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Did You Miss the Summer Issue of FNP's GREEN Magazine?
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RESOURCES for
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENTS
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Washington Gas
Energy Services'
program gives residential utility customers in Frederick County the option to choose electricity generated at regional wind farms for their homes. Click here for more information and to check the current rates for 1 and 2 year contracts with options for 50 - 100% of your electricity coming from wind power.
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BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS
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 EVENTS &TRAININGS
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Making Connections
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Greetings!
I hope you're having a great summer despite our heat waves! If your home or business is uncomfortable, or you are bothered by high utility bills, this newsletter is full of great opportunities and incentives to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home or business.
We recently launched our 2nd Green Homes Challenge: Be a Green Leader! That along with several articles about our watershed will help you take action at home to protect our waterways and improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Shannon Moore
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GREEN HOMES CHALLENGE:
CHALLENGE 2 Launched: Be a Green Leader!
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Do you want to conserve valuable resources and create a healthy home? The recently launched Green Leader Challenge can help make that happen in your household and community! The Challenge, which is the second component in Frederick County's Green Homes Challenge, helps households to reduce their environmental impacts, improve health and safety at home, and save on utilities, fuel, and goods. Households can certify in the Green Leader Challenge by engaging in actions such as recycling, composting, carpooling, eating local foods, using environmentally-friendly cleaners, installing low-flow showerheads, installing rain barrels, and reducing fertilizer use.
Challenge 2: Be a Green Leader was officially launched on Thursday, June 21 by the Board of Frederick County Commissioners. The Challenge complements many County green leadership initiatives, such as the use of hybrid vehicles by TransIT, the installation of dual-flush toilets in County buildings, the single stream recycling program, and the treatment of 1,126 acres of impervious surface to reduce nutrient and sediment loads into local waterways.
All Green Leader materials are available online, including an interactive online handbook, and a downloadable version of the handbook in PDF format. The Handbook includes a wide variety of green actions to choose from! Participants interested in tracking their progress towards becoming a Certified Green Leader can use either a hardcopy Green Leader Certification Form or an interactive spreadsheet that shows the impact of their actions with estimates of energy, water, and greenhouse gas emissions savings. To certify, households complete three simple steps and earn 70 points by completing Green Actions. Certified Green Leaders are eligible for annual prize drawings and recognition items. Visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/GreenHomes or email GreenHomes@FrederickCountyMD.gov to learn more.
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| NEW INITIATIVES: Be SMART Funds Home Efficiency Improvements |
OSER recently received a $274,000 grant from the MD Department of Housing and Community Development. OSER pursued this Be SMART Aggregated Energy Services grant in order to expand and extend the Green Homes Challenge and to address challenges residents face when trying to make their homes more energy efficient. Funding will be used for three initiatives.
Power Saver Retrofits will address the barrier of up-front funding for energy efficiency improvements. Home owners registered in our Power Saver Challenge will invest $400 for efficiency upgrades and receive an additional $1,600 worth of efficiency upgrades from the grant. The program will serve approximately 85 mid-sized homes of 2,600 sq. ft. or less.
The Leafkey Initiative will help residents find verified businesses that perform eco-friendly services, including green building, energy efficiency upgrades, and renewable energy system installations. Leafkey.com is a searchable database with a unique advantage--it verifies a business' licenses and credentials. The initiative will fund registration and verification of 150 energy and eco-experts serving Frederick County.
Challenge Live will provide a new interactive portal for the Green Homes Challenge that will improve information access for all County residents. The site, which aims to make certification easier, will incorporate personal user accounts and interactive handbooks, forms, and surveys. Challenge Live will also allow the Green Homes Challenge to continue in this new format beyond the current EPA grant funding period.
The initiative will commence in July 2012 and conclude in May 2012. For more information, or to express interest in these new initiatives, email Nicole Robinson at nrobinson@frederickcountymd.gov or call 301.600.1306.
