DTE Energy is tackling the labor demand for energy-efficient home repairs by expanding on the success of its fledgling Energy Efficiency Academy.
Created in 2022 to serve the Detroit area, in 2024, DTE added to its Energy Efficiency Academy cohorts in Detroit and stood up a new, advanced training program in the Grand Rapids area that targets interested participants already working in the cleaner energy field.
The DTE Energy Efficiency Academy helps close the gap in local skilled-trade hires and meet the growing demand for energy-efficient home repair services throughout Michigan. The academy features a workforce development component, which provides paid training and professional guidance leading into a recruitment network for cleaner energy jobs. It also has an industry development portion designed to create a pipeline of diverse contractors equipped to complete energy-efficient home repairs and weatherization for DTE customers.
The workforce development training takes five to seven weeks, while the industry development training is typically completed within three months.
“Providing well-paid opportunities to address the labor demand and energy-efficient home repairs in Detroit ultimately empowers our customers to save more energy while fostering thriving communities,” said Angela Wojtowicz, vice president–business planning and development at DTE Energy.
This year, the academy has hosted two workforce development cohorts and one industry development cohort. A third workforce development cohort, focused on upskilling talent already working in the cleaner energy space, occurred in the fall.
The upskilling helps existing professionals achieve the Building Performance Institute’s certifications, which are nationally recognized as the standard for analyzing and measuring energy efficiency opportunities within homes, including insulation, air sealing and HVAC systems.
According to DTE, the program is a success. Seventy-five percent of the 2023 program participants have secured full-time employment with wages up to $30 per hour, which is nearly $20 above the state’s minimum wage and above the national average. Participants also enjoy a 94% pass rate across three certifications.
“The program and its placement component have allowed me to supply a good living for me and my family,” said Edward Daffin, a graduate of the Energy Efficiency Academy. “It has also given me a career I enjoy.”