|
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 | Department of Environmental Protection
RESIDENTIAL: The suggestions are in and its finally time to vote! Cast your vote for what you think Montgomery Energy Connection’s e-newsletter should be called by January 10th. The winner will be announced in the January 2022 newsletter! VOTE NOW
RESIDENTIAL: Linda Silverman, owner of LS Insights and current Chair of the Climate, Energy and Air Quality Advisory Committee shares her experience getting solar panels. In May 2020, she joined Montgomery County Solar Co-op and their system has worked great. Find out more about her experience by reading all about her solar panel process. And if you’re wondering what to do to get your solar panels ready for the winter, check this article out.
|
RESIDENTIAL: Looking for some ways to save energy during the holiday or considering giving the gift of energy efficiency? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide on Instagram for some great items you can purchase through your utility market place! ⚡️🔌 Make sure to share our profile with your friends and family so they can learn how to save money and energy, too!
|
RESIDENTIAL: Last month, sixteen high schoolers signed on to a Zoom session to kick off the fourth year of P.O.W.E.R: Peer Outreach With Energy Resources. Between now and Energy Express, interns will be absorbing energy statistics, exercising their public speaking skills, and exploring energy usage across Montgomery County. Find out more about the program here.
|
COMMERCIAL: The new Energy-Efficient Buildings property tax credit, aiming to improve the energy efficiency of existing and newly constructed buildings will soon replace the current tax credit. The new tax credit program shifts the primary focus of incentives from building certifications alone to proven energy reductions. The two-tier incentive program design is the first of its kind in the nation.
The current property tax credit for energy and environmental design awarded to commercial and multifamily properties for earning qualified LEED Certifications will be retired. Any building owner who is pursuing property tax credit for energy and environmental design for a LEED certified commercial or multifamily building must either submit a completed application with their LEED Scorecard, or submit an Intent to Apply Application form, by Jan. 1, 2022.
Important information and links to applications:
|
COUNTY: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is planning to hold its first-ever Youth Climate Summit in March 2022. The idea for this summit developed after MCPS recognized increased student interest in climate action. The summit’s date and location have been finalized to Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the Universities at Shady Grove, MCPS has moved onto the next phase of organizing this event. For more information, visit bit.ly/MCPSYCS.
|
The My Green Montgomery Green Jobs Board will help you find green jobs in our region. We post jobs for free if they:
- are green jobs (focused on energy, sustainability, water, trees, community greening, environmental ed, etc.)
- based in the DC or Baltimore regions. Jobs in Montgomery County or easy for our residents to commute to work!
We pre-approve each job before posting, but we do not guarantee the length of time jobs will be posted. To look for new job opportunities, click here.
The Montgomery County Energy Team receives tons of newsletters and articles every day, and these are a few articles that we wanted to share this month. These articles range from county, state, national and international stories, we hope you find them interesting and informative.
Climate Change: The average person’s daily choices can still make a big difference in fighting climate change – and getting governments and utilities to tackle it, too, www.theconversation.com
Community Solar: Nine community solar projects are planned as part of Maryland’s Community Solar Pilot Program, which will enable residents to save up to 10% on their utility bills based on electricity generated by the projects, www.smartenergydecisions.com
Electric Chargers: A large barrier for electric vehicles is the public’s perception of EVs and range anxiety, a term used to describe the fear of being left stranded with a dead car on the side of the road with no chargers nearby, www.fastcompany.com
Fossil Fuels: Denmark, Costa Rica, France, Sweden, and others have formed the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance to commit to stop producing fossil fuels, www.fastcompany.com
Golf Courses: Golf courses on borrowed time as Earth's weather patterns become wilder, in other words, golf is a dirty sport that's wrecking the planet, www.cnn.com
Sustainable Jet Fuel: United just ran a test flight with a fuel made from fats, cooking oils, and grease that results in 80% fewer emissions than regular jet fuel. Now it’s up to the government to allow it on commercial flights, www.fastcompany.com
Urban Farms: Argentina’s third-biggest city has been recognized by the World Resources Institute for its sustainable and inclusive approach to urban farming, www.bloomberg.com
|
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
FEBRUARY 18-21, 2022
Every President’s Day weekend, shoppers across Montgomery County can participate in the state’s Shop Maryland Energy Tax Free Weekend which gives residents a break on the six percent sales tax for qualifying ENERGY STAR products.
For more events, check out the Community Calendar on My Green Montgomery and if you are a community organization, you can add your events to the calendar here.
|