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| RECOGNITION: 2012 Energy Champions & Sustainability Leaders |
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Shannon Moore (left) and the Board of County Commissioners recognize the
2012 Energy Champions & Sustainability Leaders
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Just in time for summer, Frederick County Government held a ceremony to recognize winners of our 2012 Leadership in Energy and Sustainability Awards. The winners of these awards are staff and partners who went above and beyond their normal duties to save the county energy and money, and to make our practices more sustainable. My hope is that you will be inspired by these Energy Champions and Sustainability Leaders for your own projects. Here are our award winners for 2012!
2012 Energy Champions
Individual : Donnie Crum, Assistant Superintendent, Highway Operations
Donnie took the leadership to replace 724 traffic signal lights in the County. Donnie also installed LED lights in the Highway truck sheds and has provided guidance to others like the City of Emmitsburg who wish to do LED lighting replacements. The estimated savings, including the cost of the LED bulbs and reduced maintenance, is $37,804/year!
Office: Office of Facilities Maintenance, Division of Public Works
Facilities Maintenance staff use EPA's Portfolio Manager software to monitor the energy usage of county buildings, and to see which projects have shown the greatest reduction in energy usage. They have done a substantial number of lighting and HVAC replacements. Over the past year, the Office completed a major HVAC renovation at Extension Services.
2012 Sustainability Leaders
Individual: Jason Jenkins, Parks Foreman, Division of Parks and Recreation
Jason has taken the lead within his Division to install sustainable projects such as tree plantings, wetlands, bioretention facilities, rain gardens, riparian buffer plantings, warm season grass meadows, and many other projects. He was also responsible for water quality monitoring and toxic algae abatement in the quarry pond at Fountain Rock Park, serving a benefit to the health of the community.
Office: Division of Parks and Recreation
DPR is an advocate for both energy efficiency and sustainability. The Catoctin Creek Nature Center features many energy saving features as well as a green roof. DPR staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission recently demonstrated leadership by adopting a "40% by 2042" urban tree canopy goal. This will save a substantial amount of energy and staff time as the trees mature. DPR also has excellent educational programs that inform the public about sustainability such as Nature Fest and its many camps and classes.
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Mark Lancaster, Chairman, Frederick Co. Sustainability Commission
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In January 2012, the State of Maryland adopted a new National Energy Code pertaining to residential homes. The 2012 Code became effective on July 1, 2012, and attempts to make new homes 30% more energy efficient than homes built under the 2006 version of the code.
Through legislation and additional regulations, the 2012 Code requires a significant increase in building costs on items that may or may not be important to the consumer. A prospective buyer may be faced with a home lacking granite counter tops because the builder was required to install a costly energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system.
Clients never ask to exclude energy saving features in a home once they realize the return on investment and the increased comfort that can be achieved in the home. Of course, people can have very different priorities and choose how best to spend their money. Some people aren't bothered spending $500 a month on utilities; others choose to invest in energy improvements upfront and pay just $100 a month.
Now homebuilders are being forced to include increased insulation values and perform energy performance evaluations and tests to their homes with no real understanding of the possible side effects of creating a home that is too air tight. For instance, the new code requires that all new homes shall not exceed three natural air exchanges per hour, but anything less than 5 -6 air exchanges per hour is considered unhealthy according to the International Mechanical Code. Therefore, builders need to install mechanical air exchangers (exhaust the stale interior air with fresh exterior air) for the new code.
Many builders are currently unaware of how to properly address this air quality issue. Special attention and evaluation is required if one intends to construct a super insulated and air tight home. If not addressed, then issues such as moisture in exterior walls will lead to mold contamination. Also mechanical devices, such as ventilation of range hoods and clothes dryers, will not perform properly because of lacking replacement air.
As a home builder and a member of the Frederick County Sustainability Commission I certainly advocate higher energy efficiency building practices. In order to reach for a truly sustainable solution to our energy interdependence, it will require market driven demand resulting from an improved education of the benefits of an energy efficient home. Builders and technology will always follow demand in a free market.
