Sustainable Energy Resources

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Resources for Residents

Energy Resiliency Zone Initiative

The Energy Resiliency Zones (ERCs) Initiative is an effort by the County to focus on uplifting neighborhoods that face significant economic, health, public safety, and educational challenges. The ERCs evolved from a County initiative, formerly known as the Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative (TNI), which utilized several metric indicators such as education, public safety, and employment to identify key neighborhoods across the County needing holistic uplifting.

Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 21 defines resilience as "the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover rapidly from disruptions." From an energy perspective, resiliency is preparing for and adapting to utility disruptions and recovering quickly. It involves deploying distributed energy resources such as energy efficiency, renewable energy such as solar PV and thermal, battery storage, and microgrids. Through this initiative, the County will improve the quality of life in those communities while identifying ways to improve service delivery for all residents. You can use the locator tool to determine if you live within an ERC area: Energy Resiliency Communities (ERC) Address Locator.

• Pepco Energy Saving Programs
• Quick Home Energy Check-Up (QHEC)

During a QHEC, trained Energy Analysts will: 

• Assess your home’s energy use; 
• Recommend energy-saving improvements;
• Help you start saving right away by installing free energy-saving products (up to 14 LED bulbs, electric hot water heater pipe wrap, ShowerStart™ showerhead adapters, efficient-flow showerheads, sink/faucet aerators, and SmartPower strips). 

This program is provided at no extra cost to your existing Pepco service. This cannot be used as the Clean Energy Grant's qualifying audit (please look at the HPwES below).

• Pepco’s Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) for discounted $100

Pepco customers can receive a whole-house energy audit for only $100 (typically valued at $400). Professionally certified auditors perform all of the work described in the QHEC above, but they go a step further when residents receive a home energy assessment by participating in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) Program. This "whole=house" audit looks at how a combination of improvements can result in a more comfortable home and lower energy consumption and costs in a prioritized manner. The necessary step in HPwES participation is selecting from a pre-approved list of contractors to schedule your home energy audit by visiting homeenergysavings.pepco.com/md/residential/home-performance-with-energy-star-program/overview/participating-contractors. 

This audit is required to qualify for the Clean Energy Grant (the QHEC audit above does provide sufficient data).

• Sustainable Energy Implementation Plan, including grant applicability information

• Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program

  HIP creates housing and economic security for low- and moderate-income households and provides services that improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.

• Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland (HFHMM) Home Repair & Weatherization program

  The program is a construction-based resource that provides qualified moderate to low-and- income homeowners with necessary health and safety-related home repairs as well as eligible Weatherization Services (air sealing, insulation, some appliance replacement, HVAC system upgrades), Critical Home Repairs (accessibility modifications, repair or replacement of critical home components like roofs and windows), and Minor Home Repairs (exterior paint, porch repair, gutter/soffit/fascia repair).

• Participating Contractors in the Home Performance with Energy STAR Program

  Find a Participating Contractor near you and get started with Home Performance ENERGY STAR

• EmPower Maryland

  This is the surcharge on your Pepco bill called EmPOWER MD charges. These programs include lighting and appliance rebates for homeowners, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (including home energy assessments and 50% rebates for energy improvements like insulation and air sealing), commercial lighting rebates, and energy efficiency services for industrial facilities.

• EmPOWER Maryland Low Income Energy Efficiency Program

  Maryland’s EmPOWER Program helps low-income households with the installation of materials and equipment at no charge.

• Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)

  The updated Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency helps homeowners and businesses find incentive programs to reduce or defray installation or purchase costs of technologies like photovoltaic systems.

• The Maryland WholeHome Program

  Maryland WholeHome grants and low-interest rate loans can be used to upgrade energy-efficient appliances, repair or replace heating and cooling systems, replace insulation, add accessibility features for seniors or those with special needs, remove lead paint, upgrade plumbing, and address structural and maintenance issues. With low-interest rate loans and grants, having a healthier home that saves money is easier than ever.

• The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Incentives

  The Maryland Energy Administration manages grants, loans, rebates, and tax incentives to help attain Maryland’s goals in energy reduction, renewable energy, climate action, and green jobs. Through the programs below, MEA helps Maryland residents, businesses, non-profits, and local governments implement energy efficiency upgrades and install renewable energy systems.

• Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE)

  The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement is responsible for coordinating and enforcing standards that control what happens before, during, and after construction.

• Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development Community Development Block Grant

  The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)’s Community Planning and Development Division, provides annual grants on a formula basis to municipalities and non-profit organizations.

•  Utility Bill Assistance - Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs

  The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) provides bill assistance to low-income households in the State of Maryland to make their energy costs more affordable and to help prevent loss and restore home energy service. 

  Energy assistance will not reduce the amount of any other public assistance benefits you receive, such as TCA or Food Stamps. Nor will it reduce Social Security benefits.

• Utility Bill Assistance - Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF)

  WAFF was established by Washington Gas and The Salvation Army more than 35 years ago, helping to pay for all types of fuel to heat the homes (via gas, electric, etc.) of people in financial need. 

• EmPOWER Maryland Incentives 
  • The EmPOWER of Maryland Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP) helps residents of low-income households install energy conservation materials in their homes at no charge.
  • Pepco’s Energy Saving Programs
  • Potomac Edison’s Energy Saving Programs
  • Washington Gas’ Energy Saving Program
  • BGE Smart Energy Savers Program

Solar Resources

• Prince George’s County - Solar and Geothermal Residential Property Tax Credit
  • Residents who have adopted solar PV at their homes may receive up to $5,000 in the form of a tax credit. Please visit https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10244/Alternative-Energy-Tax-Credit-Application-PDF to complete the application.
• The Maryland Energy Administration Residential Clean Energy Grant Program
  • Residents receive up to $1,000 back for the installation of a Solar PV system that is more than 1 kW-DC in size
• Energy Sage 
  • The easiest way to go solar! Installers compete for your business to give you more options and the best deal. Free instant solar estimate for homes, businesses & non-profits.

Maryland Solar United Neighbors is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing the needs and interests of solar enthusiasts by ensuring that residents understand how solar works, how it can be financed, and how it can be installed in their homes for cheaper via solar co-ops. Co-ops are any group who can take advantage of the group’s bulk-purchasing power to get discounted pricing and a quality installation.
 

Resources for Commercial Properties and Businesses

• For a glossary of energy and energy-efficiency-related terms, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency &  Renewable Energy (EERE) Glossary of Energy-Related Terms.
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Glossary
• Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships: Mid-Atlantic Technical Reference Manual
• Maryland Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Program - Register solar systems to generate and sell solar renewable energy credits (SRECs)

• Find a Service Provider /Trade Ally

  Prince George’s County’s Supplier Development and Diversity Division (SDDD) maintains a directory of certified Prince George’s County suppliers and providers of goods & services and/or contractors. SDDD strongly believes the certified firms in each directory have the skill and capability to deliver quality services and products. Applicants can visit the Office of Central Services Supplier Directories or call 301-883-6480 for assistance.

Resource for Green Leasing Best Practices 

Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and Better Buildings run a recognition program for those in the real estate community who have successfully used green leasing in their operations. This website contains award requirements and past recipients. www.greenleaselibrary.com.

For more information, please visit the Green Lease Leaders application. The site provides examples of green lease activities and responses are not limited to the examples provided.

Electric Vehicle Charging Incentives

Pepco and BGE customers can now take advantage of new rebates to help offset the cost of the Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station pilot. Through a new program, both utilities provide two types of vehicle charger rebates for homes and multifamily properties.

Pepco Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Program

• Residential – Pepco offers up to $300 rebates for qualifying Maryland residential customers who install an eligible Level 2 smart charger at their single-family home after July 1, 2019.
• Multifamily – Property managers, owners, and even homeowners associations can take advantage of EV rebates up to $25,000 on qualified charging equipment installation of Level 2 smart chargers and for a 100% discount on installation at your property.

 BGE Electric Vehicle Charging Pilot Program 

• Residential—Use this resource to receive rebates and incentives (up to $300) for adopting an EV into your lifestyle. It provides general EV information, as well as information on finding and comparing available EVs and charger stations. 
• Multifamily—Property managers, owners, and even homeowners associations may be eligible to receive incentives up to $25,000 for installing Level 2 smart chargers or DC fast chargers on their properties.  

Read DPIE's Guidelines for Permitting Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (September 2022) for residents.

Please stay tuned for more information on the public electric vehicle charging process.