Solar Bethesda June 25

Bethesda Green invites homeowners to Solar Bethesda, June 25

Become more energy independent, save on your utility bills and contribute to a healthier environment

Solar power has never been more affordable, thanks to technological advances and generous government rebates and tax credits. If you are a homeowner or commercial energy consumer, Solar Bethesda is a free, one-day event where you can have your questions answered by solar experts. Learn about solar costs, benefits, rebates and tax credits; hear from neighbors about their experience with solar power or solar hot water; check your home’s solar readiness with satellite mapping; and meet with local solar contractors.

Peggy Dennis, President of the Montgomery County Civic Federation, attended the inaugural Solar Bethesda in 2010 and, as a homeowner with recently installed solar panels, is participating in a residential roundtable discussion at this year’s event.

“Coming to Solar Bethesda last summer gave me the inspiration and information I needed to go forward with the process of having solar panels installed,” said Dennis. “The companies I worked with were great at making everything from paperwork to installation go very smoothly, and now we’re enjoying the benefit of having electric bills that are almost non-existent.”

Sponsors and exhibitors include leading solar solution providers, as well as other energy and financing experts from the public and private sectors, including lead sponsors Standard Solar, Kenergy Solar, Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, and Solar Energy World.

Solar Bethesda takes place Saturday, June 25, 10 am – 4 pm at Bethesda Green, 4825 Cordell Avenue, Suite 200, above the Capital One Bank at the corner of Cordell and Woodmont in Bethesda. Attendance is free and we will have activities for the kids. Please RSVP at http://www.bethesdagreen.org.

 

Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credits Expire Soon

Montgomery County Energy InfoWIRE posted this important reminder:

Time is running out to take advantage of federal tax credits for energy-efficiency improvements.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides a tax credit for 30% of the cost or up to $1,500 towards specific energy-efficiency improvements for residential properties in 2009 and 2010.  These credits are slated to expire at the end of this year.  So if you have been thinking about that insulation job, heating and cooling system replacement, or new windows now is the time to talk to your local service and product providers.

If you are considering a solar or geothermal system, no reason to panic. These credits are slated to be available until 2016.  As always, consider consulting an appropriate tax professional regarding the eligibility of improvements.

The DOE Energy Savers Program has published a helpful fact sheet on the federal tax credits http://www.energysavers.gov/pdfs/48148.pdf

 

Solar Home Tours in D.C. and Maryland in October

Just got word about these–a bit late for today’s DC Area Solar Homes Tour, but it continues tomorrow, October 3, so you can still make it!

- DC Area Solar Homes & Buildings Tour – Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3, 11am – 5pm
Tour guide available at www.SolarTour.org (free download), or at local REI stores and other select local retailers ($5 at the stores).

- Western MD Solar Homes Tour – Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3, 11am – 5pm
Tour guide/ticket are $2 each and available at area locations in Western Maryland (see http://www.solartour.org/md/index.html for details).

- The Capitol Hill Energy Cooperative Solar Home Tour and Fair – Saturday, Oct. 16, 10am – 5pm
Fair at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation located on East Capitol Street – just 2 blocks from the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court.
Tickets for the solar home tour will be available at the Fair for $10 per adult (kids get in free). https://sites.google.com/site/capitolhillsolartour

 

Local Green News and Events for August 30

Here’s a bit of what’s been happening in green and what’s upcoming.

• Maryland Reduces Solar Incentives–Last week the Maryland Energy Administration decreased solar grant amounts, in an effort to make the incentives available to more people. The popular program awarded 2,000 grants in fiscal year 2010 and several hundred more await approval. In order to stretch its solar-grant budget, MEA reduced the amounts it will award for solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems. Get More Info
• George Washington Named One of Top 100 Green Campuses–The current issue of Sierra magazine ranks GW University No. 57 in the Sierra Club’s ranking of “Cool Schools”–colleges doing the most in terms of environmental sustainability, among schools that filled out a Sierra Club questionnaire. Some other local schools were rated out of the top 100: Goucher College (116), University of Richmond (119), and University of Maryland, Baltimore County (158).
• County Reaches Agreement With WGES Regarding Misleading Advertising Claims–In early August, the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection secured an agreement with Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES) to correct some misleading claims in its advertising. WGES is an electricity provider competing with PEPCO. The county found WGES misled consumers with claims of “guaranteed savings” and “a guaranteed low electricity price,” while comparing its offers to incorrect descriptions of PEPCO offers. WGES agreed to change its advertising, but admitted no wrongdoing.
• Are Organic Eggs Safer? With the recent recall of more than 500 million eggs, many from big farms in Iowa, you may be wondering whether organic eggs are safer due to the way they are produced. CNN investigated this topic (video).