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ENERGY SAVERS FOR HOMES:
Two Rebate Programs Make Efficiency Improvements Affordable | |
Would you like to be reimbursed for 50% of a home improvement cost? Two Maryland programs now offer home performance assessments and substantial rebates for energy efficiency improvements. Determining which one will be most beneficial to you depends on your utility company and what source of energy powers your heating and cooling systems:
- Residents with primarily electric powered heating, ventilation and cooling systems will benefit from Potomac Edison rebates.
- Residents living in Thurmont or households with non-electric heating, ventilation and cooling systems should check out the new Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Be SMART Home rebate offerings. This program covers households ineligible for Potomac Edison's incentives.
Keep in mind that each program has its own list of approved contractors, so before you engage a home performance auditor or contractor, find out if they are on approved Be SMART or Potomac Edison contractor lists. Lists are available through the program's web sites.
 Potomac Edison's Home Performance with Energy Star program offers a no-cost Quick Home Energy Check Up and a reduced cost Home Performance Audit ($100) performed by certified home energy contractors. Learn where your home is leaking air and heat and what you can do to reduce utility bills. You will need to have the Home Performance Audit in order to qualify for some of the following substantial rebates:
There are also rebates for recycling old appliances. Businesses can get significant rebates for improving lighting efficiency through Commercial & Industrial Rebate Programs.
 DHCD's Be SMART Home Program offers a rebate program as well as two types of loans to improve home energy efficiency through whole house envelope improvements and replacement and upgrading of appliances and heating, cooling and ventilation systems. A reduced cost comprehensive home energy audit ($100) is required for rebates which cover:
- Building envelope improvements (50% of improvement costs up to $2,000)
- Heating, ventilating, and cooling systems (HVAC) ($25 - $500)
- Water heating ($25 - $350)
- Refrigerators, freezers, and clothes washers ($75 - $150)
Program guidelines, forms, and approved contractor listings are available here.
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ENERGY SAVERS FOR BUSINESS:
Loans and Tax Credits Help Businesses Save Energy and Money |
Be SMART Business: To assist small businesses in financing energy efficiency projects for their commercial buildings, The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has recently designed the low-interest Be SMART Business Loan Program. The program allows business and commercial building owners to save big on utility bills by utilizing energy saving measures on eligible projects including new constructions, rehabilitations, leasehold improvements and even ENERGY STAR machinery and appliance upgrades.
Cutting costs is the bottom line for any savvy business owner and by improving energy conservation, electricity consumption and costs can be reduced by 30% or more. The Be SMART Business program offers two different loans. The standard Be SMART Business Loan Program offers loans up to $50,000, allowing for the purchase of heating & cooling systems, programmable thermostats, ceiling fans, insulation, windows, doors and other energy conservation measures. This option has a loan term for up to 5 years at an interest rate that will not exceed 5%. For larger energy optimization projects, including buildings that exceed 6,000 sq. ft or extensive energy efficient retrofits, there is the Be SMART Business Plus loan. The loan amount will be determined based upon the costs of the energy saving projects and can have up to a 15 year secured loan term with interest rates not to exceed 5%. Many of these energy efficiency projects are no-cost to low-cost measures that can additionally improve the comfort of your indoor working environment. To have the Maryland DHCD perform a FREE energy audit of your business and determine your eligibility, call 410.514.7440 or visit www.mdhousing.org/besmart.
EPAct Tax Deductions: In 2005 the Federal Government enacted the Energy Policy Act to provide energy conscientious business owners with immediate tax deductions. These deductions can match up to the complete cost of installation for energy efficiency projects and grant businesses the incentive they need to start cutting energy costs today. The tax deductions apply to new and existing commercial buildings alike, and since the EPAct is federal legislature, business owners from any state can take advantage of the huge benefits. The Act covers a broad spectrum of qualifying commercial structures, including apartment buildings, retail stores, supermarkets, warehouses, distributing centers, parking garages, hotels, and hospitals. Additionally, the tax benefits are applicable for most energy efficiency projects associated with heating, cooling, water heating, and interior lighting. While building improvements must be able to achieve specified energy reductions, many current state building codes already exceed standards for EPAct benefits. Deductions are capable of matching installation costs up to $1.80/ft2 and are broken down between three categories; Lighting, HVAC, and Building Envelope. Each system approach qualifies for up to $0.60/ft2. You can learn more from Energy Tax Savers at www.energytaxsavers.com or SourceCorp at sourcecorptax.com.
