Award category

Impact

Year released

2025

In response to Michigan's low numbers of USDA-REAP funded energy efficiency projects (tied for 50th in two of the initial seven years, no higher than 46th), the Michigan Farm Energy Program’s (MFEP) was created in 2009 by the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University. The activities of the MFEP and participating organizations resulted in a dramatic rise to fifth by 2012. Michigan has maintained a top 10 ranking ever since.

The MFEP has expanded from certified ASABE/ABSI S612 farm energy audits and renewable energy assessments to working with utilities in developing agricultural energy waste reduction programs and over 45 agricultural measures for the Michigan Energy Measures Database.

To date, over 463 energy audits and 154 renewable energy assessments have been completed and it is the only program specifically for farm energy auditors.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2025

In 2022, leading into 2023, SEEL, LLC with funding from the Ameren Illinois Market Development Initiative (MDI) designed and launched the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Grant Writing Program. Participating in the Ameren Illinois Market Development Initiative, the program empowered nonprofits in Illinois to secure approximately $10 million in funding through CEJA to establish workforce development hubs in disadvantaged communities. By providing full-service grant writing support, the program ensured nonprofits with limited resources could successfully apply for and receive funding. These hubs played a crucial role in training and placing individuals in clean energy jobs, reducing energy burdens and promoting economic development in low-income areas. The program offered all participating agencies a grant writer and coaching for teaming agreements and program design at no cost to the organization.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2024

As part of ComEd’s 4-year Energy Efficiency Plan spanning 2022 – 2025, ComEd committed to an expanded investment in Health and Safety to help ensure energy efficiency access to those customers that can most benefit. This budget is reserved to address conditions identified in homes and residential buildings that represent a potential risk of harm to a person or property that limits the ability for an energy efficiency project to move forward safely. To date, ComEd has invested over $13M in Health and Safety mitigation, enabling nearly 650 energy efficiency projects to safely proceed resulting in 41,145 net MWhs of savings (inclusive of converted therms) to be recognized by income eligible and Public Housing customers.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2023

The City of Chicago and Ameresco – a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator – launched the Chicago Smart Lighting Program (CSLP) to transform the city’s streetlight system, reduce energy consumption and increase visibility for public safety. Completed in 2022, the CSLP is believed to be the largest city-led wireless smart streetlight program in the United States. By replacing approximately 280,000 light fixtures, equivalent to 85% of Chicago’s existing lights, with smart LEDs, the city will save $100 million throughout the next 10 years.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2022

The Peoples Gas Public Sector Energy Efficiency Program sought to deliver meaningful improvements to key customers with city and county buildings, schools, facilities and more. ‘Beating the Barriers’ originated to fit this need. This approach relied on the pivotal relationship with a key customer partner: Chicago Public Schools. The resulting two-year impacts of our approach were unprecedented program participation leading to the delivery of almost $6 million in incentives to save 3.5 million therms within 452 public sector buildings in Chicago.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2022

The Think! Energy program was conducted by National Energy Foundation in classrooms across Michigan on behalf of Consumers Energy and its collaborating utility partners. In 2019, 34,267 families received energy efficiency kits from Consumers Energy through Think! Energy programs, and over 35,000 students and teachers received classroom presentations. During the pandemic in 2020, 35,879 households were still able to receive in-person or virtual presentations, educational materials, and energy efficiency kits. The program teaches students in grades 4-6 to Think! About energy, Talk! To their families about ways they can use less energy and Take Action! with their energy kits and wise behaviors to reduce energy use and save money.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2021

As part of its commitment to supporting low-income communities through the COVID-19 crisis, Greenlite has measurably expanded the reach of its Utility-Funded Food Bank Programs for Energy Efficiency, particularly in the Midwest, where Greenlite is the key partner for 10+ MEEA Members across 5 Midwest states. Greenlite’s Food Bank Programs showcase one of the ways that the Woman & Minority-Owned company has successfully made advanced technology available to income-disadvantaged consumers to save significant energy and money. With 8M ENERGY STAR products distributed in the Midwest through Food Banks in 2020, this campaign has inherent energy and cost-savings benefits for the region, and tremendous long-term benefits through the power of energy-efficiency education to hard-to-reach demographics. Greenlite’s partnerships with Food Banks including Feeding America and Second Harvest have allowed the company to work with over 10,000 organizations that serve the hunger relief industry including food shelves, food pantries, senior organization, and more. By distributing 8M ENERGY STAR LED Bulbs this year through MEEA Partner Utilities Programs, this campaign has reduced energy consumption specifically in the Midwest by 272,000,000 kWh this year alone. In addition, 65,000 Water Saving Products results in water savings of 27,690,000 kWh annually, and 276,900,000 kWh over the span of ten years.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2021

In 2020, DTE Energy, a Detroit-based diversified energy company providing utility services to 2.2 million electric customers and 1.3 million gas customers, identified a need to further support the limited income community in Detroit and across the State of Michigan. DTE established aggressive budget, savings and participation goals for the Energy Efficiency Assistance (EEA) program. Meeting these goals provided income-qualified customers with high efficiency equipment, weatherization services and direct install measures, delivered through more than 30 community action, nonprofit and government agencies.

Teaming up with partners SEEL and ICF, DTE optimized outreach for the EEA program in 2020 by targeting customers enrolled in DTE billing assistance programs, providing funding for health and safety work to reduce project walkaways, partnering with local government agencies and nonprofits to amplify program impact, and leveraging food banks for LED distributions in impoverished communities. DTE invested more than $14 million in incentives to support single family, limited-income customers across gas and electric territory through the efforts of the partnering agencies. This resulted in more than 5,000 customer applications processed in 2020, yielding over 50,000 MCF and 7,000 MWH in annual energy savings.

With the economic hardships felt by so many Michiganders during the pandemic this past year, DTE doubled down on its commitment to serve its most vulnerable customers with safe, reliable and affordable energy, when the need for assistance is greater than ever.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2020

America’s Greenest Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, has teamed up with key partners Donovan Energy and Groundwork Ohio River Valley on an ambitious LED project to make their urban, low-income home community of Avondale the most energy-efficient neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. By gaining trust, building relationships, and connecting closely to their neighbors, the project is allowing them to share the Zoo’s deep experience and commitment to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, all while inspiring community members to go green and providing them with much needed cost savings at the same time.

Since 2017, thanks to $725,000 in grants from the Duke Class Benefit Fund, the Zoo has transitioned its campus to 100% LED and installed LED lighting in Avondale buildings, homes, churches, and outdoor areas. At least 25 commercial entities and over 100 residences have been upgraded, saving Avondale over $1 million in energy bills and maintenance within the next 5 years.

Light Up Avondale also provides Groundwork Ohio River Valley’s Green Corps, a green workforce development program for young adults, the opportunity to increase their skills in energy efficiency, data collection, customer service, and lighting technologies while connecting to the Zoo’s neighbors. The impact of Light Up Avondale goes beyond LED light bulbs. It has built strong relationships among the Zoo’s partners and their community, increased opportunity for energy efficiency and financial savings, and provided workforce development for our region’s young adults.

Award category

Impact

Year released

2019

A major component of providing a ready and resilient force is providing sustainable facilities and infrastructure that serve to train and house our soldiers. Maximizing the efficiency of our facilities ensures that they are economically and environmentally sound and remain assets to our soldiers and communities. The Minnesota Army National Guard prides itself as a leader in promoting energy, water, and waste conservation and reduction practices. Our commitment to leadership in environmental sustainability serves as a vital part of being mission ready and allows us to be good stewards of our environment.