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Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources (OSER)
 TopIssue: 18
Spring/2014 
In This Issue
Calendar of Events
Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance Articles
Refrigerator Exchange Program
Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event
Expanded Neighborhood Green
Chesapeake Conservation Corps Seeking Applicants
Power Saver Retrofits - Round 2
Energy Savers: Potomac Edison Incentives
Business Corner: Terressentials
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Annual
Sustainability Awards
Sustainable Frederick County Seal
Nominations due April 14

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Leafkey.com also verifies credentials!

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RESOURCES for

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

IMPROVEMENTS

at HOME

  

 

  

Photos by Russell C. Poole.
Madelyn and Gerald Blair win Aeroseal duct sealing donated by Matt Sera (left) and Mike Uecker (right) of Atlas Energy Solutions.


Rebecca Yarbrough (center) of Astrum Solar presents Chad and Karen Baker with a $1,000 discount on a solar electric system.


Nancy and James Arnold were 3-time winners! They won a framed print donated by Russell Poole, a signed copy of Edible Landscaping donated by author Michael Judd, and a Home Performance Audit donated by Home Energy Saving Solutions.

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Events

EVENTS &TRAINING 

 

Down to Earth Design

Natural Building Workshops

taught by natural building expert Sigi Koko

Multiple Workshops

April - July 2014 

 

 

Maryland Land Conservation Conference

Adamstown, MD

Monday, April 3

Tuesday, April 4

 

 

Annual

Potomac River Watershed Clean-Up

Various locations

Saturday, April 5

Saturday, April 26

  

 

Earth Day Youth Art Show

With food and music

The Common Market

Saturday, April 4

Noon - 3:00 p.m.

 

 

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Meeting

Winchester Hall

Wednesday, April 16

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Frederick Green Drinks

Quynn's Attic

Wednesday, April 16

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

 

Crop Mob

House in the Woods Farm

Saturday, April 19

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Call Common Market to learn more and register

301. 664.3416

 

 

Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance Meeting

Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center

Wednesday, April 23

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

 

 

Lessons from the Lake: Linganore Community Earth Day Workshop

Lake Linganore Events Tent

Saturday, April 26

9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

 

 

Bar-T Mountainside

Saturday, April 26

10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

 

 

Frederick Watershed Volunteer Clean-Up

Led by 

The Common Market

Saturday, April 26

8:45 a.m. - Noon

Gloves, vests, bags, food and drinks provided

Register at 301.663.3416

 

 

Drug Disposal Event

Harry Grove Stadium

Parking Lot

Saturday, April 26

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

 

 

Nature Fest

Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center

Saturday, May 3

10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

 

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Meeting

Winchester Hall

Wednesday, May 21

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Frederick Green Drinks

Quynn's Attic

Wednesday, May 21

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

ACI 2014 Chesapeake Regional

Home Performance Conference

Rockville

Tuesday, June 10

Wednesday, June 11

 

 

Frederick County Sustainability Commission Meeting

Winchester Hall

Wednesday, June 18

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Frederick Green Drinks

Quynn's Attic

Wednesday, June 18

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

 

 

  

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BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS & RENEWABLE ENERGY

 

 









 

 


Making Connections

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Crestwood Middle School students and volunteers planted 120 tress as part of the Maryland Stream Restoration Challenge                                  Photo by Heather Montgomery

 

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Despite our extended cold snowy weather, spring is technically on the way! April is Earth Month and this issue includes lots of events for you and your family to get involved.

 

OSER just wrapped up our Annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event on March 26 and in April we'll celebrate Earth Month with our annual Sustainability Awards. This internal and external initiative is open to all people who live or work in Frederick County.  The Sustainability Awards will be presented to one employee of Frederick County Government, one unit of County government, and one member of the general public who have made outstanding contributions to Frederick County sustainability efforts. Awards will be given based on demonstrated leadership, innovation and success. Click here for more information and nomination forms; nominations must be received by 5 p.m., April 14, 2014. Members of the Frederick County Sustainability Commission will review nominations and select winners at their monthly meeting on April 16.
 
