RESIDENTIAL: In addition to the Informational Session, we have information on the My Green Montgomery website to also help you along your electrification process. When you’re ready to switch away from oil, gas, or propane, it’s a good idea to have the new equipment sized to the needs of your particular home. Replacing heating and cooling equipment is an expensive proposition, so it’s also a good time to consider the insulation levels and airtightness of your home. An insulation upgrade may allow a smaller system, potentially saving money up-front and over time with lower bills. An energy audit can be scheduled through your utility’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR audit (Pepco, BG&E, Potomac Edison). The Manual J (or HVAC load calculation) is the next step to right sizing the equipment in the home and the article tells you all about the importance of having one done in your home.    

RESIDENTIAL: What happens when you want to do more than just electrify your home? Well, resident Clark Reed shares his experience making his home the first certified net zero home in the County! A net zero home is one that produces its own energy, is more comfortable ta typical house, and transforms an annual expense into a net cash flow – find out more in his blog post.

RESIDENTIAL: Have the cold temperatures been giving you the blues? The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) provides bill assistance to income-eligible households in the State of Maryland to make their energy costs more affordable and to help with the prevention of loss and the restoration of home energy service. Additionally, the Office of People's Counsel encourages anyone who is behind on their utility bills to not wait to receive a turn-off notice and apply for assistance, instead, check out their Insider's Guide on how to submit an energy assistance application completely and correctly so you don’t find yourself in the cold.

RESIDENTIAL: While the sun may not be shining bright during these cold, wintry months, the sun is still providing energy to those with solar panels. Unfortunately not all roofs are a good candidate for solar, that is where Community Solar comes in. Hear from Frances Stewart, a loyal subscriber of Community Solar in this blog post written by our 2023 Energy Intern, Vida Sulureh.

RESIDENTIAL: Did you participate in the Capital Area Solar Switch program in 2023? If so, join us for a solar celebration! We're excited to come together and honor everyone who has embraced solar through Solar Switch. Join us in recognizing our stand-out installations, enter a raffle for cool prizes, and enjoy a drink. It's also a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow solar enthusiasts and have a chat with the folks from iChoosr and Solar United Neighbors. Please RSVP to participate in a festive night celebrating Solar Switch!

RESIDENTIAL: Theo Powers from Service Force Plumbing helped identify three big mistakes that homeowners make in the kitchen that can cause big problems with their home plumbing, and even bigger problems away from their property. Take a look at this blog post to find out how you can significantly reduce the risk of inconvenient – and potentially expensive – clogs or backups this time of year.

MULTI-FAMILY: Citizen Energy is thrilled to announce Avanza’s EV initiative is expanding in 2024! They are searching for partners to collaborate with on deploying $0 cost EV chargers at multifamily housing communities in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Avanza EV is a comprehensive EV adoption initiative that includes charging infrastructure, installation, software, ongoing maintenance, and community education. The initiative is supported by federal, state, local and foundation funding. If you are connected to multifamily housing properties, there are multiple ways to collaborate including site host referrals, project development, installation, etc. Their funding is targeted to underserved communities. However, some of the eligibility criteria can open it up to different types of sites. Please reach out to the program manager, Noah Frieder, at (202) 695-3201 or mnoah@citizen-energy.com to discuss details.

EV CHARGING STATIONS: On Friday, January 12, 2024, Governor Wes Moore and local lawmakers gathered to announce that the Maryland Clean Energy Center will receive a $15 million Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the installation of 58 electric vehicle charging stations across the state: www.foxbaltimore.com