Tag Archive: energy
Project Porchlight
A new initiative is making its way through Montgomery County and it is called Project Porchlight. First known as the Porch Bulb Project, it took place in Colorado in 2008,
Resetting Our Approach to Climate Action
Often, when we talk about climate change, it begins to feel overwhelming. Though we are more aware of the problem than ever before, many still don’t know how to take
What’s in it for me? A Montgomery County Homeowners’ Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act
In 2017, Montgomery County set an ambitious goal to cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80% by 2027 and 100% by 2035. In the first year, the County made progress
Electrify Your Lawn – Week of October 24 – 30, 2022
Electrify your lawn by switching to an electric leaf blower! As we close out Energy Action Month, the focus is on electrifying your lawn. Beyond the loud noises they generate,
Electrify Your Kitchen – Week of October 17 – 23, 2022
What does it mean to electrify your kitchen? One of the ways you can reduce your home’s carbon footprint and help the County meet its climate goals is to switch
Electrify Your Home – Week of October 10 – 16, 2022
What does it mean to electrify your home? During the second week of Energy Action Month, the spotlight is on your home. A key way to help the County meet
Electrify Your Ride – Week of October 3 – 9, 2022
What does it mean to electrify your ride? Most of us use some form of transportation to get around each day, whether it’s riding a bike, taking the bus, or
Electrify Everything
Why Electrify Everything? “From the cars we drive to the utilities that heat and illuminate our homes, schools, and hospitals, we Americans depend on safe, reliable sources of energy for
Exchange Your Bulbs during Clean Energy Week 2022
National Clean Energy Week is a celebration of the policies, industries, and innovations that power our daily lives while producing no or very little greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the very real
Back by popular demand – ROUND 2 of the #CapitalAreaSolarCoop!
Get Ready, the Capital Area Solar Co-op is BACK! With Round 2, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) continues to work with over a dozen local jurisdictions and organizations around the Capital Area
Senior Planet in Montgomery Celebrates 6 Years of Programming!
On June 17, 2022, Senior Planet in Montgomery County gathered at the Silver Spring Civic Building to reflect on its growth and celebrate with its dedicated community of seniors. As
Ahoy Matey: After Two Summers, Energy Express is Back in Person
My name is Alexander Lewton and I’m a rising senior at Walter Johnson High School. I became familiar with the Peer Outreach With Energy Resources (P.O.W.E.R.) program via an email
Make a Difference with Community Solar at Paddington Square
We’re facing a serious challenge. Right now, 1 in 6 Montgomery County residents have trouble paying their electricity bill. Meanwhile, the impact of rising fuel prices and pollution continue to
Find Energy Savings with a Building Tune Up
Looking for a quick and easy way to reduce energy use in your building? A Building Tune- Up can typically reduce energy use by 5-20 percent with most of the
CASE STUDY: EV Charger Installation at Clarksburg Condominium II
At My Green Montgomery, we like to share information that will be helpful for residents. This Case Study is especially helpful for Homeowners Associations. Introduction A longtime resident of the
What might the future of sustainable technology look like at home?
Guest blog post: Elizabeth Long, graduated with a degree in English Language, and then travelled to different countries in order to expand her views, and experience different cultures. She now
Meet an EV Owner Series: Jennifer Wellman Andryuk
As part of the Montgomery County EV Purchasing Cooperative Pilot Program, we’ll be featuring Montgomery County residents who have electrified their personal transportation in this series. Meet Jennifer Wellman Andryuk
Join Groundswell and Share Power with your Community!
Energy is expensive. And in the past few months, it’s gotten very expensive. For some households in Montgomery County, this is merely inconvenient; however, for many, high energy costs represent
Online Programs Help Residents Lower Energy Costs
For the last three years, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection has pledged to “Age with Attitude” with its partnership with Senior Planet Montgomery. Here is what we have done
FeBREWary 2022: Time To Kick Gas
For the last few years, we have been visiting local breweries around the County to make sure that residents have the most energy efficient lightbulbs on the market. And this
How Do You Celebrate National 💩 Day?
Did you know that the day after the big game is National Poop Day? According to Urban Dictionary, National Poop Day falls the day after the big game “as a
ENERGY STAR Tax Free Weekend 2022
Creator: puhimec Mark your calendars – Saturday, February 19, through midnight on Monday February 21, 2022. Each year over the President’s Day weekend, Maryland shoppers can take advantage of our
Neighborhood Sun Helps Bring Energy Equity to Montgomery County
While soaking up the sun may still be free, solar panels are far from it. Due to barriers like up-front costs, location requirements, and homeownership status, rooftop solar may never
15 Energy-Saving Tips for Homeowners
This article was first posted by Brookfield Residential. They are committed to building energy-efficient homes. Read more about our sustainability efforts, and if you are looking for a new home, reach
The 4th Year of P.O.W.E.R. Is Underway
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. Some students knew each other already,
My First Year with Solar PV
Since it’s a year this month that our solar photovoltaic (PV) system got turned on, I thought it would be good for me to share my family’s experience – the
MCPS plans for first-ever Youth Climate Summit in 2022
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.
