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Wednesday, May 18, 2022 | Montgomery Energy Connection
Welcome to this edition of Montgomery Power Line - we are so glad that you have subscribed to our newsletter, we have a ton of information to share with you this month!
Have you seen us at an event lately? If so, you may have met one of our Energy Ambassadors. Kat (pictured below) is one of our Energy Ambassadors and she has been trained to provide you with tons of information to help you lower your energy costs and keep money in your pocket. If you see the Montgomery Energy Connection tablecloth or signs up at an event, please be sure to say hello to our Energy Ambassadors, they will most likely have some fun goodies to give you as well.
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RESIDENTIAL: Weatherization projects are entirely free to the eligible homeowners and are designed to improve the energy efficiency, overall indoor air quality, and comfort of your home. The Maryland Energy Administration grants Habitat for Humanity with funding every year to address services relating to air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, appliance replacement with Energy Star certified appliances, and HVAC system repairs and/or upgrades in eligible homes upon professional evaluation. An easy way to think about this program is it helps keep in heat during the winter and cool air during the summer. Find out more.
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RESIDENTIAL: Launched on Friday, April 1, 2022 - Round 2 of the Capital Area Solar Co-op will run until Tuesday, August 30, 2022. During that time, we will have virtual info sessions and in person events to help answer solar questions. By joining the #CapitalAreaSolarCoop, you will join neighbors in DC, Maryland, and Virginia in the quest to lower your energy costs, become energy independent, and participate in the renewable revolution.
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RESIDENTIAL: Hopefully you have heard that Montgomery County is leading the charge on electric vehicles! The Pilot Phase of the Montgomery County Electric Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative (EVPC) is nearly 95% of the way to meeting our pledge goal and we would love your help to get to 100%!
Taking the pledge sends a strong signal that Montgomery County is committed to clean transportation. Residents and businesses that sign the pledge help demonstrate consumer demand for EVs, which the County can leverage to organize test drives and educational events, plan charging infrastructure investment, and negotiate purchase incentives for EVs. Find out more.
Do you already drive electric, or have you signed the pledge? Share your leadership on social media with the hashtags #MCEVPC #LeadTheEVCharge
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COMMERCIAL: County Executive Marc Elrich signed Bill 16-21, Building Energy Use Benchmarking and Performance Standards, into law on Monday, May 2nd following unanimous passage by County Council. The new law will be effective on August 1, 2022, 90 days after signing.
The law expands the number of buildings covered by the County’s existing Benchmarking Law to include additional County-owned, commercial and multifamily buildings and establishes a framework long-term energy performance standards for those buildings to meet over time. Visit My Green Montgomery for a more in-depth summary of the major features and timelines in the law.
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COUNTY: Do you have great ideas to help protect our environment? Through the Climate Action Plan, the County is hoping to lower the impact of climate change. Please send us words, phrases or a sentence that will inspire your neighbors to take action on simple climate solutions. Learn more! Some of your ideas will be used for a local campaign and will make an impact on climate action in our community. Send us your ideas: DEP.contests@montgomerycountymd.gov
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COUNTY: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation @mcdotnow is our partner of the month! MCDOT moves people and connects places with seamless, equitable transportation options that are safe, environmentally responsible, and support economic growth and vibrancy in Montgomery County.
May is also National Bike Month and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20, 2022. MCDOT has resources for bike riders on their website and the Energy Ambassadors will be at some of the Bike to Work Day locations with goodies to help lower your energy bills!
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STATE: Augmented reality (AR) is changing the way science is accessed, understood, and shared with and by the public. As such, AR Girls was created by the University of Maryland to attract young women (ages 12-16) to science and computer science by focusing on communication aspects of scientific work. During this weeklong FREE AR Girls Maryland virtual camp, from June 27 – July 1, 2022, students will learn to use a cool and simple AR app called Metaverse to overlay graphics, videos, audio—even your own art and photos—on the real world. Apply here, there are limited spots available.
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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, etc.) and based in the DC or Baltimore regions. Jobs in Montgomery County or easy for our residents to commute to work!
Here are some current openings to get you started:
Energy is all around us and there is a lot happening in the world. We have compiled some interesting stories and articles to share with you. These stories will LINK you to what energy stories are happening in the world.
Carbon Dioxide: Vacuuming carbon from the air, much of the technology to soak up carbon is still in its infancy, could help stop climate change, www.npr.org
Electrify Your Home: Electrification is not only the best choice for the climate and possibly their wallet, research shows that owners can save $1,000 a year—but also for their health and comfort, www.greenhomeguide.com
Floating Offshore Wind: Floating offshore wind prepares to break out off the Pacific Coast this fall, www.renewableenergyworld.com
Floating Solar Array: Europe’s largest floating solar array is nearing completion this month as EDP, Portugal’s primary electric utility company, puts the finishing touches on a landmark project that will cut the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, www.reuters.com
Food Habits: Your diet affects climate change, this interactive article can help determine which changes will have the biggest impact, www.nytimes.com
Incandescent Bulbs: The Biden administration is scrapping old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, speeding an ongoing trend toward more efficient lighting that officials say will save households, schools and businesses billions of dollars a year, www.wtop.com
Railroad: Since April 1, major Japan railway now powered only by renewable energy, www.apnews.com
Solar Farm: Oxon Run, a District of Columbia government-owned community solar site, provides clean energy to approximately 820 households, providing roughly 50% of their annual energy, www.fcnl.org
Friday, May 20, 2022
Bike To Work Day - Various Locations
Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Spring Community Outdoor Yard Sale
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 7:30 - 8:00 pm
Ask an EV Owner Virtual Event
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Capital Area Solar Co-op Virginia Virtual Info Session
Friday, June 10, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Capital Area Solar Co-Op DC Virtual Info Session
Friday, June 17, 2022 at 12 pm
Capital Area Solar Co-Op Maryland Virtual Info Session featuring Green Bank
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