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County Historic Planners to Administer Energy Savings Program

SILVER SPRING – Owners of historic homes in Montgomery County who want to do their part to lessen energy usage have an opportunity to participate in a free home audit available through the Planning Department’s Historic Preservation Section.

 

Thanks to a $9,000 grant from the Maryland Historical Trust, historic preservation planners will run the local Energy Efficiency Initiative for selected owners of eight-10 historic homes in the county. There are more than 3,000 homes designated historic on the county Master Plan for Historic Preservation or located in a designated historic district.

The audits will reveal a household’s energy usage and recommend measures to conserve energy. Armed with conservation strategies, homeowners can see real savings on utility costs.

Planners hope to include properties from across the county representing a variety of historic home types. Properties will be selected for the audits based on location, age, size and materials used in construction of the residence as well as when applications are submitted.

Learn more and download an application. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. May 10.

The audits, valued at $500 per home, consider heating and cooling systems, water, electricity, air quality and other factors to identify ways to save energy in homes that may have unique challenges. Improving home energy efficiency is particularly important, since buildings account for about 40 percent of all U.S. energy used.

Constructed differently from modern buildings, historic homes, may require special attention when considering how to improve energy performance. Along with audit results, homeowners will receive information about incentives – tax credits, grants and rebates – available to owners improving local historic resources.

Audit findings and trends will be featured in a report and case studies at the conclusion of the Energy Efficiency Initiative.

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