Maryland Energy Administration success stories

MEA distributes hundreds of millions of dollars throughout the state to stimulate energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy production. Those dollars fund significant returns toward Governor Martin O’Malley’s EmPower Maryland energy goals, which effects the lives of real Maryland citizens. To better understand where those dollars go and to see how they promote a Smart, Green & Growing Maryland, read the following MEA success stories:

• Energy Efficiency Keeps Carroll County Non-Profit Growing
  With a lack of air conditioning, Barbara Norman, General Manager of the Westminster Riding Club, was flustered with the prospect of losing business for WRC's event venue. As it turns out, WRC was a prime candidate for a Lawton Loan.

• Wood Stove Grants Bolster Business and Improve Energy Savings on the Lower Shore
  Steven Payne used to go through almost 200 gallons of propane each month. That's no longer the case since he installed a new, efficient wood stove in his home.
• Landover Hills Homeowner Saves $352 in Annual Energy Costs
  With the repair of a gas leak and the installation of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, Fratturelli's home is not only saving her money, it’s quite possibly saving her life, too.
• More Than a Million Dollars Saved, Thanks to Energy Efficiency Projects by Civic Works
  Since 2009, nearly 2,000 households received energy efficiency upgrade services from Civic Works, an urban service corps dedicated to strengthening communities in and around Baltimore.
• Queen Anne’s County Invests Clean Efficiency Funding to Save Money
  By working with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Queen Anne's County was empowered to meet its mission while reducing energy consumption and lowering energy costs.
• Vietnam Veteran Improves Comfort and Saves Money through Efficiency Upgrades
  Before making energy efficiency upgrades to his home, the only ways David Hale and his teenaged daughter could escape the heat were to duck into air-conditioned stores or to go swimming.
• Montgomery County Couple Improves Energy Efficiency and Generates Clean, Renewable Energy
  In the world of sustainable living, some just talk the talk. Montgomery County resident Jim Russ has been walking the walk for about 70 years.
• Electric Vehicle Charging Station Startup Powers Maryland then Goes National
  SemaConnect, founded by Annapolis-based entrepreneur Mahi Reddy, began designing and building charging stations for electric cars in 2009. In just a few short years, the company has surged onto the national scene.
• Highlandtown Healthy Living Center Promotes a Healthier Environment
  Baltimore Medical System’s Highlandtown Healthy Living Center saves more than $71,000 annually as a result of energy efficiency upgrades, which were made possible through the support of a $768,850 zero-interest loan from the Maryland Energy Administration.
• MEA Provides Energy Upgrades for Residents of Prince George's County
  United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) is the official Community Action Agency for Prince George’s County. In the past three years, UCAP has been awarded $906,000 in EmPOWERing Clean Communities Grant funding.
• Baltimore office building earns "High Performance Building Award"
  The aging office building had been in need of improvements for some time, and MEA helped make the project possible by providing the Buccini/Pollin development group with a low-interest loan.
• Morningside Park upgrades preserve affordable housing in Howard County
  The 60 unit senior community in Howard County received energy efficiency upgrades using funds acquired from an MEA grant to the Howard County Housing Commission (HCHC).
  
• Baltimore County resident harnesses sunlight to save on home energy costs
  J. F. Mergen accomplished the unthinkable: He doubled the square footage of his Baltimore County home, stabilized his energy bills, reduced his family’s carbon footprint, and saved money without sacrificing the Mergen’s quality of life.
• Efficiency upgrades for mid-shore retiree provide safeguards for the future
  The Talbot County resident improved the insulation in his crawl space, attic, and walls with the support of a $2,800 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration.
• MEA helps synagogue become one of the first solar congregations in Maryland
  The Adat Shalom synagogue in Bethesda, Maryland has always been the center of an ecologically-minded congregation.
• Bladensburg reduces energy use, saves money, and EmPOWERs Maryland
  Bladensburg's visitor center and its police department are now more energy efficient and comfortable.
• Windswept Grant eases greenhouse gas emissions on the Eastern Shore
  Seeking a less carbon-intensive way to power his Worcester County home, Michael Jenkins researched renewable energy options. He realized he had a great resource at his Stockton property: Wind.
• MEA EmPOWERs Garrett County community to save
  Using a $50,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), residents of Liberty Mews will save money on utility bills while enjoying new energy efficient appliances.
• Caroline County Habitat pairs MEA EmPOWER Grant funds with volunteer work
  Using a $50,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Caroline County Habitat for Humanity completed six energy efficiency upgrades for low to moderate income families.
• Through efficiency upgrades, University Park family increases its comfort level
  Through the MEA’s Home Performance Rebate Program, the family received a rebate of $1,550, which reduced the cost of their $4,244 efficiency upgrade.
• Small town reduces energy consumption, helps EmPOWER Maryland
  Galestown received a $5,000 EECBG grant from the Maryland Energy Administration, which it used for energy efficiency upgrades to its community center.
• MEA funds energy efficiency upgrades at St. Mary’s County senior living community
  Using a $50,000 grant from the MEA, residents of the Cedar Lane Senior Living Community in Leonardtown now save money on energy bills while enjoying a comfortable indoor climate regardless of weather.
• MEA enhances the energy efficiency benefits of a Montgomery County renovation
  Before renovations began in November of 2009, the then 71-year-old Frances Ballard had lived at the same address on Takoma Park’s Flower Ave. for more than 30 years. Now, she says, she hardly recognizes the place.
• MEA helps Grasonville residents harness solar power
  Using a $5,600 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Elaine and Greg Harrison installed a 4.6 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system on their Grasonville home.
• Nationally recognized car wash goes solar with no up front costs
  The addition of solar paneling to the iconic College Park Car Wash pushes this local small business into the future.
• MEA EmPOWERs Clean Energy Communities and visionary artists
  For Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum, replacing the HVAC chiller to the 15-year-old exhibition building was a critical fix.
• MEA helps Homes for America lower energy bills for low-income renters
  Homes for America, a housing nonprofit, received a $295,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) to reduce the costs of massive energy efficiency upgrades.
• Wind turbine system transforms country home into "green" dream house
  Skeptics of clean energy’s impact should consider Henry and Nancy Maier, the Allegany County couple who converted a charming, three-story farmhouse into their very own “green” paradise.

Do You Have An Energy Success Story You'd like to Share?

If you or your company have benefited from MEA programs or incentives, you could be featured in our newsletter. Please submit your story for consideration to meainfo@energy.state.md.us or call our office for more details: 410-260-7655.

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Energy Empowers

Read more Maryland success stories at the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Empowers website.