Starting an Efficiency Project
Are you looking to enhance your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your utility bills? You are in the right place! The Maryland Clean Energy Center offers a range of programs and resources designed to make energy-saving upgrades more accessible and affordable. From financial support through the Clean Energy Advantage (CEA) Loan Program to resources for tracking down the right incentive, there are numerous ways to reduce the cost of improving your home’s comfort and efficiency. You will have everything you need to make informed decisions and achieve significant savings. explore how these programs can help you take control of your energy use and contribute to a greener future.
Assessment and Exploration
Understanding your current energy use pattern and considering your energy objectives are the first steps in a clean energy project.
- Assess Your Current Use: A home energy assessment or audit is a good place to start in evaluating opportunities to upgrade or improve your energy efficiency.
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- Energy Saver 101 Infographic: The Department of Energy’s Energy Saver 101 home energy assessment infographic illustrates what energy assessors look for and the special tools they use to determine where a home is wasting energy.
- Invest in Efficiency: Whether it’s changing your behavior around your energy use, small home projects to improve energy efficiency, or upgrading appliances to more energy efficient models.
- Explore Energy Supplier Options: Either through a different energy supplier or through the installation of renewable energy technology in your home.
- Consider Personal Energy Objectives: There are many options for expanding your use of clean energy and energy efficiency. Outlining your personal and budget goals can help you prioritize which projects to tackle first.
Finalizing the Idea
Once you have gathered the necessary information about how you currently use energy, how you would like to change your usage, and your investment priorities, it’s time to formalize the project concept. With this information in hand, you will be able to identify the resources to bring your project to completion.
Starting an Energy Efficiency Project
Plan and Prioritize
If you are ready to make your home more energy-efficient, start by planning your projects. Tackle the easy, inexpensive measures first, including behavior changes, then focus on improvements that will have the biggest impact on your energy use and comfort, like upgrading insulation, windows, and HVAC systems.
Explore Financing and Incentives
Utilities offer rebates, tax credits, and loan programs to help with the cost of energy-efficient upgrades. Look into programs like the Clean Energy Advantage Loan Program (CEA) to make your project more affordable. Federal, state, and local incentives are also available, and can often be combined to make a project more affordable.
The CEA Program offers financing for energy efficiency home improvements to all Maryland residents, regardless of income. Eligible improvements include home insulation and air sealing projects, HVAC and water heating systems, and energy efficient windows and doors.
Participating contractors are available for Baltimore Gas & Electric, Delmarva Power, Pepco, Potomac Edison, SMECO, and Washington Gas service territories, and can help you take advantage of the following program benefits:
- No interest for the first 12 months
- Fixed interest rates (currently below market rates) for the length of the loan. Choose from 3-, 5- or 10-year loan terms
- Combine loans with utility rebates and can include other state and federal incentives
- No program fees paid by the homeowner or contractor
Hire Qualified Professionals
When hiring contractors for your project, check reviews, ask for references, and get multiple quotes to find a reputable professional. The CEA Loan Program provides a database of qualified contractors and can be filtered by utility.