U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recognizes Consumers Energy as ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year

JACKSON, Mich., April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is being recognized nationally for its excellence and commitment to energy efficiency in Michigan with the 2014 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Helping Michigan save energy is our Promise, and our energy efficiency programs have saved this state's residents more than $575 million since 2009," said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy's vice president of operations and quality.

"This ENERGY STAR honor is validation on a national stage of our continuing work to help Michigan's homes and businesses manage their energy usage effectively."

The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes businesses with ENERGY STAR awards for their efforts to protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Officials from Consumers Energy will receive the award April 28 in Detroit, the day before the ACI National Home Performance Conference and Trade Show. Consumers Energy is a host sponsor of the conference, which will bring more than 1,000 home performance professionals to Michigan.

Consumers Energy was recognized for several accomplishments within its energy efficiency programs, including:

• Completing more than 1,950 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects, working with homeowners to realize significant energy-saving improvements.
• Helping 415 homes to be built to ENERGY STAR specifications and working with the Michigan Association of Realtors to promote the value of ENERGY STAR to Michigan's economy.
• Improving K-12 buildings in 19 districts across Michigan through Consumers Energy's Building Performance with ENERGY STAR for K-12 Schools pilot program.
• Working with more than 400 Michigan retailers to promote ENERGY STAR-certified lighting products and distributing ENERGY STAR-certified light bulbs through partnerships with food banks.

Consumers Energy launched its energy efficiency programs following Michigan's 2008 energy law. Consumers Energy is working with Michigan residents to reduce electric use by at least 5.5 percent and natural gas use by 3.85 percent by 2015.

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.

Media toolkit

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS: Learn about how Consumers Energy can help homes and businesses reduce energy usage: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/save

ENERGY STAR: Learn more about the ENERGY STAR program: www.energystar.gov

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