Energy rates have gone up lately, causing strain on budgets and leaving many homeowners to wonder what steps they can take to keep their energy consumption down. Knowing where to start can be difficult.
EmPOWER Maryland is a state program meant to help Marylanders take action to minimize their energy use and save money at the same time. This program works through your energy provider to give rebates for homeowners who want to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
How to Start Your Energy Savings
The first step is to get an Energy Audit, which is where a contractor, through your energy provider, comes out to your house to determine in what ways you can improve your energy efficiency. This may cost money, depending on your provider.
You will then get recommendation results from the audit as well as the rebates that you qualify for. Usually, the audit is ‘good’ for one year from when it was performed. After one year, you will need to have another audit performed to take advantage of any rebates available.
You are sometimes able to have the company or contractor who performed the audit complete the work, but you are not required to use the same company if you do not want to.
Some contractors apply the rebate to the cost you pay out of pocket directly to them. If the contractor does not apply the credits directly, you may need to submit paperwork to receive the rebate from your energy provider and pay the full amount to the contractor who completed the work.
Once the work is complete, you get to enjoy lower energy bills and the knowledge that your house is as green as you can make it!
Low Income Energy Efficiency Program
For low-income customers of EmPOWER utilities, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP). This program assists low-income households with installation of energy conservation measures in their homes with zero out-of-pocket expenses.