Local Green Events

• Sept. 1-3, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.–Sweetgreen Job Fair, Reston, Va.–Sweetgreen, a local salad and yogurt concept (and a Bethesda Green small-business sponsor) is looking for creative, charismatic and hardworking individuals to join their rapidly expanding team. Join them at  Reston Town Center this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to learn more about this opportunity!
• Sept. 2, 5:00-8:00 p.m.–Bethesda Green First Thursday Happy Hour! Gather with us at Yamas Mediterranean Grill, 4806 Rugby Ave. in Bethesda, for casual conversation and social networking. This monthly event rotates venues, but has turned out to be most sustainable!
• Sept. 22 — Car Free Day Metro DC – Go Car Free or Car-Lite and make a difference for a day by bicycling, walking, teleworking, carpooling, vanpooling or taking transit. Pledge today and you’re automatically entered into a raffle for cool prizes!

 

Come to Solar Bethesda, a Free Solar Expo, June 12

Solar electric panels grace a roof on Lisa Heaton's home in Bethesda. (Photo by Lisa Heaton)

It’s getting hot—and humid—here in the Washington, DC, area. Learn how you can put all that solar radiation to work for you—and how much more affordable it is now, thanks to federal, state and local incentives.

Join Bethesda Green at our first annual Solar Bethesda Expo, Saturday, June 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  It will take place at the Bethesda Green offices, 4825 Cordell Ave., 2nd Floor, in Bethesda, Md.

Solar Bethesda’s Gold Sponsors are Solar Energy World and the Maryland Clean Energy Center.

We’ll have exhibits from 13 local solar and energy companies, including one station where you’ll be able to view your home using satellite mapping—to determine how suitable your site is for a solar power system.

Representatives from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and the Maryland Clean Energy Center will be there, too.

You can get info on costs, benefits, various types of solar equipment, tax credits and other incentives. We’ll have one discussion about solar purchasing cooperatives. There will also be a panel discussion featuring local residents who are living with solar systems.

Solar Really Pays for One Neighbor

One Bethesda homeowner who will be on the panel is Lisa Heaton, who had a 4.5 kilowatt solar electric system installed on her roof in May 2009. It cost her about $5,000–after a federal tax credit, a Montgomery County grant of $5000, and a Maryland grant of $10,000. And she’ll earn back her investment fairly quickly, thanks to much lower electric bills. To wit:

In 2009, their first calendar year with solar, Lisa and family paid a total of $591 for electricity. From January through April 2010 they paid $117.  In comparison, during their last full year with only Pepco power, they paid $2,035–so they saved $1,444 on electricity that first year and this year they’ll probably save around $1,684. At that rate, the system will pay for itself in another two years. Plus they are generating their own electricity with no emissions!

And that doesn’t even count the months, such as this past April, when the Heatons generated more electricity than they used, resulting in a $53 credit from Pepco!

So it does pay to go solar! And solar hot water systems are even less expensive.

Come to Solar Bethesda, Saturday, June 12, and find out if solar is right for your home!

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EVENT INFO:

Solar Bethesda expo

When: Saturday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Bethesda Green, 4825 Cordell Ave., 2nd Floor, Bethesda, Md. (we’re in the Chevy Chase Bank building!)

Click Here to RSVP

[Do you already have solar? Tell us about your experience by leaving a comment!]

 

Sustainable design presentation at Bethesda Green

John Spears, president of Sustainable Design Group

Ecological pioneer John Spears kicked off the first of what will be monthly Bethesda Green lunchtime discussions October 13 with an informative presentation about building energy self-sufficient homes.  Nearly 20 attendees learned about a variety of renewable energy sources and the financial paybacks for investing in them.

Spears, president of Sustainable Design Group, is an internationally recognized expert with 30 years experience in energy conservation, renewable energy systems, indoor air quality and sustainable design.  He provides design and consulting services in the areas of residential and commercial building energy conservation, renewable energy systems, “Green Building” design, indoor air quality and sustainable community development.

Bethesda Green is featuring a number of Upcoming Events in October on Energy Efficiency, including an introductory 101 workshop Wednesday, Oct. 21, 7-9 pm.

Bethesda Green's Solar Decathlon visitors

After the Spears presentation, a group headed down to DC to visit the Solar Decathlon, which runs until Oct. 18.  The Solar Decathlon, an event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, presents the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design.  Set up on the Washington Mall, the event joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.