DCSEU’s achievements in creating a brighter energy and environmental future through energy efficiency for the District, its residents, businesses, and institutions. In FY 2017, through its work with local partners, the DCSEU created $144 million in lifetime energy cost savings for customers, including saving enough electricity to power 9,300 homes in DC for a year. These efforts will prevent the emission of more than 950,000 metric tons of carbon – the equivalent of taking more than 200,000 cars off the road for one year.
“FY 2017 was a tremendous year and stands as our best year in our seven year history,” said Ted Trabue, Managing Director of the DCSEU. “More residents and businesses than ever before saved money on energy costs and reduced their carbon footprint, contributing to the District’s sustainability goals.”
The DCSEU is tasked by the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to reduce the District of Columbia’s energy use, and is the only energy efficiency utility combining goals for social equity, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Its unique approach to the new energy economy includes a Workforce Development Program and a program supporting vulnerable communities. Through its work with District Certified Business Enterprises (CBEs), the DCSEU’s model ensures that the local economy benefits.
“The DCSEU’s work to decrease energy consumption, create green jobs, and reduce the energy burden for DC’s most vulnerable communities is critical to the District’s efforts to become the greenest, healthiest, most livable city in the country,” said Tommy Wells, Director of DOEE.
During 2017, the DCSEU invested $3.8 million in energy efficiency projects for vulnerable communities and income-qualified residents, creating $820,000 in annual energy cost savings. The program included the distribution of 3,000 no-cost Home Energy Conservation Kits to residents who are having difficulties paying their energy bill or whose power has been, or is about to be, turned off. This creates a path for them to reduce their energy bills through simple measures such as LED lighting. The DCSEU also completed a retrofit at the Emery Shelter, improving comfort for residents, reducing utility bills and, through energy cost savings, enabling more energy efficiency projects at transitional housing facilities throughout the city.
The DCSEU’s Workforce Development Program equips District residents who are unemployed, underemployed, or want to attain news skills, become competitive in the green job market. The externs are placed with external partners, where they complete a six-month paid externship while taking weekly classes about energy efficiency and career development. This year, 16 externs graduated from the program, with some also completing their LEED certification.
In FY 2017, the DCSEU exceeded all six of its minimum benchmarks, while exceeding four out of six maximum benchmarks. The DCSEU – along with DC PACE, DOEE’s Solar Initiatives, Sustainable DC 2.0, and Clean Energy DC – is part of DOEE’s vision for the District to be a model for innovative policies and practices.
Read the full FY 2017 Annual Report.
###
About the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU)
The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money. Since 2011, as a contractor to the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), the DCSEU has delivered financial incentives, technical assistance, and information to tens of thousands of District residents and businesses, helping them to save millions of dollars on their energy costs. Our work is building a brighter economic, environmental, and energy future for the District. For more information, visit www.dcseu.com.
Media Contacts:
Lee Beck
PR Project Manager, DCSEU
202-515-1062