It's True...
☔April Showers bring...MONEY!💰
Thank you for opening this email and reading that subject line because April Showers sure do bring MONEY!
55 Years ago this April, an estimated 20 million people attended the inaugural Earth Day celebrations at tens of thousands of schools, universities, and community sites across the United States. This Earth Day, let’s take some time to review some changes you can make that will help you keep MONEY in your pockets!
At Montgomery Energy Connection, we curate a monthly newsletter to share with you some easy ways to bring more MONEY into your life.
The Electrify MC program literally gives you money to electrify your home.
Electrify MC, a pilot project, was created to help residents transition from fossil fuels (oil, gas, and propane) in their homes.
Why should you transition from fossil fuels?
Switching to electric energy helps reduce your carbon footprint, playing a crucial role in creating a healthier planet for future generations. By electrifying your home, you can enjoy lower utility bills, thanks to financial incentives provided by the program.
How do you get this money?
It is easy to get this money. The first thing you do is schedule an energy audit (part of the EmPOWER Maryland program – costs $100). Once the audit and electrification assessment are completed, you choose among options to improve the performance of your home, including insulation and air sealing, as well as electrification of your HVAC, water heater, stove, and dryer. The work is then completed by a selected County contractor. You receive applicable electrification incentives from the County at the point of sale and utility rebates for insulation work within 6–8 weeks. Electrify MC can also work with a range of other scenarios, including cases where an energy audit and weatherization work have already been performed. We recommend that you sign up today—you will receive a phone call and email from the Electrify MC team to guide you through the process
What if you’re not ready to spend the money now?
The HELP DESK is there to assist you with your specific inquiries and if you decide that it is not the right choice for you right now, that is a-okay. You will get recommendations on how to move forward and when you are ready, you can make those changes. But in the meantime, we hope you make a plan about how you want to make those changes when the time comes.
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Capital Area Switch Together helps you save MONEY to go solar.
Capital Area Switch Together, previously called Solar Switch, is a group buying program for residents interested in going solar. The program is not restricted to Montgomery County residents and anyone in Northern Virginia, DC, Howard, Frederick, and Prince George's counties can participate. Our goal through this program is to help residents purchase solar panels for their homes.
Why participate in this program?
This program is expected to save the average household $6,201 on a typical-sized solar installation. The 30% federal tax credit can further reduce your costs, making solar energy more accessible than ever before. By registering for Switch Together, you'll receive a free installation proposal from pre-qualified installers. This proposal is customized to your home and will help you make an informed decision. You will receive a personal recommendation immediately upon registering.
Switch Together uses the power of group buying to secure a competitive price for your solar installation through a reverse auction process. Homeowners then choose the best bid that meets their needs. There is no cost to register and there's no obligation to proceed with a solar installation. This makes for a safe and easy way for Montgomery County residents to participate in the program. To discover how much you can save by going solar, sign up by June 4, 2025 at SwitchTogether.com/Solar/CapitalArea
Swapping out your LEDs is a sure way to put MONEY in your pocket!
Because lighting accounts for around 12% of an average home’s electricity use, we want to make sure you have the most efficient bulbs so that you aren’t wasting your money. By switching to LEDs, you can save about $225 in energy costs per year.
Oh, and those old CFL bulbs? They’ve got mercury in them, which makes them hazardous waste. Not only is that bad news for the environment, but it’s also a good reason to swap them out and get them out of your home—for your safety and peace of mind!
Montgomery Energy Connection partners with Montgomery County Public Libraries, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Home Energy Programs, and Pepco for events called Illumination Stations.
You can find upcoming events on our Community Calendar; you can find all of our light bulb exchange events by looking for the light bulb emoji 💡. It really is that easy and you will be putting money into your pocket in no time!
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Did you know TLDR stood for "too long, didn't read?" Of course you did, that is why you skipped to this part but we didn't know that until this week and we were so excited to use it in this newsletter!
Alas, you missed some good stuff, so take a look back if you have a chance! But if you just want to skip ahead, here are some things you need to know this month.
🌍Greenfest is celebrating its 10th Birthday, don't miss this celebration! The first County-wide GreenFest took place in 2015 at Jessup Park in Silver Spring. Since then, GreenFest events have taken place in various locations throughout the County and hosted thousands of County community members. To celebrate GreenFest’s 10th anniversary, the first 500 people to register will receive a goodie bag to assist them on their journey to greener living. Don’t miss out, the event is happening on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM at Marian Fryer Town Plaza, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD. See you there!
🌲Want to plant a tree for Earth Month? Pepco customers can request a free tree to plant at their home as part of the company’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation’s Energy-Saving Trees program. Residential customers can reserve a complimentary tree on a first-come, first-served basis and enjoy the energy-saving benefits that trees provide over time. Pepco will provide 730 free trees to customers across its service area. Customers can choose their tree from several types of species native to the northeast region, such as Baldcypress, River Birch, Eastern Redbud, Red Maple and Flowering Dogwood. Two hundred trees will be available for pick up on May 10 at Whalen Commons in Poolesville, Md., from noon to 3 p.m. The remaining 530 trees will be delivered by mail by the end of May. Visit arborday.org/Pepco to reserve a tree.
🤷🏽♀️ What you know about OPC? The Maryland Office of People's Counsel works for YOU! In fact, they work to improve utility performance and to protect Maryland residential utility customers from unfair sales practices and unreasonable rates for services such as electricity and natural gas, in a manner consistent with the State's environmental and greenhouse gas reduction goals. Not only that but they host informational sessions all the time!
Do you have questions about solar but not sure who to ask? OPC is here for you! Join one of their upcoming information and question sessions focused on residential solar, you can sign up here.
Images in this newsletter came from Pexels.com
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