Be SMART Energy Efficiency Program Now Offering Rebates to Homeowners

Initiative Aims to Encourage Homeowners to Make Energy Efficient Improvements

CROWNSVILLE, MD (May 21, 2012) – Up to $4,250 in incentives per household are now available to Maryland homeowners to offset the cost of qualified energy efficiency improvements and products. Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Raymond A. Skinner announced this update to the department’s Be SMART program at a contractor’s forum hosted at DHCD headquarters today.

“At a time when Maryland families are feeling the pinch of higher consumer prices, we want to help them make sound investments in energy efficiency that will, in the long run, help them save on their energy bills,” said Secretary Skinner. “As more families embark on energy saving measures, we believe it will have positive ramifications across the economy as well as support the state’s conservation efforts.”

A comprehensive home energy audit is required to participate in the Be SMART Home Rebate Program. Rebates are available on a first come, first served basis to homeowners of single family homes and town homes statewide.

Rebates are available to homeowners who are not currently eligible for a rebate through an EmPOWER utility program or whose utilities do not participate in the EmPOWER program such as Berlin Municipal Electric Plant, Easton Utilities Commission, City of Hagerstown Light Department, Thurmont Municipal Light Company, Williamsport Municipal Electric Light System, A&N Electric Cooperative, Choptank Electric Cooperative and Somerset Rural Electric Cooperative.

Rebates are also available to homeowners with oil and gas heating systems who are not eligible for EmPOWER Maryland incentives offered by the following utility companies: BGE, Delmarva Power, PEPCO, Potomac Edison and SMECO.

The rebate program will reimburse costs of home energy audits as well as building envelope improvements and the replacement of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, water heaters and appliances with ENERGY STAR rated equipment.

Through the Be SMART financing programs, qualified Maryland homeowners, rental property owners and small businesses are able to purchase and install equipment and materials for energy efficiency measures. These improvements are expected to result in energy savings of 15% to 30% as well as significantly lower energy bills for consumers, more comfortable buildings and reduced consumption of fossil fuels.

Funding of Be SMART is provided by a $20 million award from the BetterBuildings program of the U.S. Department of Energy, which aims to create a self-sustaining building retrofit market. For more information on the Be SMART program, please visit www.mdhousing.org/besmart .

# # #

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development works with partners to finance housing opportunities and revitalize great places for Maryland citizens to live, work and prosper. To learn more about DHCD’s programs, visit www.mdhousing.org.

News updates also are available by following DHCD on Twitter (www.twitter.com/MDHousing) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/marylandhousing).

For more information:

Andy DeVilbiss
410-514-7710
devilbiss@mdhousing.org