Green Registry Annual Leadership Awards

Applications for Maryland Green Registry Annual Leadership Awards due tomorrow    It's time to apply for the 2011 Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards. Applications are due tomorrow.                The Maryland Green Registry website includes information on the awards and how to apply. The Registry promotes and recognizes sustainable practices at organizations of all types and sizes. It is a part of Smart, Green & Growing, an initiative introduced by Governor Martin O'Malley in 2008 to foster a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for Maryland families.     To apply for the 2011 Leadership Awards, an organization must be a member of the Maryland Green Registry -- but you can join now and apply for the awards. Your organization can become a member of the Registry for free by going to the Maryland Green Registry website.      Applicants for the Leadership Awards are asked to submit a brief statement highlighting one or more of the environmental projects or practices described in their Maryland Green Registry profile.  Awards statements should be submitted to MarylandGreen@mde.state.md.us by tomorrow, Friday, April 29.  Maryland Green Registry Leadership Award winners will be recognized at a Membership and Awards event on June 7, featured on the Maryland Green Registry website, and promoted throughout the year.     1800 Washington Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21230 1-800-633-6101  |  www.mde.state.md.us

Five Things That Can't Be Trashed or Recycled by Home Hints ENews

Courtesy of Home Hints ENews

Wondering what to do with the cans of unneeded paint or your stash of old batteries taking up space in your house and garage? You know you shouldn't throw them out, but it really is time to get rid of them. Resist the temptation to toss them in the trash anyway. The reason: They (and everything on the list below) contain toxic chemicals capable of contaminating the environment if not disposed of properly.

Unlike items that are picked up at the curb, you'll have to make a special effort to unload these ones responsibly. But, with a little advance planning and some good info, you'll see that it's really quite simple to dispose of these seemingly mysterious items. Here's how:

    * Batteries. Recycling rechargeable batteries is fairly easy. Home Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and other retailers take them back free of charge. There are fewer options for single-use batteries, but look for bins at your local Whole Foods Market, Ikea, or library. Otherwise, your best bet is the local household hazardous waste drop-off site. Where is it and what are your closest drop-off options? Search here http://www.homehintsenews.com/dbpage.asp?page_name=notrashrecycle for answers.

    * CFLs. These energy-efficient bulbs are becoming easier to get rid of. Just drop old bulbs off at any Home Depot or Ikea for free recycling. Or ask about CFL recycling at your local Ace Hardware or home improvement store. You can search locally for other nearby solutions.

    * Electronics. Every retailer that takes back rechargeable batteries also accepts mobile phones, as do most wireless providers. For computers, cameras, televisions and others, it's worthwhile to do a little homework because some stores charge fees depending on item and brand. Check out Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot to see what's the best fit. Some places, like Radio Shack, have trade-in programs where you can receive store credit for your old gadgets.

    * Motor Oil. In case you need some motivation, consider this: Every gallon of used motor oil that's improperly disposed of can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water. Bring it to Wal-Mart, Autozone, Jiffy Lube, or search online for more convenient choices.

    * Paint. It's among the harder items in this group to dispose of, but it's worth it and totally doable. Remember, with proper planning and application, paint disposal is usually unnecessary. Buy the right amount for your project.  Apply a second coat and touch up areas that need improvement. If the paint is still in good shape, consider donating it. Liquid wastes are restricted from municipal solid waste landfills – never throw away leftover liquid paints in your trash. The National Paint and Coatings Association suggests:

Latex Paint Disposal Steps

   1. Unused latex paint should be poured into an absorbent material such as a cat box filler, shredded newspaper or sawdust.
     
   2. Let it dry completely and dispose of the dried material in your regular trash.
     
   3. In areas where recycling programs exist, save the dry, empty containers with the lids off for a steel can recycling program. Small amounts of dried residue will not hinder steel can recycling.
     
   4. Wash your paint brushes and painting tools in the sink. Never clean your paint brushes near a storm sewer drain.

Solvent-Based Paint Disposal

Solvent-based or alkyd paints require special disposal practices. Solvent-based paints are ignitable and present particular hazards. These products should not be emptied into storm sewers, household drains (especially if you have a septic tank) or on the ground.

Disposal Steps

   1. Save solvent-based paints for a household hazardous waste collection program or contact your local/state government environmental protection agency for guidance on reuse or disposal of unwanted solvent-based paint products.
     
