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Press Release
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For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Courtney M. Billups
(301) 738-6280
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Annapolis Launches Energy Saving Program for Property Owners
Annapolis EZ|Energy Zone Allows Property Owners to EZ-ily Install Energy Efficiencies
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Annapolis, MD.On Monday, December 7, 2009, Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer signed a green initiative that will help Annapolis property owners to easily make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. This initiative builds on legislation passed by Annapolis in January 2009 enabling its property owners to attach energy improvement loans to their properties. Annapolis is the first City in Maryland to pass such legislation.
The City of Annapolis, in cooperation with Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC), Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Edison|Wright and Direct Energy will launch the first phase of the program Annapolis EZ|Energy Zone (Annapolis EZ) in early 2010. The program is designed to help with financing and implementation of energy efficiency for Annapolis residential property owners. Annapolis EZ anticipates improving up to 50 properties in Annapolis during the first phase of the program. It is currently signing up interested participants.
"Many residential property owners would like to improve the energy efficiency of their home," said Mayor Moyer. "However, high upfront cost and other financial hurdles often deter them from getting involved. Annapolis EZ does exactly what the name says - it makes it easy to move forward with projects and see real savings on energy bills."
The program is financed by MCEC with funding made available from stimulus dollars through MEA.
"Annapolis EZ makes the cost of energy improvements easy to finance for property owners because energy savings often completely offset the cost of the improvements," said Kathy Magruder, Executive Director at Maryland Clean Energy Center. "MCEC is pleased to finance and help administer the program in the City of Annapolis. This is the first of many programs we plan on running in the state to improve the health of our citizens, our economy and, not least, our environment."
"The Maryland Energy Administration is pleased to be a part of the first ever Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program in the State and one of only several around the country," remarked MEA Director Malcolm Woolf. "The funding made available to Annapolis homeowners for residential energy efficiency retrofits and repayments marks one more step under the leadership of Governor Martin O'Malley towards a Smart, Green and Growing Maryland."
Annapolis EZ makes it possible for Annapolis property owners to finance energy improvements without affecting their credit score, and if they sell their property before the loan is paid off, the next property owner will take over the payments along with the reduced energy bill. The Annapolis EZ program also provides property owners with a list of only pre-approved, certified auditors, installers and contractors.
Peter Mellen, CEO of Edison|Wright, said, "We are delighted that our work with the City of Annapolis on the details and legal framework of the program has created this valuable opportunity for property owners. Edison|Wright will continue to work with the City, MCEC and Direct Energy on running the program in Annapolis, and hopes to see similar programs in many new jurisdictions in the near future."
According to published reports, PACE programs have the potential to unleash over $250 billion of investment into clean energy improvements over the next 10 years, eliminating more than a gigaton of CO2 emissions, saving $1.75 billion in annual electricity costs and creating 400,000 jobs per year.
"Increased education and easy to use programs are the keys to fundamentally changing our energy usage in the State of Maryland and across the United States," said Eric Palm, Vice President of Direct Energy - Annapolis EZ|Energy Zone's lead energy retrofit provider. "Conducting an energy assessment of their home is the first step for a homeowner to understand what improvements need to be undertaken to reduce their energy usage and positively impact the environment."
Annapolis EZ will use contractors who are participating with the Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. These contractors have been trained to take a 'whole-house' approach that identifies comfort, safety and energy efficiency improvements.
For more information on the Annapolis EZ program or to sign up as a potential participant, see: www.AnnapolisEZ.com
About Maryland Clean Energy Center
Maryland Clean Energy Center is a not-for-profit quasi-governmental corporation with the support of many state government agencies including the Office of the Governor and the Maryland Energy Administration. The Center's Board of Directors was appointed by Governor O'Malley in October 2008. The Center operates nimbly and entrepreneurially, with a passion for clean energy, to accomplish its mission of increased health of our economy and environment. To learn more about Maryland Clean Energy Center, visit www.mdcleanenergy.org.
About Edison|Wright
Edison|Wright builds public-private partnerships to promote energy conservation and renewable energy improvements. The company works with governments to reduce their carbon footprint through the EZ|Energy ZoneT program that enables property owners to recognize fast energy savings on green energy improvements such as insulation, air and duct sealing, geothermal and solar. To learn more about Edison|Wright, visit www.EdisonWright.com.
About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with over 5 million residential and commercial customer relationships. In Maryland, we have 300 fully trained technicians, installers and back-office support. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 20 states plus DC and 10 provinces in Canada. To learn more about Direct Energy, visit www.directenergy.com.
About Maryland Energy Administration
The mission of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is to maximize energy efficiency while promoting economic development, reducing reliance on foreign energy supplies, and improving the environment. The MEA offers a wide variety of energy efficiency and clean energy incentives and resources for Maryland residents, businesses and local governments. For more information on MEAs programs, please visit www.energy.maryland.gov.
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