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March 17, 2010

Forum: Loans aid utility customers

BY TREVOR WILLIAMS and MARC McKELLAR

Cherryland Electric Cooperative customers are the first in Michigan to be offered the chance to save money on their home energy costs over the long haul by investing in energy-efficient home improvements such as a new furnace, hot water heater, insulation and other upgrades through a new pilot program.

The opportunity is available to customers of Cherryland Electric Cooperative, which is a partner in the Michigan SAVES program funded by the Michigan Public Service Commission. The other partners in the program are Members Credit Union and Brown Lumber Installed Sales & Service, and they are all working together to offer homeowners easy-to-access loans.

The program allows homeowners to invest in energy efficiency improvements right away -- so they can immediately start saving on energy costs -- but also allows them to pay for those improvements over time, conveniently on their monthly Cherryland electric bill.

Michigan SAVES estimates energy savings at more than 20 percent, but could be even higher for older or larger homes.

The Michigan SAVES loan, secured by Members Credit Union, allows homeowners to get energy-saving home improvements, including energy-efficient furnaces, insulation, doors and windows. Other improvements Michigan SAVES offers include:

-- Air sealing
-- Air conditioning units
-- Dishwashers
-- Furnaces
-- Refrigerators
-- Skylights
-- Water Heaters
-- Weatherization

To ensure homeowners find the right mix of energy-saving improvements, Michigan SAVES offers a comprehensive home energy assessment. A member of the Brown Lumber team will do an on-site inspection of the home using testing equipment and software tools to determine how efficiently the home uses energy. The assessment will also identify ways to address common problems such as ice dams, moisture in the windows, drafty rooms and dry indoor air.

Once the assessment is complete, homeowners receive a detailed report and estimate of energy savings for specific improvements, so they can make the best choices for their home. The first 50 loan customers will receive a free energy assessment.

If homeowners already know what they need they can skip the energy assessment, choose their improvements and a Brown Lumber Sales and Service contractor will go straight to work.

Members Credit Union and Brown Lumber will work closely with each homeowner as they go through the loan process to evaluate income and existing debt to be sure the monthly payments meet the homeowners' budget.

Michigan SAVES will help you save energy, save money, grow the local economy and protect the environment. Taking advantage of Michigan SAVES is the best way to secure your affordable energy future.

For more information, join us for an informational meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Cherryland Electric Cooperative Office, 5930 US 31 South, in Grawn.

To sign up for Michigan SAVES, please visit www.michigansaves.org/cherrylandpilot or contact Brown Lumber Installed Sales & Service at (231) 947-1400.

About the authors: Trevor Williams is department manager for Brown Lumber Installed Sales & Service; Marc McKellar is director of business development and public relations at Members Credit Union

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