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FIND ACTIONS

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

  • 1
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Use a solar oven or cooker
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    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    If you have access to a sunny yard, patio, or deck, solar ovens, also known as solar cookers, provide a simple and safe way to cook without consuming fuel or electricity. You can choose from several design options including a box oven, parabolic cooker, and a panel cooker. Temperatures can reach 200 – 400°F making the cookers suitable for everything from cooking rice and stews, to baking apples and biscuits.  It does take longer to cook with a solar cooker, however, so you will need to plan ahead, much the same way you would if using a crock pot.

    Take Action:

    1. Enter “solar ovens” in your internet browser to learn more about options and products available online.
    2. Learn how solar cooking is improving social, economic, and environmental conditions around the world.
    3. Purchase or make a solar oven and commit to using it.

    Links to more information:

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    Jan 23 Lisa Orr

    I have one of these and it is great for baking apples, cooking quinoa, even heating water for a thermos. Use it like you would a crock-pot. These ovens get hot!

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  • 2
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Use bio-heating oil in your furnace
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    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    Even if you heat your home with an oil burning furnace, you can burn a more renewable fuel by using bio-heating oil, which is traditional home heating oil blended with 5% Biodiesel (known as B5). Biodiesel is made in the U.S. from soy, corn, and other vegetable oils, animal fats, recycled restaurant oils, and other natural sources. New sources, such as algae and cellulose from switch grass, cornstalks, and other plants, are under investigation. As an incentive, the State of Maryland offers a Bio-Heating Oil Tax-Credit of up to $500 for using bio-heating oil through 2017. Bio-heating oil costs are similar to traditional heating oil costs.

    Take Action:

    1. Purchase bio-heating oil from a distributor serving Frederick County. As of March 2013, two distributors offered bio-heating oil:
    2. Claim your Maryland Bioheat Tax Credit. Fill out and submit this form.

    Links to more information:

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  • 2
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Use biofuel in your flexible fuel or diesel vehicle
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    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    If you drive a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV), you can use a more renewably generated fuel by purchasing ethanol instead of gasoline. E85 is an abbreviation for a fuel blend of up to 85% ethanol fuel and gasoline. Ethanol is produced by fermenting and distilling starch crops (primarily corn) and about one-third of all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains 10% ethanol. Controversy remains about the efficiency of ethanol production and its impact on energy use, agriculture, and vehicle fuel efficiency, so you may want to learn more before making a decision that is right for you. The price per gallon is comparable to gasoline but varies by region; however, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s fueleconomy.gov, FFVs operating on E85 usually experience a 25–30% drop in miles per gallon due to ethanol’s lower energy content.

    If you drive a diesel vehicle, you can use fuel-grade biodiesel. Biodiesel is an alternative to standard diesel fuel that is made from biological, non-toxic and renewable ingredients, such as plant oils or animal fat.  Biodiesel, which can be used in diesel engines with little or no modification, is usually blended with standard diesel fuel. The most common blend is B20, or 20 percent biodiesel to 80 percent standard, but as of 2012, only B5 is offered at stations around Frederick County.

    Ethanol and Biodiesel are relatively new to the consumer market so availability is currently limited to a handful of gas stations.

    Take Action:

    1. Use E85Locator.net to find nearby E85 gas stations and purchase E85 for your flex fuel vehicle.
    2. Use the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance’s Nearbio website to find nearby biodiesel stations and purchase biodiesel for your diesel vehicle.

    Links to more information:

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  • 2
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Attend a workshop, seminar, or discussion about renewable energy
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    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    Would you like to learn more about renewable energy technologies? Attend a Renewable Energy 101 or Solarize Workshop hosted by the Green Homes Challenge team. Check the online schedule or call the Sustainability Program Coordinator at 301.600.6864 for dates and times.

    You can also attend a workshop, seminar, or discussion on an issue of interest to you hosted by another organization. Some regional organizations that host courses, workshops and seminars related to renewable energy include: The Common Market, Frederick Community College, and Hagerstown Community College

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  • 4
    Green leaves denote the number of Green Points earned by completing the action and its relative environmental benefit.
    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
    A key denotes a renter-friendly action.
    Become a Green Ambassador
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    You need to be signed in to add and complete actions.
    Add to my challenge Already completed Not applicable

    If you like the idea of inspiring or motivating others to go green, consider becoming a Green Ambassador for your workplace, faith community, or neighborhood organization! Complete the Green Ambassador Interest Form or contact us to learn more.

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30 North Market Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701 phone: 301.600.7414 | e-mail: greenhomes@frederickcountymd.gov
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