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| BUSINESS CORNER: Spearheading Innovation in Biofuels | |
Two Frederick entities, Advanced Biofuels USA and Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., are on the forefront of the advanced biofuels industry, a group of technologies aimed at generating renewable liquid fuels derived from biological feedstocks like agricultural or forestry residues, or energy crops.
Advanced Biofuels USA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization, advocates for the adoption of advanced biofuels as an energy security, economic development, military flexibility, and climate change/pollution control solution. The website, www.advancedbiofuelsusa.org, is a searchable library of information and teaching materials about advanced biofuels for those who are new to the topic, as well as for professionals in the field. An international audience of thousands of industry professionals, journalists, opinion-leaders, legislators, decision-makers, students, and teachers use this resource regularly. Organizational representatives present at conferences, meet with Capitol Hill staff on policy development, and provide advice and references to those with questions about biofuels research, development, deployment, and use.
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Robert Kozak, President, Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc.
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Atlantic Biomass Conversions, Inc., has developed a breakthrough biosynthetic enzymatic process to release sugars suitable for producing biofuels and bioproducts from plant cell wall biomass. Sources may include agricultural residues, low-cost perennial "energy" grasses, and paper pulp. The key to this process is an understanding of the sequence in which specific enzymes operate to deconstruct plant cell walls. This process is being developed in conjunction with Hood College and is the topic of two US patents applications.
This process reduces commercial production costs of biofuels, including biojetfuel and alcohols, by eliminating costly pretreatment steps. In addition, it retains available cell wall proteins for added value high protein animal feeds. Currently Atlantic Biomass is seeking partners with interests in agricultural processing and alternative uses for paper pulp to commercialize this process. Learn more at www.atlanticbiomassconversions.com.
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WATERSHED NEWS: Watershed Implementation Plans
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Chesapeake Bay Watershed
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All of the land in Frederick County drains to the Chesapeake Bay. That makes us part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The Bay is currently polluted with nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. These pollutants are preventing the estuary from meeting water quality standards. Because of the impairments, the pollutants are regulated through a mechanism in the Clean Water Act known as Total Maximum Daily Loads, or TMDLs.
Who is responsible for the pollution in the Bay? The simple answer is that we all are. Fertilizers from golf courses, agricultural land, and lawns are big culprits. So are wastewater treatment plants and leaking sewer lines. Livestock manure is a big source of nutrients. Septic systems also pollute. Even migratory birds and pets contribute to the problem through their waste. How do we fix these problems? The Environmental Protection Agency has required states to put together Watershed Implementation Plans (WIP) that address the sources of pollution in each state. Most recently, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) wrote its Draft Phase II WIP and submitted it to EPA on March 30, 2012. The plan includes pollution reductions by sector, such as urban stormwater, agriculture, construction, septics, and wastewater treatment plants. Now the state is asking local governments to submit plans to meet local targets by Monday, July 16. These local plans are voluntary, and the reductions at the local level are targets, not regulatory wasteload allocations.
This request poses a challenge for local governments who want to reduce the pollutants going to the Bay but have to address fairness, liability, cost, and uncertainty issues. For example, nearly 30% of the nitrogen going to the Bay is from atmospheric deposition, but the allocations given to local governments from the state include a significant amount of nitrogen deposition. Should local governments agree to costly stormwater remediation for atmospheric deposition of nitrogen when it could be remedied more cheaply at the source through Tier III standards under the Clean Air Act? Local governments are also regulated by permits for stormwater and wastewater. Should the local government commit to something in a local WIP submittal only to have something else be written into the permits? Furthermore, the cost to meet MDE's local targets using MDE's restoration plan is extraordinarily high. Should the local government submit a plan with costs that it does not have the funds to meet? Furthermore, there are no allocations for future development in the plan. All new development, according to the WIP, must have pollution offsets. But the offset policy, though it is now included in state law, has not been developed and released to the public.
