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
Latest Update
Frederick County continues to implement the Green Homes Challenge (GHC). The County is publishing newspaper articles, giving presentations, participating in community events, and hosting Powerware Parties to educate residents on energy efficiency. The County has updated the Power Saver Handbook with additional resources and more streamlined certification steps. The County is also continuing to provide support and one-on-one coaching to Challenge Takers to complete the challenges and become Certified Power Savers. Frederick County published the Green Leader Handbook and finalized a set of “Tips for Green Leaders” handouts on several topics, including Composting, Rain Gardens, Natural Household Cleaners, Lawn Maintenance, Native Plants, Rain Barrels, and Neighborhood Green (converting lawns to native habitats). In addition, the County completed the Green Leader Certification Form and a corresponding spreadsheet to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, energy, utility cost, and water savings from the green actions taken. The County secured a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, which will fund an online version of the Green Homes Challenge and help sustain the Challenge beyond the EPA Climate Showcase Communities funding.
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Project Summary
A Replicable, Multi-Level Green Home Certification Project
The Frederick County Green Homes Challenge is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and energy costs for households in Frederick County through home retrofit projects and installation of energy efficient devices and renewable energy systems. The Challenge is supported by partnerships with 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 is organizing the Green Homes Challenge, and is certifying households at three levels. The first level of certification is the Power Saver certification level, which focuses on community education and engagement, home energy audits, and energy-saving actions and retrofits. Powerware Parties are the primary outreach method. At these small social gatherings, program coordinators or volunteers distribute energy efficiency products, demonstrate technologies, teach people 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 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 also earn points for their actions towards a Power Saver certification.
Frederick County residents may also earn a Green Living Leader certification. Under this program, residents earn a certain number of points for sustainable 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
| Reported Results (as of September 2012) | Estimated Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual GHG Reductions | 283 mt CO2e | 2,268 mt CO2e |
Project Websites
- Frederick County Green Homes Challenge website
- Frederick County Green Ambassador Toolkit
- Frederick County Green Homes Challenge Twitter page
- Frederick County Green Homes Challenge Facebook page
Media Coverage
- Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources newsletter , Winter 2012
- Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources newsletter , Summer 2012
- Vendors Offer Latest in Wood, Lawn Products , 07/10/2012
- Rain gardens for everyone , 06/14/2012
- Power savers: A little goes a long way , 04/19/2012
- Conservation Corp Volunteers Visit Advocates for Homeless Families (PDF) (4 pp, 1.5M, About PDF) , Spring 2012
- Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources newsletter , Spring 2012
- Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources newsletter , Winter 2012
- 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