Q. Who is Energy Sciences?
A. Energy Sciences is a contractor of DTE Energy responsible for implementing the Retro-Commissioning Program.

Q. What energy savings can I expect?
A. We target to save you 4-5% of your annual energy usage.

Q. Am I eligible to participate in the program if I’m serviced by DTE Electric and Consumers Gas?
A. Yes. If you receive a DTE bill, you are almost always eligible for the program.

Q. Will this impact tenant comfort?
A. Retro-commissioning’s objective is to increase tenant comfort as it identifies operational system improvements that minimize energy consumption while still meeting building & tenant needs.

Q. Who can do the work needed for the RCx program?
A. For the Standard Track, the customer either works directly with the RCx team or chooses from our list of qualified service providers to work with them on their RCx project. For the Express Track, the customer can use the controls contractor they typically work with to manage their building controls, or we can suggest one for you.

Q. Can I use in-house staff during implementation?
A. We recommend that customers work with their preferred controls contractor; however, you may use in-house staff depending on their capabilities and availability. Our team will work with you to guide you on the best option.

Q. Who issues the incentives to me?
A. On behalf of DTE, Energy Sciences will issue the incentive check directly to the customer upon project completion.

Q. How are the incentive amounts calculated?
A. Incentive amounts are calculated based on verified electric and/or gas savings.

Q. Which track is the right one for me?
A. After gathering some basic information to understand your facility’s operation as well as your needs, our team will determine the best track for you.

Q. Will I get a report or document outlining the energy & cost savings from my RCx project?
A. Yes, upon project completion.

Q. Who should complete the application? Where should it be sent?
A. The customer will work with their RCx Team member or chosen service provider when completing the application. This allows the service provider to become more familiar with your facility and assist you throughout the application process. The completed application can then be sent to DTERCx@esciences.us.

Q. Why does the program have a minimum customer spending commitment?
A. The study is fully funded by DTE Energy, so the minimum spending commitment is a way to show that the customer is committed to implementing Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) identified by the service provider. Note that the measure implementation cost is typically covered by the incentives received by the customer upon project completion.

Q. How long does a Standard project typically take to complete?
A. 8-10 months.

Q. How long does an Express project typically take to complete?
A. 1-2 months.

Q. Are there any customer financial commitments for the Express Track?
A. No.

Q. Who pays my selected controls contractor for their implementation work?
A. The customer has the choice to either pay their selected controls contractor directly after receiving their incentive check or to assign part of their incentive check as payment to the controls contractor.

Q. Is the VCx^TM Track still available?
A. The VCx^TM Track is no longer being offered in 2023. Contact us to find the track that best fits you.