Frederick County government has chosen to calculate the local costs of the state's draft WIP and submit them to MDE. Rather than replacing the numbers of pollution-reducing practices MDE submitted to EPA, it has chosen to estimate the costs of MDE's plan using cost estimates provided by MDE per practice. The costs of this plan are pretty shocking. Though the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has not provided cost estimates for agriculture, the costs for stormwater, septics, and wastewater are calculable. Frederick County estimates that the costs of MDE's plan within the county are close to two billion dollars, not including agriculture.
Table 1: Costs for MDE's WIP for Frederick County
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Sector
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2010-2017 Increment
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2017-2025 Increment
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2010-2025 Total
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Stormwater
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$790,179,732
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$713,270,376
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$1,503,450,109
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Septics
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$0
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$165,144,000
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$165,144,000
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Agriculture
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Requested from MDA
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Requested from MDA
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Requested from MDA
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Wastewater
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$209,358,338
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$10,300,000
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$219,658,338
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Total Stormwater, Septics and Sewer
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$999,538,070
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$888,714,376
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$1,888,252,447
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Frederick County Government has made great strides with water quality protection. It implemented the Maryland 2007 stormwater standards to protect waterways and water quality from pollution from new development. It has conducted over 1,126 acres of urban restoration to address water quality. It has plans to complete a $118M upgrade of the Ballenger-McKinney Wastewater Treatment Plant. The County has worked to comply with requirements of the Clean Water Act and will continue to do so. The question we ask the State is how it will institutionalize its plan in a way that is fair, cost-effective, and reduces liabilities and uncertainties.
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| RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOP: Turnout Exceeds Expections |
 | Master Gardener Regina Irizzary assisted with the planting.
(Photo by Donald Frame) |
OSER kicked off the new Green Leader Challenge with a Rain Garden Workshop held on Saturday, June 16, at Camp Round Meadow, Catoctin Mountain Park. Nearly 50 Frederick County community members got their hands dirty planting 175 plants in the new 320 square-foot rain garden, which will reduce stormwater runoff to Owens Creek. The planting was preceded by a workshop during which participants learned about the benefits and how-to of rain gardens. Speakers Nicole Robinson (OSER), Terry Welsh (NRCS), and Ruth H. Axelrod (Master Gardeners) talked about watersheds, rain garden benefits, location, soil types, sizing, construction, design, and maintenance. Many participants were excited to implement a rain garden at home and get started with the Green Homes Challenge.
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MONOCACY & CATOCTIN WATERSHED ALLIANCE:
Neighborhood Green Update | 
On May 12, OSER and the Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance (MCWA) partners hosted the Neighborhood Green workshop at Linganore High School. More than 30 landowners attended the workshop to learn more about converting their yards to more environmentally-sustainable habitats.
Background: In 2011, OSER received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to work with private landowners with 10 acres and less to reforest unused areas of lawn; permanently protect existing forest land; manage invasive species; and reduce fertilizer use through urban nutrient management. Two Neighborhood Green workshops were to be held in May 2012 and May 2013 to help landowners create site plans to reduce lawn and increase natural areas with trees, meadows, and more. An optional site visit by a natural resource professional would be offered to each participant to assist with creating site plans. For landowners in the Linganore watershed, cost-share for reforestation would be provided through a competitive application process. The workshops and site visits were offered to all Frederick County citizens, as well as some Carroll County citizens in the Linganore watershed.
Neighborhood Green Workshop: The Neighborhood Green workshop included presentations on lawn conversion, urban forestry/arboriculture, reforestation, invasive species control, nutrient management, creating wildlife habitat, and Forestry for the Bay. Partners included the Maryland DNR Forest Service, Potomac Conservancy, Center for Watershed Protection, Forestry for the Bay, City of Frederick, Frederick County Forestry Board, University of Maryland Extension Office, and Frederick and Carroll County Government. The workshop began at 8:30am and ended around 2:30pm with lunch and morning refreshments provided. Each participant received a "Woods in your Backyard" manual, a free soil test kit and analysis, and additional educational literature. After the workshop, follow-up site visits to participant properties were coordinated. Visits will be completed throughout the summer, with reforestation efforts beginning in spring 2013. Invasive species control may begin earlier.
