Consumers Energy Teams Up with Food Banks to Distribute 85,000 Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs to Michigan Families
JACKSON, Mich., May 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is helping families across Michigan to save energy and money this year by donating 85,000 energy-efficient light bulbs through food banks.
"Energy efficiency has provided more than $575 million in savings to the homes and businesses we serve. By doing this, we continue to make good on our Promise to help Michigan save energy in a practical, everyday way," said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy's vice president of customer operations and quality.
This month, Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank is giving out about 40,000 ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) through its network of food pantries. Another 2,500 will be distributed through the Food Bank of South Central Michigan in Battle Creek during the week of May 26. Families receive a package of two CFLs, along with information on the bulb's benefits and other energy-saving tips.
"This is the third year Consumers Energy has distributed CFLs through our network," said Feeding America West Michigan CEO Ken Estelle. "By helping our clients save money on their energy bills, Consumers is giving them a better shot at affording the food they need to lead healthy lives."
"We believe this donation will make it a little bit easier for our neighbors to make ends meet," Estelle said.
CFLs can last up to 10,000 hours, or nine years. They produce 75 percent less heat than traditional bulbs, making them safer to operate and more energy efficient – saving about $30 in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.
The CFLs are distributed by EarthTronics (www.earthtronics.com), which is based in Muskegon. Consumers Energy has increased its commitment to EarthTronics and other West Michigan businesses by $125 million and is increasing its spending on all Michigan goods and services by $1 billion from 2011 to 2016, all through its participation in the Pure Michigan Business Connect program.
Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.5 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
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WHERE TO GO: Discounted CFLs are sold at more than 170 stores across Michigan through Consumers Energy's Savings Solutions program. To locate stores, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/eeprograms/RLighting.aspx?id=4135.
FOOD BANKS: Learn about Feeding America West Michigan Bank: www.feedingamericawestmichigan.org.
Learn about the Food Bank of South Central Michigan: www.foodbankofscm.org.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConsumersEnergyMichigan and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ConsumersEnergy.
SOURCE Consumers Energy
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