County Awarded Grant for Energy-Saving Improvements for Moderate- & Low-Income Homeowners
Approximately 150 moderate- and low-income homeowners will receive a comprehensive home performance audit and energy saving improvements thanks to a $930,000 grant awarded to the Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources. The Maryland Energy Administration announced the grant as part of its EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Program.
“We are very pleased to be awarded this grant so we can provide energy-saving home enhancements for many homeowners,” commented County Executive Jan Gardner. “The 2016 Power Saver Retrofits program will help our residents who would not have been able to afford heating and cooling system improvements, energy-efficient appliances, lighting upgrades and other repairs to correct health and safety issues.”
Frederick County has received the grant for the third year in a row, and this year received the highest award in the state. Previous grants have served 216 county households.
There is no cost to the homeowner to participate in the Power Saver Retrofits program. If an audit determines that a home’s heating and cooling system is fine, $5,000 is available for efficiency improvements. If a home’s system needs to be replaced, $8,000 is available for both efficiency improvements and heating and cooling system upgrades.
Participants must be Frederick County homeowners and registered in the Green Homes Challenge. Other requirements and application forms may be found at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/GreenHomes. The county is taking applications for a waiting list while the grant documents are being processed. The program is expected to launch in late June.
For more information, contact Coordinator Lisa Orr at 301-600-6864 or via e-mail at lorr@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
