Frederick County Green Homes Challenge

The Green Homes Challenge
makes it fun and easy to save energy,
adopt environmentally-friendly practices,
and use renewable energy.

Learn about actions you can take
Set goals and track your progress
Join a Green Team to stay motivated

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Earn points and medals for completing actions
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Green Homes Challenge Receives Climate and Energy Leadership Award! In 2015, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) awarded Frederick County with a Climate and Energy Leadership Award for the Green Homes Challenge. This award recognizes outstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency.

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Congratulations to all of our Certified Households! Since Frederick County launched its Green Homes Challenge in January 2011, more than 950 households have met one or more of the three Green Homes Challenges: Be a Power Saver, Be a Green Leader, or Be a Renewable Star! Each year, certified households are recognized at our Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event!

Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Application

Challenger of the Week

Rolko Household

POWER SAVER

in progress (36)

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50
GREEN LEADER

certified (77)

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50
RENEWABLE STAR

in progress (0)

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10

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Action of the Week

Households: 380

Use clothes lines & racks to dry at least half of your laundry

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Clothes dryers use 5-10% of a household’s daily energy use and are one of the most expensive home appliances to operate ($100-$200/year). They are also one of the most dangerous causing more than 15,000 home fires annually. If you would like to know how much energy and money it takes to launder your household’s clothes, try out this calculator.

Instead, line-dry your clothes inside or outside. Explore clothesline and rack options on urbanclotheslines.com. If you think that your homeowner’s association or condominium prohibits the use of clotheslines, here’s some good news! Maryland’s “Right-to-Dry” legislation (SB 224) went into effect on October 1, 2010 and requires condominium associations, homeowner associations, and cooperatives to allow homeowners to install clotheslines on their property. Learn more about the benefits of air-drying clothes.

TIP: Using hangers can really reduce the length of clothes line you need. (You’ll need a rod or taut wire for this approach). Use each hanger as a mini-clothes line for socks, dish towels, and the like. Install a rod over your washer dryer or use your shower rod for hangers during rainy or winter weather.

If you have severe allergies to pollen, check the weather and the Air Quality Index before you hang your clothes outside.

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2,441

Total Participants

1,581,447

Estimated Annual Expenses Avoided

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