   2. In areas where recycling programs exist, save the dry, empty containers with the lids off for a steel can recycling program. Small amounts of dried residue will not hinder steel can recycling.
     
   3. Clean paint brushes and painting tools with paint thinner or turpentine.

The Tax Incentives Assistance Program by EnergyTaxIncentives.org

The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP), sponsored by a coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, government agencies, and other organizations in the energy efficiency field, is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and subsequently amended several times.

Update as of 1/10/11 -

Congress passed, and the President signed, the tax legislation described below in mid-December. To find out more about the changes, see individual pages in the left sidebar. TIAP has also compiled a fact sheet with information about the relevant energy efficiency tax incentives for 2010 and 2011.

Update as of 12/16/10 – Congress About to Extend And Modify Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives for Appliances, New Homes and Retrofits to Existing Homes

Today, or shortly thereafter, Congress is likely to complete action on tax legislation that modifies and extends three energy efficiency tax incentives, as a part of a much larger tax package. These tax incentives will continue to help raise the market share of efficient appliances, HVAC and insulation products, and new homes.

The legislation extends the new homes tax credit to cover 2010 and 2011 – this $2000 credit goes to the home builders and is for homes that use no more than half the energy of homes that just meet the 2003 national model energy code. The credit expired at the end of 2009 but the new bill extends this to cover new homes that are built in 2010 and 2011.

The bill also extends and updates manufacturer appliance tax credits for 2011 – the credit, which goes to manufacturers directly, is extended for one year, and the following criteria now apply:

• Dishwashers –
• $25  - models using no more than 307 kilowatt hours/year and 5.0 gallons of water/cycle (this is the ENERGY STAR level effective July 1, 2011)
• $50 - models using no more than 295 kilowatt hours/year and 4.25 gallons of water/cycle
• $75 - models using no more than 280 kWh kilowatt hours/year and 4 gallons of water/cycle
• Clothes Washers –
• $175 – top-loading models that meet/exceed 2.2 MEF, and does not exceed 4.5 WCF
• $225 – top-loading models that meet/exceed 2.4 MEF, and does not exceed 4.2 WCF, or front-loading models that meet/exceed 2.8 MEF and do not exceed a 3.5 WCF
• Refrigerators –
• $150 – models that use 30% less energy relative to federal standard
• $200 – models that use 35% less energy relative to federal standard

The legislation extends the 25C heating and cooling equipment and building envelope tax incentives for another year but at reduced levels. The new bill extends eligibility to the end of 2011, but reduces the incentive to the original 10% up to $500.  Included are provisions which:

• limit window incentives to $200;
• limit oil and gas furnace and boiler incentives to $150, plus an additional $50 for efficient furnace fans;
• limit water heater and wood heating system incentives to $300;
• loosen the qualification for window incentives (ENERGY STAR windows now qualify);
• and tighten the specifications for oil furnaces and boilers and gas boilers to 95% efficiency, up from the 90% efficiency in current law.

Congress is likely to consider further extensions of these incentives into 2012 and beyond next year, and TIAP will provide updates as they become available.  The existing homes incentives are likely to receive a major overhaul, and there are also likely to be discussions about improving incentives for energy-efficiency investments in commercial buildings, incentives which under current law continue until the end of 2013.

While Congress extended most of the expiring federal energy efficiency tax incentives, they did not extend the incentive for hybrid trucks and buses.

IRS Forms

• Residential Energy Efficient Property: Form 5695
• New Homes: Form 8908
• Vehicle Incentives: Form 8910
• Commercial Solar Incentives: Form 3468 (Investment Credit)
  Note: The links above go to the IRS web site. TIAP makes every effort to keep these links up to date. IRS often does not publish new versions of forms until the beginning of the following tax year.

Additional Resources

TIAP Flyers for Residential and Commercial Incentives - Add your organization's logo and distribute at your next event to spread the word about energy efficiency incentives.

Some additional information on tax incentives can be found HERE!

Extension Service Home Energy Community of Practice Webinar - Presentation by Jen Amann, ACEEE(4/10/2009)

Overview of Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 *Updated matrix of energy efficiency incentives

RESNET has completed a survey of rating providers regarding the number of homes that their raters certified for the federal tax credit (2007 only). 23,702 homes were certified by RESNET during 2007, which is triple the number of homes certified in 2006. For more information, click here.

