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2nd Annual
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March 27
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Browning Bldg.
Pine Cliff Park
All certified Power Savers and Green Leaders Welcome!
40+ Prizes plus
Live Music by
RSVP to
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TWO OPTIONS
FOR
CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AT HOME |  |
Washington Gas
Energy Services'
program gives residential utility customers in Frederick County the option to choose electricity generated at regional wind farms for their homes. Click here for more information and to check the current rates for 1 and 2 year contracts with options for 50 - 100% of your electricity coming from wind power.
Constellation Energy
Constellation offers electricity supplied from wind farms located within the PJM control area. Rates are locked in for one year. Click here to check rates and sign up.
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RESOURCES for
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
IMPROVEMENTS
at HOME
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EVENTS &TRAINING
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BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS & RENEWABLE ENERGY
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Making Connections
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Redbud and Other Native Seedling Planting in Frederick County
Photo by Heather Montgomery
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Greetings!
Have you noticed the buds on the trees and song birds signaling that spring is right around the corner? We're preparing for a lot of activity in our office with projects and events this season. This issue of our newsletter has a lot of information to get you thinking about earth friendly practices for your home and yard, as well as a list of events and activities to get your family outdoors for Earth Day and more.
At the end of the month we will be recognizing households certified with our Green Homes Challenge (mine included), and I hope to see many of you there!
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MCWA UPDATES |
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OSER OPPORTUNITY:
One Year Chesapeake Conservation Corps Position
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OSER is aiming to host its third Chesapeake Conservation Corps (CCC) Volunteer for the 2013-2014 service year. The Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) CCC Volunteer program, open to people aged 18-25, is a competitive opportunity for Volunteer Applicants and Host Organizations that are selected and matched by CBT. CCC volunteers receive an annual stipend of $15,500, plus health insurance. The one-year paid internship starts August 27, 2013.
If successfully matched, OSER's Corps Volunteer will be involved in all aspects of the Green Homes Challenge and will help develop and coordinate the Riparian Buffers for Frederick County Streams program with select Frederick County Schools.
For the Riparian Buffers program, activities will include 1) curriculum research and development for three planting projects; 2) classroom and community outreach; 3) planting plan development; and 4) installation of approximately five acres of riparian buffers in Frederick County. For the Green Homes Challenge, the Corps Volunteer will serve as a Challenge Navigator, helping households to reduce energy use, adopt environmentally friendly practices, use renewable energy, and complete the Challenges. S/he will also be involved with community outreach and education, the Solarize Frederick County initiative, program evaluation, and participant recognition.
Candidates interested in OSER's CCC position may contact Lisa Orr, 301.600.6864.
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SOLARIZE FREDERICK COUNTY UPDATE
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Solarize Frederick County, a special 2013 initiative of the
Renewable Star Challenge, will offer volume purchasing discounts and a limited number of incentive grants for both solar photovoltaic systems and solar hot water systems. Visit the Solarize webpage for details and to express interest.
In February, we kicked off the education and outreach component of the initiative. Our Solarize 101 Workshop attracted nearly 50 participants from the Villages of Urbana. This workshop is open to the public and will be offered multiple times in our pilot communities, Myersville and the Villages of Urbana, and at other Frederick County locations.
Next Solarize 101 Workshop
March 21, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Winchester Hall, 12 E. Church St.Frederick
Reserve your seat by contacting
As of press time, several potential system installers have submitted their proposals, which will include tiered volume discounts for systems purchased, leased or installed under a power purchase agreement. Solarize installers will be selected by the Town of Myersville by mid-April at which point the enrollment period will begin for households throughout Frederick County interested in installing solar electric or solar thermal (hot water) systems. The enrollment period will extend from mid April until the end of August and all systems will be installed by the end of 2013.
To participate in Solarize Frederick County, homeowners must be registered with Challenge 3 of the Green Homes Challenge,
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WATERSHED MANAGEMENT UPDATE:
Take Advantage of the Neighborhood Green Program
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For the past three years, Frederick County has collaborated with Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance partners to offer the
Neighborhood Green program. This program provides landowners with the knowledge and tools needed to convert unused lawn to forest. By converting portions of lawn to forest or hedgerows, landowners can save money in energy costs, encourage wildlife viewing, create privacy and sound buffers, and provide their local community with water and air quality benefits.