Please consider nominating an individual or County unit that exemplifies our mission of advancing practical solutions for protecting the environment, conserving energy, and living sustainably in Frederick County.

 

Shannon Moore 
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MCWAUpdateMCWA UPDATES
MythbustersJUST LAUNCHED: 
Refrigerator Exchange Program now Accepting Applications

 The Refrigerator Exchange Program (REP), a special initiative of the Green Homes Challenge, provides low- and moderate-income households with a free, brand new, energy efficient, ENERGY STAR� rated refrigerator in exchange for a less efficient model manufactured in 2001 or before. All exchanged refrigerators will be collected and recycled in an environmentally-sound manner.

 

In the past 10 years alone, refrigerators have become 50% more efficient! Using an Energy Star� refrigerator over 10 years could save your family $500 - $2,000 depending on the age of your current refrigerator. To calculate your savings more accurately, search for "Energy Star Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator" in your web browser.

 

REP Qualifications:

  • You must be a Frederick County resident, or a landlord /property manager serving low-to-moderate income County residents.
  • Residents or tenants must have incomes at or below Moderate Income Categories.  
  • Your primary refrigerator must be at least 12 years old (2001 model or older), a minimum of 14 cubic feet in size, and fully operational,
Visit FrederickFridgeExchange.org, to view refrigerator models that may be offered, check income limits for your family size, and download an application form. Download a REP flier to share with friends.

 

EnergySaversHomeGREEN HOMES CHALLENGE UPDATE:
2014 Recognition Event a Great Success!
Nicole Tim Ron with Glory Prize
Nicole Robinson accepts Glory Energy's Grand Prize from Tim Jones (center) and original winner Ron Kaltenbaugh. Photo by Russell C. Poole.

 

Our third annual Green homes Challenge Recogntion Event held on March 26, 2014 was a great success! The event was held at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in downtown Frederick and we celebrated the efforts of 300 households who completed certification in the Power Saver, Green Leader and/or Renewable Star Challenges.   
 
Frederick County Commissioners David Gray and Paul Smith, City of Frederick Alderman Kelly Russell, and Myersville Mayor Wayne S. Creadick spoke in support of the Challenge and commended the efforts of the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources (OSER) as a whole. The duo "Sustainably Smooth with Ponyboy Blues" provided music for the evening and 31 Certified Challenge Takers won great prizes from our event sponsors. Green Homes Challenge Green Ambassador Ron Kaltenbaugh won the top grand prize, a $2,500 Home Energy Retrofit project from Glory Energy Solutions. He decided that his home wasn't in need of an additional project and, in a gesture of good will, gave his prize to Certified Challenge participant Nicole Robinson. Additional grand prize winners included Madelyn and Gerald Blair, who won an Aeroseal Air Duct Sealing from Atlas Home Energy Systems valued at $1,950, and Chad and Karen Baker, who won a $1,000 discount on a 5kW or higher solar system from Astrum Solar

 

Upcoming OSER initiatives were also highlighted including the Refrigerator Exchange Program launched during the event, a recently awarded grant for a second Power Saver Retrofit program which will be implemented later in 2014, and a pilot Neighborhood Green program to reduce stormwater pollutants in targeted Frederick County neighborhoods (see below).
 
Thank you to all of our Green Ambassadors and members of the Frederick County Sustainability Commission who helped out with the event and congratulations once more to the Certified Households!  

 

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EPAAWARD WATERSHED MANAGEMENT UPDATE 
Expanded Neighborhood Green Program
Frederick County's Office of Sustainability & Environmental Resources has received two grant awards from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to support homeowner-scale stormwater retrofit projects in areas of Frederick County; specifically the Villages of Urbana as well as targeted sub-watersheds supporting trout in the Upper Monocacy watershed.
 
These grant-funded efforts will pay for personalized site visits and project plans for homeowners interested in installing rain gardens, rain barrels, conservation landscaping, native species of seedlings and larger caliper trees. The County will be able to provide a limited amount of cost-share for these contractor-installed projects. Several workshops and landowner fairs will provide additional information to the community as the program is developed.
 
