Affordable 'green homes' being built in Frederick

I saw this article in the WaPost a few weeks ago, about Frederick's new North Pointe community, which features new homes from the mid-$200,000s with green qualities such as solar panels, geothermal heating, and a computer system to manage energy usage.

Each house will have about 20 solar panels, which will generate more electricity than the house uses during the day. The excess electricity will go to the grid and be credited to the home; the residents can essentially cash in that credit at night when they use more power. The homes should have net-zero energy usage.

This is a great new development (in more ways than one) and I hope we see more of them in the DC region!

For now, green energy cheaper than brown energy in Md.

One benefit of the economic slowdown, in Maryland at least, is that green energy (wind power) is now less expensive than the traditional, "brown" energy mix of coal and nuclear power.

Clean Currents, a Rockville-based clean energy broker/aggregator, offers a residential energy package called Chesapeake Green. It comes in two options: 50 percent wind power or 100 percent wind power. Right now, both cost less than Pepco and BGE's rates in Maryland.

I got an e-mail today from an environmental group noting that this is the first time ever that green power has been cheaper than brown power in Maryland. Even though I already have 50 percent wind power at my house, I was intrigued and decided to call Clean Currents to get the scoop.

I spoke to Brian Eglsaer, operations manager for Clean Currents. He said that Maryland Pepco customers are paying about 11.7-12 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity, and BG&E customers are paying about 11.8 cents per kwH. Clean Currents offers rates as low as 11.1 cents per kwH. Eglsaer estimates you can save 5 percent on your bill now by switching to Clean Currents, and in the summer when Pepco and BG&E rates go up, you can save 8-15 percent. He said this would probably come out to $5-10 per bill.

The benefit is that you're using clean energy and helping to reduce pollution, slow down climate change and be a part of the transition to a greener nation.

Eglsaer says his company can offer lower rates because the big utilities locked in prices before the economic downturn, but now energy prices are less expensive -- and as a small company, Clean Currents is a bit more nimble and was able to work out lower rates. He said they've been offering these rates for a few months and they might only last for a few months more, so check it out soon.

DC company will pay you to reduce your energy use

The Post's Small Change blog has an item today about Earth Aid Enterprises, a two-year-old DC company that will pay you if you reduce your household's energy use.

When you reduce your home energy use (electricity, natural gas), you're also lowering your carbon footprint. Earth Aid bundles these carbon reductions and sells them to companies that want to buy carbon offsets. Earth Aid then pays homeowners for their energy savings, minus a brokerage fee.

It sounds pretty cool. The service is free and if you don't reduce your energy use, you don't pay a penalty. No hidden costs, according to the Earth Aid site. What's not to like? (You'll have to register on the Earth Aid site, then they'll track your energy use through your utility company. They'll even send you tips on how to save energy -- and money.)

"Go green" classes in DC and Silver Spring

Want to green your lifestyle and help create a more sustainable world, but don't know how? Are you seeking tips for making green renovations to your home, purchasing clean energy or conserving water? If so, a new series of classes being offered by the Green Building Institute may be right up your alley.

The classes begin tonight in Silver Spring and April 22 in DC. They include "Introduction to Going Green," "Buying or Renovating Your Home the Green Way," "Clean and Sustainable Energy for Your Home and Business," and "Catch the Rain and Be a Better Steward of the Chesapeake Bay." You can sign up for them individually and they do cost $55 each, but you can get price breaks if you take all four or join the Institute. (Link to Silver Spring classes and DC classes)

I've been to some free lectures and panel discussions at the Institute's offices in Jessup, Md., and must say that these folks know what they're talking about. They are professional architects and builders who focus on green design and issues. If you're curious about these topics, one of these classes would be a good choice.