Use this page to find actions that your household has completed or plans to complete. Browse the categories on the left to find actions for the Power Saver, Green Leader, or Renewable Star Challenge.
Once you have signed in, you can click Add to My Challenge to add an action to your To Do List, Already Completed to mark an action as complete, or Not Applicable if the action does not apply to you.
Once signed in, you can rate each of the actions you have completed.
The highest rated action appear under the Most Popular Actions category.
ACTIONS
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
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Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Upgrade your dishwasher to a high-efficiency ENERGY STAR® modelAn ENERGY STAR® certified dishwasher can save 1,300 gallons of water over its lifetime. Dishwashers made before 1994 can cost an extra $40 per year to operate compared to an efficient model. Utility companies and some retailers offer rebates for appliance upgrades, and the State of Maryland offer sales tax free shopping for selected ENERGY STAR® appliances each year over President’s Day weekend.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
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Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Upgrade your clothes dryer to a high efficiency Energy Star® Model
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), certified Energy Star® dryers use 20% less energy than conventional models. For example, a standard 4.4 cubic foot or larger electric dryer will save the average household about 160 kWh per year. This is achieved by using innovative energy saving technologies such as moisture sensors that detect when clothes are dry and automatically shut the dryer off. Many Energy Star® dryers also include steam cycles that prevent wrinkles and can help save energy and time by limiting the need to iron.
More than 80% of American household have a clothes dryer, so the savings could be huge. If all dryers sold in the US were Energy Star® certified, American could save $1.5 billion each year in utility costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to more than 2 million vehicles.
To get the most efficiency from your Energy Star® certified dryer, consider the following:
- Use Sensor Drying, not timed drying.
- Use the Low Heat Setting. Longer drying cycles on a low heat setting use less energy.
- Consider a Gas Dryer. 80% of dryers in the US are electric. If you have access to gas, consider purchasing an Energy Star gas dryer to reduce your costs and environmental impact.
Rebates are available for Energy Star® dryer purchases through utilites such as Potomac Edison. Visit http://energysavemd-home.com/appliance/ for more information and to apply on-line. The State of Maryland also offers sales tax free shopping for selected ENERGY STAR® appliances each year over President’s Day weekend.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
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Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Install an Energy Star certified electric Heat Pump Water HeaterWater heaters are often the second highest energy user in the home. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it with a new ENERGY STAR certified Heat Pump Water Heater to save energy, save money, and help protect our climate. Investing in a planned replacement NOW can lock in big energy savings and help avoid a potential costly clean up when your old water heater fails. Heat pump water heaters come in both electric and gas models. While they may cost more to purchase, a heat pump water heater costs less to operate and can reduce your utility bills.
To see how heat pump water heaters work and how ENERGY STAR certified models can help you save on your utility bills, watch this short video: "ENERGY STAR Water Heaters Mean BIG Savings!"
See this Energy Star Heat Pump Water Heater fact sheet (PDF, 228.13 KB) that explains the savings opportunity.
Washington Gas rebates and federal tax credits are available for Energy Star certified storage water heaters. For example, in 2016 the federal tax credit was $300.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
5
Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Install a tankless hot water heaterAlso known as a “demand” or “instantaneous” water heater, the tankless systems can conserve up to 34% of energy compared to a conventional hot water tank. Tankless hot water heaters and installation services are available at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Learn more about tankless water heaters from EnergyStar.gov or check out these do-it-yourself instructions for installation. Washington Gas offers rebates to homeowners and contractors for natural gas tankless water heaters.
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Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
4
Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action. Hammers denote the relative amount of effort needed to implement the action.
A key denotes a renter-friendly action.Dollar signs denote the relative cost of implementing the action. Free < $100 $100-$500 $501-$2000 > $2000 Install low-flow showerheadsYou can reduce the amount of energy used for water heating by needing less water when you shower. Federal regulations mandate that new showerhead flow rates cannot exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch. A low-flow showerhead can achieve water savings of 25-60%. Learn more about low-flow showerheads from EnergySavers.gov. Check out this video to learn how to install a low-flow showerhead.
Potomac Edison customers with electric hot water can receive a low-flow showerhead with a Home Energy Check Up
Choosing a low-flow showerhead does not mean that you have to sacrifice the great feeling of a therapeutic shower. There is a wide variety of showerheads available to suit your specific needs. Look for products at your local hardware store with the WaterSense label to ensure maximum water savings.
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Feb 11 Lisa Orr
If you purchase an Energy Star appliance over Presidents's Day Weekend, your purchase is exempt from Maryland Sales Tax! (http://www.wtop.com/41/3225744/Energy-Star-appliances-exempt-from-Md-sales-tax-Presidents-Day-weekend)
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