All Frederick County landowners (even those residing outside of the priority project areas) who are interested in these types of projects are encouraged to submit an interest form via the Neighborhood Green webpage: www.frederickcountymd.gov/ngreen.

 

This spring we will have planted more than 50 acres of private land with native tree and shrub seedlings thanks to the success of our 2012 and 2013 Neighborhood Green program, funded by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and in partnership with the Maryland Forest Service, Carroll County government, Frederick County Forestry Board, and Conservation Services, Inc. Our previous Neighborhood Green pilot projects provided site plans and cost-share for reforestation only.
 
OSER OPPORTUNITY: 
 One Year Chesapeake Conservation Corps Position 
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OSER is aiming to host another Chesapeake Conservation Corps (CCC) Volunteer for the 2014-2015 service year. The Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) CCC Volunteer program, open to people aged 18-25, is a competitive opportunity for Volunteer Applicants and Host Organizations that are selected and matched by CBT. CCC volunteers receive an annual stipend of $15,500, plus health insurance. The one-year paid internship starts August 26, 2014.  
The purpose of the Corps is 1) to enable stipend volunteers to work with host organizations and communities throughout Maryland to implement on-the-ground restoration and energy conservation projects, and 2) to provide leadership and training opportunities for young adults pursuing environmental and conservation careers.  Corps volunteers work full-time on projects in the realms of environmental restoration, energy conservation, agriculture, forestry and environmental that will promote and sustain the Bay and its surrounding environment as well as provide young adults with the opportunities to gain career skills and become more engaged through meaningful community service.

 

If successfully matched, OSER's Corps Volunteer will be involved in all aspects of the Green Homes Challenge and will help implement a Residential Stormwater Management Program. He or she will be educating homeowners about the importance of bay restoration and engaging them in a cost-share supported program to install rain barrels, rain gardens, and conservation landscaping on their properties.
 
Learn more at the CBT's CCC webpage where you can download an application. View OSER's CCC application to learn more about this OSER opportunity. Applications are due April 18, 2014.  
Candidates interested in OSER's CCC position may contact Lisa Orr, 301.600.6864, or Heather Montgomery, 301.600.1741
 

EnergySaversFUTURE INITIATIVES: Power Saver Retrofits Return!

Atlas & Waterheater
Due to the success of OSER's Power Saver Retrofit (PSR) program in 2012-13, OSER successfully applied for Maryland Energy Administration EmPower Maryland grant funding to repeat this program in 2014 with a focus on low- and moderate-income households.

 

If you have been putting off making home energy improvements due to cost, it will soon be time to get those projects done and start saving on your energy bills! The PSR program will be implemented in the summer and fall of 2014 and will serve 70 or more households.  This grant funds that support this program come from Maryland's Strategic Energy Investment Fund which is funded by Regional Greenhouse Gas Auctions (RGGI).

 

Eligible households will receive a Home Performance with Energy Star audit and will be able to implement up to $8,000 worth of energy efficiency improvements including heating and cooling system (HVAC) replacement,
attic and basement air sealing and insulation, duct testing and sealing, window and door caulking and weatherstripping, light bulb upgrades, and more! What's new about this new PSR program is that the funds available for energy retrofits in each home increases from $1,600 to $8,000 and there will be no homeowner cost-share!

 

To participate, households must have a total household income that is less than 85% of the median income for Frederick County. For example, $63,900 is the upper limit for a household of one; $73,000 for a household of two; $91,200 for a household of four, and $105,800 for a household of six. Households also cannot have been recipients of other state or utility low-income weatherization services.

 

The PSR program will be open to both rental and owner occupied properties provided occupants meet the eligibility criteria. If you like to be notified when the program launches, please send your name, address, phone number and email address to Lisa Orr.

