By: Sean Hickey

Vanishing snow piles. Warmer temps. Longer, sunnier days. All the signs of spring. It’s a time when Michigan awakes from its frozen winter slumber. And it’s a great time to do spring cleaning. Whether that means getting your home ready for the hot weather this summer or signing up or participating in a clean energy program that protects Michigan’s natural beauty.

Spring Cleaning Means More Than Dusting

Improving your home’s energy efficiency should include getting your cooling system in tip-top shape before summer’s heat arrives. Now’s a great time to schedule a comprehensive tune-up, and remember we offer a $65 rebate to help cover the cost. A participating contractor will use advanced tools and diagnostics to ensure your system performs at peak efficiency. Learn more and schedule a tune-up on our Find a Contractor website.

Save When You Clean Up

After being closed up all winter, your home might feel a little stuffy. Why not improve the indoor air quality with an energy efficient air filter or purifier? We’ve got ENERGY STAR® rated models in the Consumers Energy Store that sip electricity compared to traditional energy-intensive units. You’ll save money and energy while you clean up the air in your home. Plus, with our instant rebates, you’ll get the best value.

Know More, Do More

Do you understand your home’s energy use? When you know more about your home, you can do more to save energy and money. With our Energy Dashboard, you can:

  • Track your energy use to discover trends and learn how simple changes can impact your bill.
  • Forecast your upcoming bill based on your past energy use patterns and other factors like weather so you don’t get caught off guard.
  • Check to ensure you’re on the best rate plan for your energy use patterns.
  • Find ways to save energy and money in your home.

Access the Energy Dashboard from the CE App (available free on the Apple Store or Google Play) or by logging on to ConsumersEnergy.com/Portal.

Make Your Home Greener

March 21 is Renewable Energy Day – a great time to discover how easy it is to make a positive impact with renewable energy. There’s likely no clean better than clean air and water here in the Mitten. No matter your home or budget, our Renewable Energy Program offers a simple and affordable way to match some or all of your residential electric use with local renewable energy without having to install or maintain equipment. The program is simple – just choose the percentage of your residential electric use you want to match and enroll. For as little as $1 a month, you’ll pay a monthly subscription fee that supports the development of clean solar- and wind-based energy here in Michigan. Then you’ll earn bill credits each month from the renewable energy we sell to help offset your cost.  

Get Personalized Savings Quickly and Easily

Take control of how you do energy with My Personalized Offerings. The days of scrolling through countless programs, products and resources are over. Find money- and energy-saving options that matter to you in less than 90 seconds! This tool is available to all customers day or night through your account. Ready to see your program recommendations? Get started today by logging into your account.

Take a Minute to Freshen Up Your Appliances, Too

Did you know that dust, pet hair, lint and other build-up can make your household appliances less efficient? It’s true! Take time to slide your fridge out and vacuum the coils to ensure clear airflow to help it run efficiently. This is also a good time to clean your dryer duct – or hire a professional to take care of it. You’ll help clothes faster and more efficiently and while reducing the possibility of damage to your home.

Clear the Air

Your HVAC system’s filter is a key tool to cleaner air and more efficient operation. A dirty, clogged filter makes it harder for your furnace or AC to draw intake air. As a result, the motor works harder and uses more energy. According to the EPA, you should follow your HVAC manufacturer’s recommendations – typically every 60-90 days. If your filter seems heavily soiled, consider changing it more often. One easy way to remember is to change your filter at the start of each quarter (January, April, July and October). Have trouble remembering when you last changed your filter? Write the installation date on the filter, or a piece of tape on the filter door!

Find a Greener Clean.

Looking for safer ways to clean? Take it back to the basics. Like using white vinegar mixed with equal parts water. It’s highly acidic, much like lemon, and powers through grease and dirt. You can also use it in place of traditional glass cleaners. Another safe cleaning product is baking soda. When mixed with water, it’s a mild alkali and a powerful cleaner.

Counting the Ways You Can Clean Up

We’ve got plenty more ways your home or business can clean up – from renewable energy to tips that will save you energy and money. All to protect Michigan’s natural resources and ensure you have the energy you need when you need it. Explore more at ConsumersEnergy.com!