JACKSON, Mich., May 16, 2012/PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy awarded more than $2 millionin incentives to commercial and industrial customers in the first quarter to help fund 697 energy efficiency projects that provide long-term savings.

These projects are saving the 664 participating customers an estimated $2.4 millionin energy costs annually. This represents savings of 20.7 million kWh of electricity and more than 112,020 thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas annually. That's enough energy to serve about 2,600 residential electric customers and about 1,080 residential natural gas customers for a year. 

Business Solutions, the energy efficiency program for commercial and industrial customers, is part of Consumers Energy's comprehensive energy efficiency effort, which stems from the state's comprehensive 2008 energy law.

"When it comes to energy, Michigan's businesses and schools are becoming leaner and greener as they tap the resources available from our Business Solutions program," said Fred Alatalo, business energy efficiency operations director for Consumers Energy. "Our incentives help customers install energy efficient equipment that will provide them with long-term savings."

To learn more about Consumers Energy's energy efficiency programs for business and residential customers and how to apply for incentives, please visit www.consumersenergy.com.

Here's a list of some of the customers that received energy efficiency incentives in the first three months of 2012:

Allegan County

-- Allegan Metal Finishing, Allegan: $5,865for efficient lighting, saving 81,328 kWh annually.

Arenac County

-- Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Corp., Au Gres: $111,306for the installation of variable-frequency drives on two pump motors, saving 1,532,658 kWh annually.

Barry County

-- Viking Corp., Hastings: $19,475for efficient lighting, saving 269,913 kWh annually.

-- Thornapple Kellogg Schools, Middleville: $350for high efficiency furnace installation in maintenance offices, saving 15 Mcf annually.

Calhoun County

-- Denso Manufacturing Michigan Inc., Battle Creek: $98,841for efficient lighting, saving 1,235,520 kWh annually.

-- Kellogg Company, Battle Creek: $26,471for the installation of pump bypasses, saving 330,887 kWh annually.

-- City of Battle Creek, Battle Creek: $16,770for efficient lighting, saving 139,405 kWh annually.

Cheboygan County

-- Great Lakes Tissue, Cheboygan: $200,000for a paper dryer modification, saving 3,750,000 kWh annually.

Genesee County

-- Swartz CreekCommunity Schools, Swartz Creek: $3,677for boiler tune ups, saving 964 Mcf annually.

-- DavisonCommunity Schools, Davison: $4,300for boiler tune ups, saving 1,401 Mcf annually.

-- University of Michigan - Flint, Flint: $15,000for efficient lighting for parking ramp, saving 91,650 kWh annually.

Ingham County

-- LansingSchool District, Lansing: $138,390for seven mechanical retrofit projects, saving 10,000 Mcf annually.

-- Southbend Associates LP, Lansing: $1,262for new construction incentives, saving 128 Mcf annually.

Jackson County

-- General Services Administration - U.S. Government, Jackson: $28,720for lighting upgrades, saving 360,000 kWh annually.

-- Northwest Community Schools: $10,393for lighting upgrades and boiler enhancements, saving 137,523kWh and 1,000 Mcf annually.

-- Jackson Intermediate School District, Jackson: $6,690for lighting upgrades, saving 65,547 kWh annually.

-- JacksonPublic Schools, Jackson: $60,434for lighting upgrades and boiler enhancements, saving 168,144 kWh and 3,837 Mcf annually.

-- Jackson Community College, Jackson: $2,450for boiler testing, saving 1,197 Mcf annually.

Kalamazoo County

-- Interact LEED CS, Kalamazoo: $6,960for new construction incentives, saving 48,916 kWh and 181.7 Mcf annually.

-- Zylstra Greenhouses, Kalamazoo: $20,930for HVAC work, heat curtains and infra-red film, saving 11,235 Mcf annually.

-- Landscape Forms, Kalamazoo: $930for lighting upgrades, saving 38,688 kWh annually.

-- Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo: $2,100for lighting upgrades, saving 21,052 kWh and annually.

Midland County

-- MidlandPublic Schools, Midland: $33,389for lighting upgrades, saving 437,900 kWh annually.

-- Chemical Bank, Midland: $22,780for lighting upgrades, saving 115,000 kWh annually.

Muskegon County

-- Automotive Casting Technologies, Inc., Fruitport: $45,795for lighting upgrades, saving 107,000 kWh annually.

Ottawa County

-- Grand Valley State University, Allendale: $51,180for lighting upgrades, saving 670,000 kWh annually.

Saginaw County

-- Covenant Health Care, Saginaw: $68,120for chiller and air handler replacement, saving 433,362 kWh annually.

Shiawassee County

-- Ovid Elsie Area Schools, Elsie: $4,700for boiler tune ups, saving 872 Mcf 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

Terry DeDoes, +1-517-374-2159, or Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395