State and Local Climate and Energy Program
Frederick County Green Homes Challenge
Frederick County, Maryland
Federal Funding: $500,000
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2014
Project Summary
A Replicable, Multi-Level Green Home Certification Project
The Frederick County Green Homes Challenge will reduce and track greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and reduce energy costs for households in Frederick County, by increasing the number of energy efficient devices, retrofit projects and renewable energy systems installed in the residential sector. The Challenge will be supported by partnerships with the local power utility, Allegheny Power, the Reaching Independence and Stability through Employment (RISE) workforce development program, the cities of Frederick, Middletown, and Brunswick, and local businesses.
Frederick County will organize the Green Homes Challenge, and will certify households at three levels. The first level of certification for Frederick County homes is the Power Saver certification level, which focuses on community education and engagement, home energy audits, and energy-saving actions and retrofits. The primary outreach vehicle will be Powerware Parties, small social gatherings at which program coordinators or volunteers will distribute energy efficiency products, demonstrate technologies, share information about the Green Homes Certification program, and ask community members to pledge to reduce energy use or register with the Challenge. Regardless of whether participants sign up for the Challenge, they will have access to volunteer-conducted home energy audits and audit tools, the Earth Aid energy use and reduction tracking tool, the proposed Frederick County Clean Energy Loan Program (CELP), and personalized follow-up and assistance. Residents will earn points for their actions to earn a Power Saver certification.
Frederick County residents may also earn a Green Living Leader certification. Under this program residents will earn a certain number of points for acting sustainably in their transportation choices, waste management habits, food choices, cleaning materials, outdoor and yard activities, and home office behaviors. Finally, residents may also achieve the Sustainable Star certification level. To reach this level residents must install renewable energy systems, and may take advantage of local, state, and federal incentives as well as mini grants available through the Green Homes Challenge.
Through the Green Homes Challenge, Frederick County hopes to certify 800 Power Saver homes, 600 Green Living Leaders, and 90 Sustainable Stars. The program will keep track of results to share its experiences with other local leaders, and will use nationally available tools and resources to ensure that the projects are replicable.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 224,185 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 662.88 square miles |
| Government Type: | County |
| Community Type: | Suburban |
| Median Household Income: | $80,970 |
Program Results/Estimated Results
| Expected GHG Reductions: | 2,268 metric tons CO2e annually |
|---|
Project Websites
- www.frederickcountymd.gov/GreenHomes
- www.frederickcountymd.gov/GreenAmbassadors
- http://twitter.com/#!/GreenHomesFC
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frederick-County-Green-Homes-Challenge/130038967063731
Media Coverage
- Commander looks to leave eco-friendly legacy as her time at post winds down , 05/03/2011
- Selling energy conservation one Powerware Party at a time , 04/17/2011
- Resident looks to spread the word on efficient energy , 03/16/2011
- Office of Sustainability launches countywide ‘Green Homes' challenge , 01/27/2011
- Green with incentives: Frederick County issues energy-saving challenge , 01/19/2011
Photos