 

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EnergySaversENERGY SAVERS: Potomac Edison Incentives for All

Potomac Edison - green back

For Homeowners:

We never tire of saying, "There's no better time than right now to start saving money by increasing the energy efficiency of your home or business". Maybe your income makes you ineligible for our upcoming Power Saver Retrofit Program (link this), but that shouldn't stop you. The EmPower Maryland surcharge on your Potomac Edison electric bill helps fund impressive energy efficiency incentives and rebates. For example, did you know that if you get a reduced cost Home Performance with Energy Star audit (only $100), you are eligible for a 50% rebate (up to $2,000) on the energy efficiency improvements you make through an approved contractor? Learn all about this and other great incentives at www.EnergySaveMD.com.

 

For Businesses:

Is your business or municipality concerned about "the bottom line"?  
Have you invested in energy-efficient equipment but aren't seeing the expected results?  Potomac Edison suggests that "retro-commissioning" may be the answer. This process is designed to maximize your building's energy efficiency and meet your business's unique needs. It includes:
  • Investigating your building's electrical equipment and energy-related operations;
  • Optimizing energy-related equipment and controls for peak performance on their energy-efficient settings, both individually and as a building system; and
  • Identifying every efficiency opportunity so you can reduce energy bills, improve occupant comfort, and extend the life of your building systems. 
Potomac Edison offers 50% of tuition costs (up to $1,000/person) for Building Operations Training. They also offer a wide variety of incentives and rebates for CFL and LED lighting upgrades, HVAC controls, electric water heaters, commercial heat pumps and much more that will allow you to use every kilowatt-hour as efficiently as possible. Incentives for new construction, custom projects, street lighting and municipal lighting are also available.

 

Learn about business incentives here or download this Quick Reference Guide. Application Assistance Webinars are offered every Thursday at 1 p.m. EST.

 

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EnergySaversBusinessBUSINESS CORNER: 
Terresentials, Frederick
Terressentials is Frederick County's homegrown USDA certified organic and award-winning handcrafter of delightfully aromatic personal care products. They are also purveyors of distinctive global fair trade and fair made USA artisan handcrafts.  Terressentials has been in business for twenty-two years and has thrived as a small business because of their commitment to crafting only certified organic products and because of their organic, environmental and social mission.  Terressentials is committed to educating the public about the benefits of living an organic and environmentally-conscious lifestyle.  In addition, Terressentials  raises awareness of the positive social and economic rewards of supporting small third-world artisans and family-operated co-ops producing fair trade and sustainable goods, and US-based small family-run crafting businesses.

 

Terressentials' boutique, located at 100 W. Patrick Street in lovely downtown Frederick, features an array of intriguing goods. The Terressentials team scours the planet to find the finest fair-trade and fair-made home and personal accessories for women, men and children made from sustainable materials: handbags and travel bags of natural or recycled materials; natural silk, cotton and wool scarves; fun and creative jewelry; tabletop items of ceramic, glass, wood, grasses, bamboo and stone. To complement the shop's product range and to satisfy those connoisseurs seeking more healthful, GMO-free and environmentally-sustainable edible delicacies, their team provides a delectable array of certified organic gourmet chocolates, teas and snacks. During warmer months, flower lovers seek out the shop's offerings of fresh-picked aromatic and colorful bouquets of chemical-free flowers grown by their Terressentials team at their small farm in the Middletown Valley.

 

The Terressentials team loves to support the local community and the arts and contributes to a number of non-profit and other worthy local groups throughout the year.   The team recently donated a beautiful soap basket and a $50 gift certificate for our 3rd annual Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event prize drawing.  Terressentials has also created a fun community music project - the Side Roads Sounds Project.  The project seeks out local musicians to perform family-friendly sets of engaging music at the Side Roads Sounds Street Party events outside their shop on the Patrick Street sidewalk on certain Saturday evenings throughout the spring, summer and fall to add happy energy to Frederick City's vibrant community.  Folks are invited to visit the shop to try their yummy handmade certified organic body care products and peruse the many gifts and accessories for a memorable organic and inspiring artful experience.

 

Be sure to join them this spring for some fun at one of their Saturday evening musical Street Parties!  

 

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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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