Looking Ahead: OSER and its MCWA partners will host another Neighborhood Green workshop in May 2013, and provide the same services to a second wave of participants. The goals of the Neighborhood Green program include planting 50 acres of trees, treating 35 acres of invasive species, and permanently protecting 10 acres of forest (with support from the Catoctin Land Trust).
For more information about the Neighborhood Green program, please contact Heather Montgomery (HMontgomery@frederickcountymd.gov, 301-600-1741)
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| Staff Update: Summer Interns Join OSER | |
OSER is in the midst of some big projects and we have several great summer interns on board to help us with a broad range of activities.
 James Luttrell (left) grew up in Frederick and is home for the summer. He is a junior at Oberlin College and plans to major in Environmental Studies. He will be supporting work on a Community Energy Strategy and a computer power management pilot project during his internship. He hopes to someday focus on environmental work focused on policy or direct community work projects. Rich Lefebure (center) is a graduate of Salisbury University, with degrees in Psychology and Environmental Science. He will be working on projects related to Frederick County's Sustainable Action Plan and our recently awarded Be SMART Aggregated Energy Services grant. Following his summer internship, Rich will begin a one-year term as a Chesapeake Conservation Corp Volunteer, working with Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. Kaitlyn Mitchell (right) is a sophomore at Salisbury University, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. She hopes to pursue a career in the field of biochemistry, with a focus on environmental concerns, and is looking forward to learning more about how local governments, like Frederick County are addressing environmental issues.  Katie Tartaglia is a sophomore at The Pennsylvania State University, pursuing a B.S. in Community, Environment and Development with a specialization in Environmental Economics and Policy. She interned with OSER last summer and has volunteered as a Green Ambassador for the Green Homes Challenge. She will be following-up with registered Challenge Takers to check their status and provide support for households working towards Power Saver Certification.
If you are interested in learning more about future OSER internship opportunities, please contact Shannon Moore at 301.600.1413 or SMoore@FrederickCountyMD.gov. |
MYTHBUSTERS:
MYTH - Water Entering Storm Drains Gets Treated Before Entering Waterways | |
What happens to water when it disappears down those mysterious storm drains lining our streets? Most people know that water flushed down toilets and washed down sink and shower drains enters the sanitary sewer system and ends up at wastewater treatment plants. There, the water is treated to remove much of the organic material and nutrients. But unlike wastewater, most stormwater is directed, untreated, right into local streams and rivers.
 Storm drains are meant to reduce the flooding of roads and walkways, protecting public safety. However, they are not designed for water treatment. Think about all of the pollutants that end up washing down storm drains - lawn fertilizers, sediment, pesticides, oil from cars and lawn mowers, antifreeze, and car exhaust. These pollutants degrade water quality and harm aquatic life in local waterways, like Carroll Creek, Lake Linganore, and the Monocacy River. The pollutants that enter our waterways in Frederick County all eventually end up in the Chesapeake Bay where nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphorous) pollution has led to the development of dead zones, areas absent of oxygen and aquatic life.
The good news is that there are many actions people can take to reduce stormwater runoff and protect water quality. Here are a few things that you can do at home to reduce stormwater pollution:
- Pick up pet waste.
- Don't pile grass clippings or raked leaves in the street where they will get washed into storm drains.
- Perform a soil test and reduce your use of fertilizers and pesticides.
- Install and use a rain barrel.
- Reduce turf by installing a rain garden and planting native vegetation.
To learn more about these and other actions, check out the
Green Leader Challenge for online resources.
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The Frederick County Sustainability and Environmental Resources Office advances practical solutions for protecting the environment, conserving energy, and living sustainably in Frederick County.
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