Consumers Energy Provides $6.3 Million in Energy Efficiency Incentives to Commercial and Industrial Customers in the Fourth Quarter of 2011, Boosting Energy Value

JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy awarded $6.3 million in incentives in the fourth quarter of 2011 through its Business Solutions program to help Michigan commercial and industrial customers become more energy efficient.

Statewide, these projects are saving the 681 participating customers an estimated $6.5 million in energy costs annually. This represents savings of 57.9 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and more than 306,600 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas annually.

That's enough energy saved to serve about 5,525 residential electric customers and about 2,665 residential natural gas customers.

For all of 2011, Consumers Energy awarded $14.9 million in incentives, saving their customers 155,600 MWh and 471,000 Mcf of natural gas annually.

Business Solutions, the energy efficiency program for commercial and industrial customers, is part of Consumers Energy's comprehensive energy efficiency program, which has been launched in accordance with the 2008 energy law.

The Business Solutions program as a whole exceeded goals by 48 percent on natural gas and 31 percent on electric.

"Utilizing our incentive program to improve energy efficiency is a great strategy that provides long-term value for our customers," said Fred Alatalo, the utility's business energy efficiency operations director. "The program supports Michigan's economic recovery by helping our business customers reach their goals of becoming more energy efficient and reducing their operating expenses."

Learn more about energy efficiency programs for businesses as well as residential customers and how to apply for incentives by visiting www.consumersenergy.com.

Commercial and industrial customers who agreed to have their incentives publicized. The amounts of the distributed incentives are listed below:

Allegan County

-- Otsego Public Schools, Otsego: $3,090 for lighting upgrades, saving 16,733 kWh annually.

Barry County

-- Pennock Hospital, Hastings: $548 for a boiler tune up, saving 54 Mcf annually.

Calhoun County

-- Calhoun Intermediate School District, Marshall: $23,932 for efficient lighting, saving 384,000 kWh annually.

-- Kellogg Company, Battle Creek: $108,137 to upgrade to high efficiency chiller, saving 1,275,800 kWh annually.

-- Duncan Aviation, Battle Creek: $600 for building operator certification employee training.

-- Lakeview School District, Battle Creek: $3,435 for efficient lighting, saving 47,087 kWh annually.

Genessee County

-- Linden Community Schools: $8,100 for boiler and water heater upgrades, saving 788 Mcf annually.

-- Creative Foam Corp., Fenton: $7,171 for efficient lighting, saving 102,515 kWh annually.

-- Mass Transportation Authority, Flint: $3,800 for a boiler tune up and upgrades, saving 600 Mcf annually.

-- Flushing Community Schools: $18,455 for steam trap improvements and boiler tune ups at three school locations, saving 4,286 Mcf annually.

Ingham County

-- Holt Public Schools: $213,756 for lighting and mechanical upgrades, saving 1,215,293 kWh and 1,900 Mcf annually.

Jackson County

-- Jackson Intermediate School District: $3,000 for lighting upgrades, saving 36,000 kWh annually.

-- Allegiance Health, Jackson: $3,589 for lighting upgrades, saving 44,863 kWh annually.

-- Michigan Automotive Compressor, Parma: $20,000 for roof insulation, saving 28,680 Mcf annually.

-- Lumen Christi High School, Jackson: $3,704 for lighting upgrades, saving 46,310 kWh annually.

Kalamazoo County

-- Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kalamazoo: $5,401 for HVAC sensors and lighting upgrades, saving 36,414 Mcf and 23,598 kWh annually.

-- Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo: $6,020 for improvements to steam traps, saving 1,245 Mcf annually.

Lenawee County

-- Blissfield Community School District: $104,511 for district HVAC renovation, saving 294,000 kWh and 6,750 Mcf annually.

Muskegon County

-- Cannon-Muskegon, Norton Shores: $38,631 for lighting upgrades, saving 966,000 kWh annually.

Otsego County

-- Gaylord Community Schools: $36,294 for HVAC improvements and efficient lighting, saving 471,140 kWh annually.

Saginaw County

-- Star of the West Milling Co., Frankenmuth: $3,904 for lighting upgrades, saving 56,069 kWh annually.

Shiawassee County

-- Clark Engineering, Owosso: $8,820 for efficient lighting, saving 122,304 kWh annually.

St. Joseph County

-- Glen Oaks Community College, Centreville: $19,419 for lighting and HVAC upgrades, saving 350,126 kWh annually.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information regarding Consumers Energy, access our website at: www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy