Montgomery County Residents To Get Even More Rebates on Energy Efficiency Improvements

If last winter's heating bills blew a hole in your budget and you're looking at more of the same this air conditioning season, this is a very good time to look into home improvements and new heating and cooling appliances for a lot less money!

Montgomery County is about to release the parameters to a new rebate program for making energy-efficient upgrades to local homes. The program is part of a $7.6 million grant, of which $1.1 million will provide Montgomery County residents with rebates on energy efficient home improvements and Energy Start products.

While all the details and parameters of the rebates haven't been hammered out (set to be released mid-summer) the program is similar to the program that Maryland residents can take advantage of through the Maryland Energy Authority. With that program, homeowners can get 35 percent of the cost of Air Sealing, Insulation, Duct Sealing and the whole cost of an energy audit back as a rebate. You're also allowed to combine that with Pepco's 15 percent rebate for similar measures for a total of 50 percent off! Oh, and there are federal tax credits as well.

When I spoke with Stan Edwards, the Division Chief of Environmental Policy and Compliance for Montgomery County's Department of Environmental Protection, he wasn't able to give too much detail, since the program was still under review. What he was able to tell me was that all of the rebates start with a whole-house energy audit by an authorized contractor for Montgomery County.

Frank Robbins is the Weatherization Director for Spartan Green Energy, a division of Spartan Plumbing, Heating and Air. As an energy auditor he has performed over 250 energy audits and overseen energy retrofits on over 1500 homes.