NREL Energy Savings Modeling and Inspection Guidelines for Commercial Building Federal Tax Deductions(1.9 MB PDF)

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

From EPA.gov

What is a REC?

A REC (pronounced: rěk) represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power qualities of renewable electricity generation. A REC, and its associated attributes and benefits, can be sold separately from the underlying physical electricity associated with a renewable-based generation source.
RECs provide buyers flexibility:

• In procuring green power across a diverse geographical area.
• In applying the renewable attributes to the electricity use at a facility of choice.

This flexibility allows organizations to support renewable energy development and protect the environment when green power products are not locally available.

How do RECs work?

All grid-tied renewable-based electricity generators produce two distinct products:

• Physical electricity
• RECs

Renewable Energy
Certificates (RECs)
Chart
High Resolution
Image

At the point of generation, both product components can be sold together or separately, as a bundled or unbundled product. In either case, the renewable generator feeds the physical electricity onto the electricity grid, where it mixes with electricity from other generation sources. Since electrons from all generation sources are indistinguishable, it is impossible to track the physical electrons from a specific point of generation to a specific point of use.

As renewable generators produce electricity, they create one REC for every 1000 kilowatt-hours (or 1 megawatt-hour) of electricity placed on the grid. If the physical electricity and the associated RECs are sold to separate buyers, the electricity is no longer considered “renewable” or “green.” The REC product is what conveys the attributes and benefits of the renewable electricity, not the electricity itself.

RECs serve the role of laying claim to and accounting for the associated attributes of renewable-based generation. The REC and the associated underlying physical electricity take separate pathways to the point of end use (see diagram). As renewable generators produce electricity, they have a positive impact, reducing the need for fossil fuel-based generation sources to meet consumer demand. RECs embody these positive environmental impacts and convey these benefits to the REC owner. The following is a list of the inherent primary and derived attributes that a REC can convey to an owner:

Primary REC Attributes	Derived REC Attributes
Renewable fuel source Emissions of the renewable generation Geographic location of the generator Vintage of the generator Eligibility for certification or RPS	Avoided emissions Eligibility for emission reduction credits or offsets Price stability

There are two approaches to verifying REC ownership and the right to make environmental claims:

• REC contracts and an audit of the chain of custody
• REC tracking systems

Both of these approaches help buyers avoid double counting and double claims and ensure against fraud. Of the two, REC tracking systems provide greater transparency when tracking RECs from their point of creation to their point of final use.

Added Reading

The following documents provides greater detail on issues related to this Web page.
Emerging Markets for Renewable Energy Certificates: Opportunities and Challenges – National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL/TP-620-37388, January 2005 (PDF) (69 pp, 1.5MB, About PDF). This report describes how RECs are marketed; examines RECs markets, including scope and prices; and identifies and describes the key challenges facing the growth and success of RECs markets.


Renewable Energy Certificates (PDF) (6 pp, 996K, About PDF). This white paper provides a brief overview of renewable energy certificates (RECs): what they are, how they work, and why they are an important option for individual and organizational buyers in renewable electricity and green power markets.

Why Get A Home Energy Audit - Home Energy Team

Why Get A Home Energy AuditWhy get a home energy audit is a common response, which many homeowners have when asked the question. However, if you're serious about saving on your high energy costs, then here are a few reasons to get a home energy audit:

Manage Your Energy Consumption

Average 30% SavingsA Home Energy auditor will provide a detailed assessment of your home and supply you with recommendations to maximize your home's energy efficiency. To help you implement your proposed energy saving strategy, the Home Energy Team can also provide you with certified energy efficient contractors to help you get the job done. These independent contractors are practiced in energy management solutions. Trust the team, and put an end to your energy loss today!


MitigateYour Energy Loss

Older Homes Save MoreDue to the natural settling of the ground, exposure to the elements, deterioration of building materials, and the development of modern energy efficient materials, older homes are less energy efficient than newer homes - so owners of older homes can benefit even more from a home energy audit.



If your home is more than 25 years old, you will save an average of 35% on your energy bills. And if your home is more than 50 years old, that percentage goes up to 38 % (according to Osprey Media). Even if your home is just over 10 years old, there is a good chance that it's losing energy.


Energy Audits Pay Dividends

16% Return on InvestmentYou may be thinking that saving money on your energy bill is a good idea, but what about the cost of the upgrades needed to improve your home's energy efficiency? After taking into account the cost of upgrades, the average return on investment is 16 percent (see chart). That's a better return than bonds, money market accounts and even the stock market can offer. And with those investments you have to pay tax on your earnings, while the money you save on your energy bill is yours to keep.



