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Wednesday, October 18, 2023 | Montgomery Energy Connection
RESIDENTIAL: The Electrify MC Pilot Program helps homeowners transition from fossil fuels (oil, gas, and propane) in their homes. Are you thinking about electrifying but aren't sure where to start? No worries, that is why this program was created and it's as easy as 1-2-3.
Start Your Electrification Journey
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Sign up for Electrify MC. Sign up today and you will receive a phone call and email from the Electrify MC team to talk you through the process.
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Have questions about what to do to electrify your home?
Contact Electrify MC by phone at 301-830-5767 or email them at electrifymc@elysianenergy.com.
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Already have electric appliances but want to upgrade?
Contact Electrify MC to ask them which items may work for you and where you can get those appliances.
RESIDENTIAL: Join EnergySage and Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection and celebrate Energy Action Month by learning more about your community solar farm options in Maryland. Anyone who pays an electric bill including renters, homeowners, and even business or nonprofit owners and operators can subscribe to a community solar farm in MD. It’s free and easy to sign up or cancel, saves you 5-10% on your annual electric bills, and supports a sustainable future.
Search EnergySage’s community solar marketplace or join an informational webinar on Thursday October 26th at Noon ET (register here) or Monday October 30th at 7pm ET (register here).
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RESIDENTIAL: Get ready for colder weather ❄ by making sure you have enough insulation in your attic! Learn how you measure your insulation levels from the experts at ENERGY STAR. You can receive a substantial tax credit for insulating your attic?
💸💸Thanks to incentives in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, you can save 30% of your total project cost, up to $1,200.
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LANDSCAPERS: We want your opinions/experience on using electric leaf blowers! Montgomery County has passed a law prohibiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers starting July 1, 2025. This 5-minute survey will gather your perspective on a possible gas to an electric leaf blower exchange and rebate program to help offset any financial burden of making the transition. Please complete this quick survey and share these links with others, especially with solo landscapers and small businesses!
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RESIDENTIAL: On August 30, 2023, we closed the Capital Area Solar Switch program. This was the third year that jurisdictions around the DC area came together to encourage residents to go solar. In total, we had 465 residents across, D.C., Maryland and Virginia accept their initial offer in this program and of that number 280 have signed their contracts and are getting solar installed on their roofs! We have heard from residents about the benefits to participating in the program and on resident in particular, Bethesda resident, Nancy Wallace, wanted to share her experience with you.
If you would like to share your solar story, please email us to let us know!
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🎶 They’re cooling and they’re heating,
Emissions they’re defeating,
Our climate goals they’re meeting
The heat pump family! 🎶
- From Rewiring America
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Halloween is only days away and this spine-tingling night of goblins and ghouls also comes with something even more frightening: HIGH UTILITY BILLS! While we're not able to provide you with a costume like the ready made heat pump from Rewiring America we do have some suggestions for easy to make costumes with items from your own home:
- 🔌🧛🏽♀️ - the elusive Energy Vampire is a device that continues to use energy and drain power, even when it is turned off. They lurk in your home, taking the form of phone chargers and cable boxes, computer cords and coffee pots. These phantom energy suckers can account for as much as 20% of your monthly electricity bill.
How to turn this into a costume: Get a black cape, coat, cardigan - a red shirt, and some fangs (you could probably make these with cardboard) and voila - you are an Energy Vampire!!
- ☀🕶 - Solar Panels are a device that converts sunlight into electricity by using photovoltaic (PV) cells. On average, a household requires about 17 to 21 solar panels to provide enough solar energy to power a home.
How to turn this into a costume: Break down a cardboard box, color or paint it black, and add smaller rectangles of aluminum foil on top. Boom—you have a solar array.
- 🌬 🍂 - Electric Leaf Blowers operate at much lower decibel levels, creating a quieter and more peaceful environment for everyone and they reduce harm to the environment by eliminating emissions.
How to turn this into a costume: Wear a baseball cap with a leaf dangling down in front of your face. When someone asks what you are, blow on the leaf.
The My Green Montgomery Green Jobs Board will help you find green jobs in our region. We post jobs for free that are green jobs (focused on energy, sustainability, water, trees, community greening, environmental education and others) and based in the DC or Baltimore regions.
Here are some current openings to get you started:
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.
Montgomery County’s New Leafblower Law
Montgomery County recently amended the County’s Noise law to prohibit certain gas leaf blowers. Two-stroke engines like gas leaf blowers have an outsized impact on worker health, air quality, and the environment by causing noise disturbances. Here’s just a few reasons why gas leaf blowers are problematic:
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