New Campaign Encourages Michigan Residents to Cut Down on Wasted Energy

LANSING, MI--(Marketwired - Jan 9, 2014) -  According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, Michigan households use 123 million Btu (British thermal unit, a traditional unit of energy) per home, about 38 percent more than the U.S. average. To help change that, Michigan Saves, a nonprofit dedicated to making energy improvements easy and affordable, is launching "Avoid Energy Drama," a campaign that shows residents how to stay comfortable in their homes without wasting energy.

"We need to wake up Michigan residents to their energy consumption issues while also providing them easy, prescriptive steps on how to make their homes more energy efficient," said Mary Templeton, executive director of Michigan Saves. "This campaign does that by taking a light-hearted look at the drama that ensues when it comes to making a home more energy efficient, whether it involves critiquing a husband's handiwork or fighting over the thermostat. It's a fun way to get the message across that we can stop wasting energy and still stay comfortable."

The public service announcement (PSA) campaign, developed with support from Consumers Energy, DTE Energy and Dow Building Solutions, a business unit of Michigan-based Dow Chemical Company, educates Michigan residents about energy saving solutions and motivates them to take control of their energy use.

The campaign drives residents to an interactive website, www.avoidenergydrama.com, that includes tips and energy saving solutions. Visitors to the site have the option to select the drama they are experiencing such as, "My home is always too hot or too cold," or "Energy upgrades cost too much." Based on their selection, the website serves up helpful advice and resources based on that situation. For example, Michigan Saves offers loans for energy efficient home improvements and help finding a contractor while Consumers Energy and DTE Energy provide home energy assessments that show exactly where and how energy is wasted. Dow provides affordable and easy-to-use air sealing and insulation products which are readily available at local retailers.

"We appreciate Consumers Energy, DTE Energy and Dow for joining us in the campaign and for their vested interest in educating Michigan residents about energy efficiency," said Templeton. "We hope the campaign helps everyone avoid the drama and reduce energy waste."

For more information about the campaign, visit www.avoidenergydrama.com.

About Michigan Saves
Michigan Saves is a nonprofit dedicated to making energy improvements easier for all Michigan energy consumers. To accomplish this, Michigan Saves makes affordable financing and other incentives available through grants and partnerships with private sector lenders. We also authorize and monitor a network of contractors and recognize those with advanced training. Our current portfolio includes programs for residential, commercial, and municipal customers, and supports energy efficiency, geothermal, and solar PV projects. For more information visit http://michigansaves.org/.

About Consumers Energy
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 regarding Consumers Energy, go to: www.ConsumersEnergy.com or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan.

About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio also includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at www.dteenergy.com, https://twitter.com/dte_energy and www.facebook.com/dteenergy.

About Dow
Dow Building Solutions has a 60+ year legacy of providing energy saving solutions to the global commercial and residential new construction and remodeling industry, which began with the launch of its flagship STYROFOAM™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation, one of the most recognized brands of insulation in the world. A market-facing business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Building Solutions offers insulation, air sealing and weatherization solutions backed by building science expertise to help builders, remodelers, designers, architects and home/building owners reduce energy costs and protect against wind, rain and moisture, while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. More information about Dow Building Solutions can be found at http://www.dowbuildingsolutions.com.