Federal Tax Rebates - and a Rebate from Home Energy Team!Many energy efficient home upgrades are eligible for tax rebates from the federal government. Check the 2009 Tax Benefits article for more details. You will also receive up to a $300 rebate from Home Energy Team if you use a contractor listed on this website.



Increase the Comfort of Your HomeBeyond the financial savings, other reasons to get a home energy audit include increasing the comfort in your home. Imagine your home without the draftiness or the cold basement. Imagine the upstairs being as cool as the main floor in summer. Increasing your home's energy efficiency and improving ventilation will give you greater enjoyment from your home.



Increase Your Home's ValueFinally, making your home more energy efficient will increase your home's value. According to a study published in Appraisal Journal, the market value of a home increases $20 for every $1 decrease in annual energy costs. So whether you are planning to stay in your home for years to come, or thinking about re-locating, a home energy audit is the first step to maximizing the value of your largest investment.


Social Responsibility

The Environmentally Responsible ChoiceAccording the non-profit environmental advocacy group, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), 21 percent of the green house gas emissions in the United States are due to residential energy use - even more than cars. By getting an audit and making your home more energy efficient, you are doing your part to reduce the greenhouse emissions which threaten us all.


From the http://www.homeenergyteam.com/

From the Department of the Environment

2010 -- A Watershed Year In 2010, the recharged effort to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay attracted wide interest and garnered many headlines, probably the most of any environmental story. The attention was well deserved. Marylanders worked diligently throughout the year to set limits on water pollution -- and plotted a course that finally puts the restoration of the Bay within sight. But that wasn't the only good news this year. In Maryland, where the quality of our air is the best it's been in a long time, we saw signs that air pollution programs are making a real difference. We continued to help lead the way in addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gases -- which also helps our economy and creates jobs. We made progress in cleaning up industrial sites and protecting children from lead poisoning. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects put people to work and provided environmental and health benefits. An MDE initiative to improve our enforcement of environmental regulations continued to produce results: for the third straight year, the Department issued more enforcement actions than in any previous year. And Maryland businesses and organizations shared ideas on environmentally sustainable practices through the Maryland Green Registry, a Smart Green and Growing Program that earlier this year won a national award for pollution prevention.    The Air Key provisions of the Healthy Air Act -- the most sweeping air pollution program ever in Maryland and the toughest power plant emission law on the East Coast -- went into effect in 2010. The state's major power plants met the requirement to install "scrubbers" to help meet benchmarks for reducing air pollutants. Hot, sunny weather helps to create ground level ozone -- and the summer of 2010 was a record-breaker for heat. But the number of unhealthy air days would have surely been higher if not for our progress in improving air quality. MDE also continued to push for tougher federal standards for air quality, including regulations that would reduce the amount of ozone transported into Maryland from other states. Meanwhile, Marylanders were finding ways to help. Hundreds came to Camden Yards on a summer Saturday to trade gasoline lawn mowers for cleaner, battery-powered models (discounted as part of a program co-sponsored by MDE). And progress continued in addressing climate change. Maryland worked with a coalition of northeastern states to establish the start of a framework for a low-carbon fuel standard. Maryland's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the country's first cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has raised more than $130 million for such initiatives as low-income energy assistance and for energy efficiency and clean energy programs that will lower greenhouse gas emissions. The program will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the State's electricity generators by about 10 percent by 2019. The Land Maryland continues to address needed cleanup at some of our state's most polluted sites. MDE staff worked throughout 2010 to advance the cleanup of areas at the Sparrow Point steel-making facility and successfully pushed for improved communication between the company and the community. Also in 2010, Maryland asked that the Dwyer Property, a former munitions plant in Cecil County, be added to the national Superfund list of polluted properties. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended that the site be added to the list. We continued to make progress in addressing lead poisoning, the biggest -- and entirely preventable -- environmental threat to children. The annual Childhood Lead Registry report for 2010 showed that more Maryland children were tested last year for lead poisoning and fewer were poisoned by lead than in any year since figures have been collected. But, as First Lady Katie O'Malley pointed out in announcing those results, we must do more -- and that includes spreading the word that lead poisoning can also occur in owner-occupied homes as well as in older rental units. MDE moved forward in 2010 to implement requirements of a new program to improve the management of manure at animal feeding operations. The program will reduce polluted runoff from over 500 poultry operations and help farmers comply with Federal and State laws. The Water   To meet Maryland's ambitious two-year milestones, we have more than doubled our efforts to reduce nitrogen, the most serious pollutant in the Bay. Indeed, we worked on many fronts in 2010 to improve the quality of our waterways. We took steps to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff, the fastest-growing source of Bay pollution. Regulations adopted in 2010 require "environmental site design" -- that is, permeable surfaces, vegetative buffers, and other small-scale treatment practices to trap and absorb stormwater -- for new development. Also this year, MDE worked to address the largest source of stormwater pollution -- our already developed areas. Montgomery County supported a stormwater permit issued by MDE that is one of the most progressive in the nation and provides a framework for similar stormwater permits for other Maryland jurisdictions. Maryland's septic upgrade program continues to be a tremendous success, with more than 2,200 septic systems upgraded through MDE's program. Meanwhile, Marylanders continue to upgrade many of our largest wastewater treatment plants with Enhanced Nutrient Removal technology. We have upgraded 16 plants, and another 15 are under construction. ARRA funding created and saved jobs and helped pay for projects that provided environmental and public health benefits. MDE administered the $121.6 million for 85 clean water and green projects. Finally, 2010 has proven to be a pivotal year in the long fight to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland worked with the EPA on the development of a Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, often called a pollution "diet." We were the only State, along with the District of Columbia, to submit an adequate Draft Watershed Implementation Plan to meet that diet. After hearing and considering public comment to our proposal, we are putting the finishing touches on a refined Plan that will significantly reduce pollution by 2020 -- a self-imposed deadline five years ahead of the EPA and the other Bay States. It is a plan that will improve our environment and public health, help create jobs, and protect the economic value of the Bay. These are but a few of the many accomplishments this year, achievements that occurred during difficult economic times and that could only be made possible through the hard work of State employees and our stakeholders, and I thank you for all you did this year to protect the environment and public health. On behalf of our talented staff -- scientists, administrative specialists, emergency responders, meteorologists, modelers, radiation experts, geologists, project managers, planners and engineers and more -- thank you for your work to achieve the important progress we are making. If you attended a stakeholder meeting, submitted a comment, sponsored a cleanup, sought funding for a project, reported a problem, or obtained a permit, you have improved Maryland's environment. The Department looks forward to working with you in 2011. On a personal note, I want to take this opportunity to offer many thanks for your support over the past four years, as I recently announced my decision not to seek a second term. Serving the citizens of Maryland as Secretary of the Department of the Environment has been my honor and my privilege. I am enormously proud of our collective accomplishments and particularly of the significant progress we've made under Governor O'Malley's leadership. I look forward to following Maryland's continued achievements in protecting our air, land, water, and public health.

