To date, we have served over 1,300 lower-income households in Detroit, prioritizing our services for senior citizens and people needing physical assistance with installations.  A preliminary analysis shows that households are saving about 10% on their gas and electric bills, or about $250 annually.  Collectively, this means we are helping households save over $325,000 a year. These savings also generate major environmental benefits – preventing over 1,625 metric tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to saving over 186,000 gallons of gasoline! Beyond the numbers of energy savings, D-YES has an immediate, tangible impact on the lives of those we serve. When we put up a window kit or weatherstrip a door, we make homes warmer and healthier.  We empower people with the knowledge and skills to practice energy conservation long after we leave. Since our first session in 2009, 58 youth have participated as D-YES crew members, each completing a 15-30 hour training about household energy efficiency and additional educational activities about sustainability, climate change, environmental and social justice, civic engagement, and green jobs.  Highlightsinclude:

• Staff and AmeriCorps members have helped our crew members with resumes, college applications, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and given support to navigate the entire process.  Former D-YES crew members are attending the University of Michigan, Michigan Tech, Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, WCCC, Henry Ford Community College, other colleges, and working with City Year and other employers.
  

• Students have met with numerous decision-makers, including senior staff from U.S. Representatives Hansen Clarke and John Conyers.  In April 2011, Miah Ward was the only high school student in the country to join 7 other youth in a 40-minute meeting with President Obama and his staff in the White House.
• D-YES has led additional workshops, trainings, and service activities for over 500 youth across Michigan at events like Great Lakes Bioneers and Powershift conferences.
  
• D-YES has traveled to Washington, DC with 19 students and 6 AmeriCorps leaders to attend Powershift, a conference that unites over 10,000 youth to promote clean energy, climate solutions, environmental and social justice, and green jobs.  Students led a workshop for over 100 college students about engaging low-income, urban audiences in energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.
• Students participate in the City of Detroit’s Green Task Force Youth Subcommittee.  D-YES will play a leading role in organizing a sustainability summit for youth in September 2011.
• D-YES forms partnerships with schools (Detroit Community and Cody High Schools), churches, non-profit organizations (Student Conservation Association, Greening of Detroit, Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition, the Green Economy Leadership Training program), and others. 
• D-YES has completed a variety of projects to green our community and serve our city.  See our community greening and service projects page for a few examples.
• D-YES crew and staff have become experts in teaching others how to save energy.  D-YES crew members have created energy saving workshops, and presented these workshops to the city council's green task force, college students, Green Economy Leadership Training (GELT) participants, and others. This expertise has drawn the interest of many, including NPR's Michigan Radio (click below to listen to Michigan Radio interview D-YES for its "What's Working" series).