In this issue:
Join us for the 2nd Annual Montgomery County Energy Summit
Hosted by USGBC-NCR’s Montgomery County Branch and sponsors Pepco, Siemens, Washington Gas, Boland, and EnergyCAP
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from
8:30am-2:00pm at the
Hilton Rockville Hotel
Learn more and register today!
Who should attend? Anyone interested in Energy! Special opportunities for benchmarkers: Non-residential building owners with properties 50,000 square feet or larger; sole tenants of these buildings; local government officials; energy efficiency service providers; nonprofits and associations that support the energy and/or building community; anyone interested in learning about the Montgomery County benchmarking law.
Special Speakers: Hear the Opening Keynote from Montgomery County Councilmember Berliner! Later in the day, Hunter Fanney, Senior Research Scientist from NIST, will present recent findings and updates on the Net-Zero Energy Home Project at the Montgomery County Energy Summit!
For Benchmarkers: There will be interactive discussions, trainings, and one-on-one consultations with the DEP, US EPA, utilities and vendors about the benchmarking process, how to get started, and how to improve your score. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with:
- ENERGY STAR on how to benchmark in portfolio manager.
- Pepco to discuss incentives for improvements and educational programs for building staff
- Washington Gas to understand your gas bill and find opportunities for savings.
- Vendors that can help advance energy efficiency in your buildings.
- Montgomery County DEP about benchmarking and other new programs in the county
Tickets for this annual event go quickly. Registration is $25 for USGBC-NCR members and $35 for nonmembers. Sign-Up Today!
Tree Program Manager
DEP seeks a Program Manager to assist with developing, managing, and implementing a variety of tree and forest programs and initiatives for Montgomery County. The Program Manager will work closely with the DEP team and contractors to plant canopy trees across the County and in a wide array of locations including yards, multi-family communities, parking lots, and businesses. The Program Manager will work closely with home owners, business owners, and property managers to provide them with information on tree planting and care, species selection, and the County’s tree planting programs. Applications are due on February 11, 2015, and the Job number IRC15901. See the full description and apply!
Note: Last month, Energy News advertised two positions. A few days later, the County instituted a hiring freeze. We have received approval to continue to recruit the Tree Program Manager position. The Energy Program Manager position is still on hold - we will send any updates to this newsletter.
Tooting our Own Horn: Montgomery County designated as Smart Energy Community!
Montgomery County received its formal designation as a Maryland Smart Energy Community (MSEC), on Wednesday, January 7th at the Maryland Association of Counties Winter Conference. As a MSEC, the County has been recognized for its commitment to reducing electricity consumption in our facilities and petroleum consumption by our fleet. Learn more about what it means to be a Smart Energy Community.
Benchmarked: Tower Companies
Benchmarked, a new energy blog series, examines local businesses who have used EPA’s Portfolio Manager to track energy use. Hear from Eugenia Gregorio from Tower companies and find out the who, what, where, and why of their benchmarking efforts: BENCHMARKED: Tower Companies
Are you BENCHMARKED? If so, contact Michelle Vigen to have your building/business featured in our series! Get in line, and get recognized!
Skating on Green Ice: Eco-Friendly Ice Rinks
Keep the ice white isn't always the greenest process, but here in Montgomery County, we're skating on green ice. Learn about the efforts Tri-State Ice Management has taken at the Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring Ice Rinks to keep our streams clean and their energy bills low! Read their story!
Local Savenia Labs Wins DOE ‘SunShot’ Catalyst Competition
Savenia Labs has won the US Department of Energy’s ‘SunShot’ Catalyst Competition for Business Innovation, a prize that acknowledges the most cutting-edge ideas to transform the US solar marketplace. Our winning application highlighted Savenia Solar Ratings, a rating label like CarFax but for solar homes. Savenia Solar Ratings help home sellers and buyers more easily understand and unlock the monetary value in solar systems with innovative rating labels and marketing materials. Read more.
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DEP Energy Planner, Michelle, has all sorts of energy ideas for you, but this January, she is suggesting a different kind of resolution for 2015: Do more healthful and meaningful activities this year.
Wondering what this has to do with energy? Read more to find out!
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Benchmarking Office Hours
January 27, 2015 at 1:00pm
DEP, Fishbowl Conference Room
Join Senior Energy Planner, Michelle Vigen, to view the EPA's Portfolio 101 Webinar as a group and discuss questions related to the benchmarking law. These office hours will be held approximately monthly with different topics. Please RSVP via email to Michelle Vigen.
Garrett Park Energy Efficiency Presentation
January 21, 2015 at 7:30pm
Garrett Park Town Hall
Please join Garrett Park’s Citizens Association and Garrett Park Conservation Action Network (GP CAN) for an energy efficiency presentation from speaker Chris Conway of Conway Green Construction. Chris brings a solid technical understanding of residential energy with a healthy dose of good humor and lightheartedness. No lectures here, only sound advice from someone who is a certified energy rater for a wide variety of programs—LEED for Homes, Energy Star, PassivHaus, EarthCraft and more. Please RSVP via email to Karen Anderson.
Green Business Forum: Green Business Purchasing Fair
January 29, 2015 at 9:00am-2:30pm
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Government
777 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Attend the Green Business Purchasing Fair held at the Ronald Kirby Training Center for panel discussions and demonstrations on green and environmentally friendly products. Businesses are also invited to participate in the Vendor Fair to gain exposure with local government and school officials in the Baltimore-Washington region. Read more.
Getting to Net Zero Nation Forum
February 1-3, 2015
Fairmont Hotel, Washington, DC
Join a cross-section of leading policymakers, design professionals, building owners and commercial real estate representatives to share perspectives on the growth of ZNE policies and projects and discuss the future of these extremely efficient buildings that produce as much energy as they consume. Learn more and register!
Montgomery County Energy Summit
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from 8:30am-2:00pm
Hilton Rockville Hotel
Join local businesses, utilities, county and state agencies, and members of the real estate community for a summit focused on energy related initiatives and opportunities in Montgomery County. For Benchmarkers: There will be interactive discussions, trainings, and one-on-one consultations with the DEP, utilities and vendors that offer energy management solutions described during the presentations. Learn more and register!
Montgomery County Green Fest
Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 11am-4pm
Montgomery College - Takoma Park/Silver Spring
The Montgomery County GreenFest is a free celebration of the people and environment of Montgomery County. The GreenFest will feature speakers, music, kids activities, vendors, and screenings of environmental films as a part of the Environmental Film Festival. There will be something for everyone so come to Takoma Park to join the fun! Learn more!
2015 ENERGY STAR Battle of the Buildings: Team Challenge
Deadline: May 31, 2015
EPA is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2015 ENERGY STAR Battle of the Buildings: Team Challenge! This is the largest and longest-running competition of its kind, and now it’s your chance to get in on the action! Learn more.
Portfolio Manager Training
And always, check out the latest Portfolio Manager webinars at EPA ENERGY STAR and stay up-to-date with the benchmarking bill efforts at the DEP Benchmarking Website.
Quick Links
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County Benchmarking Bill
Montgomery County Community Solar
Montgomery County Office of Energy and Sustainability (Dept. of General Services)
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Contact
Michelle Vigen
Senior Energy Planner
Department of Environmental Protection
Email or call 240-777-7749
Montgomery County Energy News
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