Next Neighborhood Green Workshop
Saturday, May 18, 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Linganore High School
 Last year, thanks to a generous grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the Neighborhood Green program was able to offer additional cost-share assistance to landowners interested in planting native trees and shrubs in the Linagnore Creek watershed, the source of drinking water for much of our County. Landowners with properties in the Linganore Creek watershed (New Market, Mt. Airy and parts of eastern Frederick and western Carroll County) can apply for up to 90% in cost-share for contracted tree planting (includes planting of the tree seedlings and installation of tree shelters and stakes). All residents of Frederick County (and parts of Carroll County) are eligible for the following resources offered through the Neighborhood Green program: Free soil test and analysis: Testing your soil provides information about the amount and type of fertilizer that will work best for your lawn. It can also be helpful in determining which types of plants will grow well in your yard. Personalized site visit by a natural resource professional: If you are interested in planting native trees and shrubs on your property; managing invasive species; and creating a more natural, sustainable landscape, our natural resource professionals would be happy to meet with you on your property to advise you. Neighborhood Green workshop: On Saturday, May 18th, we will host a half-day workshop from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Linganore High School. Topics covered in the workshop include Reforestation & Invasive Species control, Creating Wildlife Habitat, and Nutrient Management. There will also be a presentation by past participants of the Neighborhood Green program. We will also provide participants with helpful literature and websites, seedlings to take home, a soil test, and the option to schedule a site visit by a natural resource professional. Registration fee: $10. The Neighborhood Green program is a pilot program funded through spring 2014. If you would like to take advantage of any of the resources offered above, please don't hesitate to fill out an interest form online. For additional information or questions, contact Heather Montgomery at 301-600-1741 or HMontgomery@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
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GREEN HOMES CHALLENGE UPDATE:
85 Energy Efficient Homes & 2013 Recognition Event
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Eighty-five Frederick County homes are being sealed, insulated, and upgraded to help families save on energy costs and increase home comfort. In addition, many of these homes will be recognized at the upcoming Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event and have the chance to win prizes. Power Saver Retrofits, a pilot program concluding in May 2013, pairs households with a professional energy efficiency contractor that diagnoses the home's energy problems, makes recommendations for improvements, and performs the retrofits. Each household contributes a minimum of $400 to the work, with Frederick County covering up to $1,600.
When Gary Smith heard about the Power Saver Retrofits Program, he applied right away to make improvements on the home that he rents to his daughter's family. The home's assigned contractor,
Atlas Home Energy Solutions, sealed and insulated the attic, ductwork, and basement rim joist, installed a programmable thermostat, insulated an HVAC refrigerant line, and re-routed bathroom exhaust fans out of the attic (to prevent moisture issues). Watch the Power Saver Retrofits video featuring the Siske-Smith Household to learn more about the retrofits that were completed.
Along with some behavioral changes and small do-it-yourself upgrades made in the home, completing these major energy efficiency improvements helped the Siske-Smith Household certify as Power Savers. All Certified
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ENERGY SAVERS: Laundry Tips and Facts
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Winter is almost over and soon the weather will be more suitable for line drying clothes outdoors. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, approximately 87.5% of Americans use a clothes dryer in the home and 23.6% do not. Line drying can save significant amounts of energy and money. Over its expected lifetime of 18 years, the average clothes dryer will cost you approximately $1,530 to operate. Project Laundry List provides a sophisticated Green Laundry Calculator spreadsheet to estimate all your family's laundry expenses.
Here's a tip that can cut your clothes' time in the dryer significantly. Before putting your clothes in the dryer, throw in a clean bath towel and then put your clothes in. If there is still room, add another dry towel, but don't over load. By adding dry absorbent towels, moisture will be wicked away from your wet clothes and they will dry quicker. If you have a moisture sensor, use it; or set the time for the least amount of time you think it will take to dry your clothes. Experiment and see how quickly you can dry that laundry!
If you do want to line dry clothes or have limited space, try using clothes hangers. Using clothes pins, each hanger can be turned into a mini-clothesline for 6-7 socks, dish towels, underwear, handkerchiefs, and more. This technique works well indoors or out, and can even be used on a clothesline to maximize space.
