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Annual
Sustainability Awards
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Nominations due April 14
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Looking for a Green Builder, Contractor or Eco-Expert? | |
provides a searchable database of a wide variety of contractors and professionals in fields such as solar energy, landscaping, architecture, home performance and more.
Leafkey.com also verifies credentials!
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RESOURCES for
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENTS
at HOME
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Photos by Russell C. Poole.
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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 &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
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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.
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MCWA UPDATES |
Take a moment to check out the new articles posted on the Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance website, highlighting local conservation and restoration efforts! There are plenty of events and volunteer opportunities this spring...
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JUST LAUNCHED:
Refrigerator Exchange Program now Accepting Applications
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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:
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You must be a Frederick County resident, or a landlord /property manager serving low-to-moderate income County residents.
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Residents or tenants must have incomes at or below Moderate Income Categories.
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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.
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GREEN HOMES CHALLENGE UPDATE:
2014 Recognition Event a Great Success!
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Nicole Robinson accepts Glory Energy's Grand Prize from Tim Jones (center) and original winner Ron Kaltenbaugh. Photo by Russell C. Poole.
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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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WATERSHED MANAGEMENT UPDATE:
Expanded Neighborhood Green Program
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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.
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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.
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FUTURE INITIATIVES: Power Saver Retrofits Return!
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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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ENERGY SAVERS: Potomac Edison Incentives for All
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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.
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BUSINESS CORNER:
Terresentials, Frederick
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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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