Don’t Flush Your Money Down the 🚽
Don’t flush away your money! Install a Toilet Tank Bank and start saving today! Did you know that 27% of all household water consumption is attributed to the toilet? That’s
Introducing the Youth Energy Stars Program!
Montgomery Energy Connection is excited to launch our Youth Energy Stars Program! We’ve created this kid-friendly program featuring the furry and friendly Energy Stars who teach kids (and adults) how
Lighten Up: Lemons & LEDs
What is Lighten Up? This new initiative as part of Montgomery Energy Connection is an opportunity for residents to exchange their old incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs for energy
Energy Action Month 2021 – Balloons Soar, Your Utility Bills Shouldn’t
What do hot air balloons and incandescent bulbs have in common? They are similar in shape and both produce/use heat. According to Wikipedia, “a hot-air balloon is a lighter-than-air aircraft consisting of a
Common Plumbing Issues and How to Fix Them
When you are dealing with any plumbing problems, it is ideal that you handle the matter as quickly as you possibly can. While there is a science and art to
Net-Zero Energy Coalition “Beauty of Zero” Exhibit Open for Tours
The concept of net-zero energy buildings – ones that produce as much energy as they use – tends to quickly delve into the details of building science, construction, and systems.
Innovate to Mitigate Competition
Innovate to Mitigate challenges 8th–12th grade students to submit ideas that will mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. People around the world are working hard on this problem. To meet the big challenges we face, we need good
Montgomery College Advances on Building Submetering Effort
Montgomery County’s premier community college, Montgomery College, has been advancing an effort to submeter every building in its inventory that is connected to the hot and chilled water central distribution
Montgomery Parks Undertakes LED Retrofits at South Germantown Recreational Park
Montgomery Parks recently converted 62 high-pressure sodium (HPS) light fixtures to newer, more efficient LED technology at South Germantown Recreational Park. South Germantown Recreational Park was built in 2001 and
EmPOWER Maryland’s Incentives for New Home Construction
What is EmPOWER Maryland? If you look closely at your monthly utility bill, you may notice a small surcharge for EmPOWER Maryland. This charge contributes to a group of programs established under the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008, a bill designed
The Benefits of Switching to Induction Cooking
One of the key actions in Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) is to require newly constructed buildings to be all-electric and to electrify all new and existing buildings by 2035. In 2018, 50% of
Environmental and Economic Advantages of Switching to an Electric Heat Pump
As Montgomery County seeks to cut its greenhouse gas emissions drastically over the next decade, homeowners may be wondering what significant actions they can take to contribute towards the county’s
Local student brings the power of the sun to everyone
Emma Hubbard attends the Early College Program at Montgomery College Takoma Park (majoring in Biological Sciences) and is a senior at Clarksburg High School. She got into solar energy electronics
Putting Science on Display: The Universities at Shady Grove BSE Facility
On July 22, 2021, Associate Principal Rick Fredlund of the architecture firm Cooper Carry accepted USGBC’s Midsummer Night’s Green award for the Universities at Shady Grove’s new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Education (BSE) Facility. The award is one of several earned by the project in 2021, joining
Prevent Costly Repairs With These HVAC Maintenance Tips
If you are like most homeowners, you consider your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system a year-round necessity. After all, your HVAC system keeps you cool during the summer
Clean Energy Week 2021
National Clean Energy Week is a celebration of the policies, industries, and innovations that power our daily lives while producing no or very little greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the very
Maryland’s Energy Supply Reform Bill Explained
On May 30, 2021, the Maryland General Assembly enacted the state’s first-ever energy supplier consumer protection law, securing a significant win for income qualifying residents. The Energy Supply Reform Bill
Energy Express 2021: From Fossil Fuels to Fuels of the Future
What is Energy Express? Since the summer of 2017, the County has been partnering with Montgomery County Public Libraries during the summer to support their Summer Reading Program. The target
Capital Area Solar Co-op Chooses Solar Installers
The Montgomery County Solar Co-Op partnered with other area jurisdictions to create the nation’s first regional solar co-op, the Capital Area Solar Co-Op. This co-op aims to expand solar opportunities
The FIRST EVER Capital Area Solar Co-op 2021
For the first time in jurisdictional history – Montgomery County is joining the town of Poolesville, cities of Bowie, Falls Church, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Takoma Park, and Washington DC as