Cool is Clean! Just because it's cold outside, doesn't mean you need warm or hot water in your washing machine to get your clothes clean. According to the Department of Energy's Energy Star program, 90% of the energy needed to wash clothes is used to heat water. Based on average electricity costs and approximately 390 loads of wash per year, hot water washing costs $0.68 per load and $265 per year, whereas cold water washing costs only $0.04 per load or $16 per year. What could you do with an extra $249 each year? Hmmm, college fund? 83 tall lattes?
Are you thinking you will need special cold water detergent? Not so! Consumer Reports found that many standard detergents clean just fine in cold water. Recent surveys in neighborhoods around the country found that about 50% of households are washing in cold water. Those that do believe that washing in cold water "is good for the environment," "makes clothes last longer," and saves energy and money." So join the "Cool is Clean" club!
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BUSINESS CORNER:
Stadler's Nursery
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Clarksburg Elementary students plant trees on Earth Day through Stadler's Grants for Gardens Program.
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Are you ready to make your outdoor space more beautiful, productive, and sustainable this season? Consider using native plants and environmentally friendly gardening strategies and products. Stadler Nurseries, a local plant and landscaping supplier with locations in Frederick, Laytonsville, and Manassas, is one place you can find native plants and information, products, and services related to green gardening.
Stadler Nurseries aims to become a major supplier of native plants in the Mid-Atlantic region; they currently offer over 150 varieties. 95% of Stadler's plants come from within 500 miles of the nursery, with annual and perennial plants coming from within 100 miles of the nursery. Their products include a complete line of compost, organic mulches, organic fertilizers, organic pest control products, and organic herb plants. They also partner with the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) to provide rain barrels.
In addition to providing sustainable gardening products, Stadler Nurseries makes significant contributions to the local community. Stadler's Grants for Gardens Program provides six $500 grants to local schools each year to engage students, staff, and parents with planning, installation, and maintenance of school gardens. Through their landscaping department, they install and maintain reforestation and bioretention projects, which can help to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality by naturally filtering sediment and pollutants.
Stadler Nurseries also offers information, services, and products for residents related to green gardens and sustainable landscaping, encouraging practices such as attracting wildlife, efficient watering, organic gardening, reforesting, and reducing energy costs through strategic plantings. They are currently development a new Eco-Easy program that will engage community members in environmental landscaping through online media and seminars.
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MYTHBUSTERS:
MYTH - Rain Barrels & Rain Gardens are Mosquito Breeding Sites |
Connected to your downspout, a rain barrel collects rainwater as it flows off your roof, protecting the local watershed from stormwater run-off and storing water to use on plants during dry weather. Likewise, rain gardens are deep basins of porous soil that soak up and filter rainwater, rather than letting it run-off into nearby storm drains and streams. Rain barrels and rain gardens are great tools for reducing stormwater run-off and protecting the environment. But doesn't sitting water provide a breeding site for mosquitoes?

If designed properly, rain barrels and rain gardens do not provide mosquito breeding sites. Rain barrels must have a screened lid to keep mosquitoes out. As added benefits, the screen also protects children and animals from drowning and keeps out leaves and other debris. Properly designed rain gardens are meant to sink water quickly, rather than collect it in on the surface. After a heavy rain storm, a rain garden may contain some pooled water, but it should be absorbed into the ground within 24 hours.
In fact, properly designed rain barrels and rain gardens can actually reduce mosquito habitat in your yard. Ever notice that low areas in your yard are really wet after a storm? That soil is likely very compacted and unable to absorb water quickly enough to deal with the flow from your roof and other areas of your yard. Rain barrels and rain gardens capture that rainwater, rather than letting it sit open on the surface where mosquitoes can breed.
To further reduce mosquito breeding habitat, cover or turn over containers like buckets, flower pots, and garbage cans. You can even control mosquito populations by creating bird habitat; install a few bird houses and plant some bird-attracting shrubs and trees- maybe even in your rain garden!
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The Frederick County Sustainability and Environmental Resources Office advances practical solutions for protecting the environment, conserving energy, and living sustainably in Frederick County.
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