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Cherryland Pilot:FAQs for CustomersWho Can Participate
Eligible Improvements & Audit Information
Loan & Payment Information
Other Information
Who Can ParticipateWho is eligible to participate in the Cherryland pilot program?If you are a residential customer currently served by the Cherryland Electric Cooperative, you can participate in the Michigan Saves pilot program to finance the cost of energy efficiency improvements for your home. < Return to Top > What are the benefits of participating in the Michigan Saves program?The Michigan Saves Cherryland pilot program offers homeowners a pain-free way to get affordable, energy-saving home improvements such as furnaces, appliances, and insulation—with no upfront costs and payments conveniently added to their monthly Cherryland utility bill. The Michigan Saves program will help you save energy, save money, grow the Michigan economy and protect the environment. Taking advantage of the Michigan Saves program is the best way to secure your affordable energy future! < Return to Top > How much energy can a typical homeowner expect to save with the Michigan Saves program?The monthly utility savings and the monthly financing payments can vary widely, depending on your energy use, home construction, energy improvements selected for installation, and other factors. But we estimate that Cherryland customers who take advantage of the Michigan Saves program could lower their home’s energy usage by as much as 20 percent. < Return to Top > How do I participate in the Michigan Saves program?Cherryland customers can sign up for the pilot on this website. Click here to sign up online. Once you sign up you will be assisted with all aspects of the program, including the loan approval process and the selection of eligible energy-efficiency improvements for your home. < Return to Top >
Do I have to be a current member of Members Credit Union to participate?No, you do not need to be a member to apply for the loan. When you obtain the loan, you will automatically become a member. < Return to Top > Do I have to be a member of Cherryland Electric Cooperative to participate?Yes, you must be a member to participate in the pilot. < Return to Top > I would like to make energy-saving improvements to my business and am a member of Cherryland Electric Cooperative. Can I participate in the pilot?No, this pilot is exclusively available to residential members of Cherryland Electric Cooperative. Commercial loans are not available at this time. < Return to Top > I rent my home or apartment. Can I still participate?No. However, if your landlord meets the requirements of the program, he or she could participate. < Return to Top > Eligible Improvements & Audit InformationWhat types of improvements can be financed through this pilot?Loans are available for weatherization, furnace and water heater upgrades, and other measures that will help your home use less energy. The improvements will be identified through an energy assessment, or you can choose from a list of improvements that are eligible for financing without an assessment. < Return to Top > How can I find out if the measures financed through Michigan Saves qualify for rebates and federal tax credits?BLISS will be able to help you determine what incentives, including rebates and tax credits, are offered on the improvements you choose to install. Rebates are available on certain appliances and equipment through Cherryland Electric Cooperative, other utilities (DTE and Consumers Energy), and the state of Michigan. Visit www.michiganenergyoptions.org/energyoptimization for more information. You can also check the federal Energy Star website for updates on available tax credits by visiting www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index. Rebate and tax credit information is available here but should be confirmed with the applicable provider. < Return to Top > What can I expect from the energy assessment?The assessment professional will need to ask some questions and walk through your home in order to make recommendations for improvements. The comprehensive energy assessment will use testing equipment and software tools that take into account the construction of your home and your current appliances to determine how efficiently your home is using energy. The assessment will also identify ways to address common home problems such as ice dams, moisture on windows, drafty rooms, and dry indoor air. The assessment will also estimate energy savings from different upgrades or combinations of upgrades, so you can identify the measures that would have the biggest impact on your home’s energy consumption. For more information on home energy assessments and ways to save energy, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star website at www.energystar.gov. < Return to Top > Who can help me schedule an assessment?A member of the Brown Lumber Installed Sales & Service (BLISS) team can work with you to schedule an assessment with a qualified contractor with the required training, including third-party certification. < Return to Top > Is an energy assessment required to participate?No, it is not required but it is strongly recommended. An energy assessment will help you choose the best energy-efficient improvements for your home. It is the only way to ensure you get the “biggest bang for your buck” in terms of energy savings. For example, if you install heating or air conditioning equipment without first reducing the amount of energy wasted through leaks and inadequate insulation, you may end up buying bigger equipment that is more costly to operate. In addition, when any leaks are sealed, it is important to make sure that your home still has adequate airflow to avoid air quality and other problems. < Return to Top > Can the cost of the assessment be included in the financed amount?Yes, and you can check with BLISS about available rebates to offset the cost. < Return to Top > Who can install the energy-saving measures? Can I install them myself?The energy-saving improvements must be installed by a qualified BLISS contractor. This will help ensure quality control during this pilot phase, with the goal of making the installation a simple and satisfactory experience for customers. If you work with a contractor who is not part of BLISS, they can join the BLISS network to provide services as part of the pilot. More information for contractors is available here. < Return to Top > Loan & Payment InformationWhat are the interest rates and terms of the loan?Visit www.memberscu.com for current rates. Click on “View All Loan Rates” to find the current Michigan Saves loan rates. These are unsecured loans with terms up to six years. They are not home equity loans. < Return to Top > What is the minimum loan amount?In order to qualify for Michigan Saves pilot financing, the loan amount must be $1000 or greater. < Return to Top > Is there an income requirement in order to qualify for a loan?No. However, to ensure that you can afford the monthly payments and qualify for the loan, Members Credit Union will evaluate your credit history, income, and existing debt as part of the loan application process. The loan application is available at www.memberscu.com. BLISS will assist you with the application process. < Return to Top > What happens if I move from my home before the loan is paid off?If you move before the loan is paid off in full, you will continue to be responsible for the remaining amount of the loan. < Return to Top > Other InformationWill the Michigan Saves program create any jobs in the area?Taking advantage of the Michigan Saves program will help grow your local economy and will help create new jobs for Michigan workers. Investments in energy efficiency generate a significant number of local, skilled jobs. Michigan boasts almost 97,000 “green” jobs, 23 percent of which are related to energy efficiency. Michigan Saves is focused on helping that number grow substantially. < Return to Top > How was the Michigan Saves program established? Where does the money for the program come from?Michigan Saves and its Cherryland pilot program are being developed by Public Sector Consultants and its partner, The Delta Institute, and are financed through an initial trust fund of $6.5 million from the Michigan Public Service Commission. < Return to Top > |