Consumers Energy provides free energy efficiency outreach to more than 180 civic organizations across Michigan, saving $275,000

JACKSON, Mich., Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans organizations, homeless shelters, food banks and other nonprofit groups throughout Michigan are benefitting from an initiative by Consumers Energy to replace lighting, thermostats and more with money-saving, energy-efficient products.

"Caring for the communities we serve and helping Michigan save energy are two of our Promises to Michigan. In this case, we're doing both by providing help to organizations that do so much for people in our state," said Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy's vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation.

Consumers Energy affiliates have performed free energy-efficiency assessments for more than 180 organizations from Mackinac City to Adrian over the last two months.

This year, 159 nonprofit organizations have received more than $320,000 through free installations or financial assistance that will lower their energy expenses. These organizations will save more than $275,000 annually on their energy bills through this holiday season and beyond.

The initiative aims to provide energy efficiency upgrades at a time of year when nonprofit organizations are focused on providing help to Michigan residents. They have been receiving free LED lights, programmable thermostats and more. Work has been performed for multiple organizations in Flint, Muskegon, Lansing and other communities.

"We expect to be spending a quarter of what we have been spending previously. So, that's a substantial amount of savings for us," said Lynn Patterson, state quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Lansing, where workers installed LED lighting last week.

This initiative extends Consumers Energy's connections to local charities and civic organizations throughout Michigan. Many employees serve as volunteers and are board members of nonprofits throughout the state, while the company, its foundation and employees will donate nearly $6 million to nonprofits this year.

Consumers Energy also offers a variety of energy efficiency programs for homes and businesses. Those include more than 250 incentives and rebates. Michigan residents the company serves are expected to save more than $200 million this year through energy efficiency improvements. Learn more about Consumers Energy's energy efficiency programs at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/save.

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit us at www.ConsumersEnergy.com, or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan.

Media Toolkit:

COMPLETE LIST: For the names of organizations in your community that Consumers Energy assisted, contact Brian Wheeler at 517-788-2394.

PHOTOS: View and download photos from Consumers Energy's media gallery on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/consumersenergy/sets/72157634342591265/

AUDIO: Listen to an official talk about energy efficiency upgrades at one location: https://soundcloud.com/consumers-energy/energy-efficiency-upgrades

SOURCE Consumers Energy