MIY: MAKE IT YOURSELF HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Save Money and the Planet!


Part 1 - Baking Soda - Household Cleaner, Stain Remover, Deodorizer



There was a time when families made their own cleaning products for pennies a gallon or 

less. Some figures show the average family spends $1200 a year on household cleaners! 

Who says you can’t afford a vacation or dinners out! Just MIY!

You’ll also eliminate many toxic chemicals in your home and help the environment.  

These homemade cleaners are much safer around children and pets.

First: Label Your Products 

ALWAYS label your bottles with all the ingredients they contain and make sure

the label states NOT TO BE CONSUMED BY ANYONE, but used for (state the purpose 

of the product).

Shake a bit of baking soda on a damp sponge, and you can clean and deodorize all 

the surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom. Always rinse thoroughly.

Add 2-4 tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle filled with a quart of warm 

water for a more liquid cleaner and deodorizer to use on fixtures, stainless steel, 

chrome, fiberglass, ceramic, porcelain or enamel and other non-porous, surfaces.

Keep an open box in your refrigerator to eliminate odors and sprinkle it in the 

bottom of a garbage pail or bag to keep odors down.

Keep baking soda by the stove to put out grease fire emergencies.

Sprinkle some in your plasticware, and rinse with hot water to deodorize.  

Do not use baking soda on porous surfaces like wood.

These articles from Angel Brown, Keller Williams - Upper 

Marlboro, 240-34-ANGEL and Home Warranty of America, Inc., will 

help you improve your home, creating a healthier environment while 

saving energy and the planet. Stay tuned for more!