Electical Contractor

DTE Energy is helping Detroit Edison customers make their homes more energy efficient with discounts of up to 50 percent on compact-fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The specially priced bulbs are available now through DTE Energy at several area retailers for as little as 99 cents apiece.

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s index for incandescent lamps registered a reading of 59.4 for the second quarter of 2009, which is essentially unchanged from the first three months of the year. However, the index decreased 11.8 percent on a year-over-year basis.

In a study on the live-cycle assessment (LCA) of light-emitting diode (LED) lamps by Osram Opto Semiconductors, the latest generation scores very high for environmental friendliness.

A critical milestone on the road to a new American energy future is completing the advanced metering initiative: installing smart meters.

Homeowners are factoring energy efficiency into purchase decisions of consumer electronics and appliances in an effort to reduce home energy costs, according to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

When President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu were considering new ways to improve energy efficiency, a light bulb went on in their heads.

While utilities across the country are plugging in solar and wind, they also are in various stages of installing intelligent grid systems to improve control, conservation and reliability. Critical to these efforts is building bulk and distributed storage capacity.

According to a recent study by Frost & Sullivan, a major international industry research firm, renewable energy is gaining ground in North America as global in-ground fossil fuel reserves continue to dwindle and oil prices fluctuate.

In the drive for energy-efficient buildings, perfection is net-zero energy. Such tightly constructed buildings also produce their own energy, ultimately offsetting the energy they expend. Some produce more than they use and can sell the excess back to the utility.