Jackson, Michigan becomes ENERGY STAR-certified capital of small city America

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that Consumers Energy’s hometown of Jackson, Mich., now hosts more ENERGY STAR-certified buildings than any other small city in the United States.

“I’m thrilled to see Jackson step forward as a leader among cities in the Midwest and across the country,” Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy’s president and CEO, said. “It’s no secret that we at Consumers Energy have been working toward this goal for our hometown, working with business owners to certify dozens of energy-efficient buildings.”

ENERGY STAR certifications are given for energy efficiency. For buildings, this means they must meet strict energy performance standards set by the EPA. They must perform better than at least 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide and be verified by a third party. Jackson overwhelmingly met those conditions, as the EPA certified 50 buildings with the ENERGY STAR label last year. In 2018, it had the second-most certifications in the country.

The state’s largest energy provider, Consumers Energy, worked with business and community leaders to identify buildings for energy waste reduction and receipt of these honors. For the company, Poppe said it is all part of a larger commitment that has seen Michigan homes and businesses reduce energy waste and, as a result, cut their bills by more than $3 billion. In Jackson specifically, Consumers has also set up a Smart Energy District to work as a showcase for solutions to eliminate carbon emissions by 2040.

“The City is thrilled to have this honor for Michigan’s Energy Capital,” Jackson Mayor Derek Dobies said. “It really reflects the close collaboration Consumers Energy has with our community businesses and organizations. More work is continuing with the City’s Environmental Commission to make sure more of our buildings are energy-efficient and green.”