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Refer 5 Frederick County households to the Green Homes Challenge

Help spread the word by referring 5 of your friends, family members, co-workers, or neighbors to the Green Homes Challenge.

Click here to invite them to sign up for the Green Homes Challenge.

Perform an NO-COST Quick Home Energy Check-up from Potomac Edison

If you are not ready for a comprehensive home energy audit, a quick professional or do-it-yourself inspection can help to set you on the right path to making energy efficiency improvements for your home. Search online for “home energy audit DIY” to find tips and guidelines for how to effectively assess your home on your own.

Potomac Edison also offers a Quick Home Energy Checkup* at no charge. This assessment is less detailed than the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® audit and will not qualify for the home improvement project rebates. A kit of energy saving devices is provided to participating households. Call 1.888.267.4685 to schedule an audit.

* Program details current at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Prepare for your home energy audit

Preparing in advance can help you to get the most out of your time with a professional auditor or to make sure you have the tools you need on hand to conduct a do-it-yourself audit. Make a list of questions or problem areas for your auditor. Think about the areas in your home that often feel too hot or too cold. To learn what to expect and how to prepare for the audit, check out Energy Circle's audit overview.

Keep unoccupied rooms closed with localized heating or cooling, open your doors if your system is centralized.

If you have localized heating or cooling,(such as baseboard heating or a window A/C unit), and a room that's not in use, make sure to close the door and the vents so that energy is not wasted to cool or heat the room.

However if you have a centralized HVAC unit, open your internal doors to maximize your units efficacy. A centralized system is designed to move air through your entire home. When a room is closed air becomes trapped and pressurized, the pressurized air will escape from your home in any way it can. This puts extra strain on your HVAC unit and waste energy. 

Clear around radiators and vents

Furniture that is placed within 2 to 3 feet of the radiator will absorb the heat that would otherwise rise to circulate and heat the room. Don’t place anything on top of the radiator or position furniture or rugs directly on top of floor vents as it prevents air circulation.

Manually regulate your thermostat, or use a programmable thermostat

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that you set the thermostat to 68°F in winter when you’re at home and down to 65°F when you go to bed or when you’re away. In the summer, set the thermostat to 78°F for cooling.

When programmable thermostats are installed and used with the four pre-programmed temperature settings for weekend and weekdays, you can save about 10% each year on heating and cooling costs while staying comfortable. Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature when you’re sleeping or when you’re away. Make sure to adjust your settings or program your thermostat for when you are going on vacation or changing your normal occupancy routine.

Watch this video about how to purchase and install a programmable thermostat.

Check out Washington Gas rebates for programmable thermostats and WiFi enabled programmable thermostats.