Consumers Energy Offers Seven Energy-Saving Tips to Help Michigan Residents Beat the Heat This Summer

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Jun 15, 2015, 06:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., June 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy is reminding Michigan residents that, even as temperatures climb, there are many ways to reduce energy bills and still stay cool this summer.

"People should know they can take simple steps to manage their energy usage and reduce their costs," said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy's vice president and chief customer officer. "We also offer rebates and helpful tools designed to make it easy and affordable to spend less and still keep their home or business cool."

Rochow offered seven energy-saving tips for the summer. These and more can be found online at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/energyanswers:

If you have central air conditioning, clean leaves and debris from the unit. Make sure they're not too close to the compressor because they can block airflow. Clean the filter regularly. Dusty filters make your air conditioner work harder.
Set your air conditioning thermostat at 78 degrees when you're home and higher when you're away. Install an automatic setback or programmable thermostat that starts your air conditioner shortly before you get home. Consumers Energy offers a $50 rebate on Wi-Fi enabled thermostats.
Don't cool rooms that are not used much. Close doors to cut energy costs.
Make sure to seal and insulate your home. That can be just as important for keeping cool in in the summer as to stay warm in the winter. Information about rebates for insulation and windows is available at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/myhome or by calling 866-234-0445.
Operate your stove, oven, dishwasher and clothes dryer in the morning or evening when it's cooler outside. They add extra heat to your home and make your air conditioner work harder.
Be a fan of fans. A ceiling fan cools fast and costs less than air conditioning. You can also reduce the need for air conditioning by installing an attic fan.
Replace or tune up your old air conditioning equipment and receive rebates ranging from $50 to $450. Go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com/myhome or call 866-234-0445 to choose a participating contractor, who will install equipment, perform tune-ups and submit the rebate application for you.

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, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.

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HOUSEHOLDS: Learn about energy efficiency programs and rebates: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/myhome

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SOURCE Consumers Energy