BCPL Energy Awareness page.
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Energy Awareness
Are you looking for ways to conserve
energy and reduce energy costs?
BCPL can help.
Bill Payment Assistance Programs
Baltimore County Department of Social Services. Office of Home Energy Programs
(local interest)
Need help in paying for fuel and electricity? This office is the local contact
for state home energy assistance programs designed to help low-income
citizens pay their heating bills and reduce their energy costs.
Maryland Department of
Human Resources. Office of Home Energy Programs (local interest)
Eligibility, information on how to apply, and downloadable applications in
English and Spanish for the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) that assists with home heating
bills, the Electrical Universal Service Program (EUSP) which assists low-income
customers with their electric bills, the Utility Service Protection Program (USPP)
that protects low-income families from utility cut-offs, and the Weatherization
Assistance Program (WAP) which provides at no cost weather stripping, caulking,
plastic window covering, and more to eligible families.
2-1-1 Maryland at First
Call For Help (local interest)
A free, confidential service that connects callers with services
statewide. The service is available 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (local interest)
If you are having difficulty paying your gas or electric bills, call to work out
payment arrangements. Download the Purple Book, which is also available
in Spanish, to find out what help is available.
Baltimore County Department of Aging. Senior Information and Assistance
(local interest)
Contact for seniors, their families and caregivers about services, emergency
grants, and other benefits.
Community Assistance
Network Utility Assistance (local interest)
Six Baltimore County offices help clients with utility payments to prevent utility cut-offs,
to restore
terminated services, and to purchase fuel oil and propane. Contact for the Fuel
Fund of Baltimore County.
Community Assistance Network Weatherization Assistance Program (local interest)
Delivers weatherization services to income-qualified residents of Baltimore County
to reduce fuel costs.
Utility Bill
Assistance - Maryland Office of the People's Counsel [PDF] (local interest)
Resource guide that gives detailed information about assistance programs
for all Maryland counties.
Choosing Your Residential
Electricity Supplier (local interest)
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General provides advice on making the decision on who
supplies your electricity.
Current
Electric Rates and Tariffs - Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
Information on the current residential electric supply rates and a
bill example.
Electricity Supplier Shopping Information
(local interest)
Basics on shopping for an electricity supplier from the Maryland Public Service
Commission.
Licensed Electricity
and Gas Suppliers (local interest)
A directory of energy suppliers that have met Maryland Public Service Commission
and utility requirements to provide service in Maryland.
Utility Company
Customer Contact Information - Maryland Public Service Commission (local interest)
Phone numbers and website links to gas and electric companies
Consumer Information and Dispute Resolution
Consumer's Guide to Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy - U.S. Department of Energy
The Office on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy helps consumers to explore options for saving energy and using renewable energy at home and at
work.
Do You Have
A Dispute? - Maryland Public Service Commission [PDF] (local interest)
Frequently asked questions about how the Public Service Commission can help you
with utility problems
Insulation
Fact Sheet - U.S. Department of Energy
Excellent information to read when deciding to insulate your home.
Maryland Energy Administration
(local interest)
Information on financial incentives available to Maryland residents and
businesses. Background information on conventional, renewable energy sources as
well as heating and cooling energy efficiency options.
Maryland Home
Improvement Commission (local interest)
Site to verify a contractor's license, to ask about complaints filed against
a company or to file a complaint.
Maryland Office of the People's Counsel
(local interest)
An independent state agency that represents residential utility customers. Their
Customer Assistance Unit provides information to assist in answering or solving
problems with electricity, natural gas, telephone and water service.
Ready to File a Complaint
Against a Utility? - Maryland Public Service Commission
(local interest)
How to get help and file a complaint about a utility company. Online and
downloadable complaint form is available.
Save Money
- Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (local interest)
Do-It-Yourself and energy saving tips for your home and your major appliances.
Utility
Bills Higher Than Expected? - Maryland Public Service Commission (local interest)
Answers to consumers' commonly asked questions when disputing the amount of their
electric or gas bill.
United States Department of
Energy - Your Home
Tools and information for consumers on saving energy at home and on the road.
Watts it Worth? Energy
Saving Tips to Keep Your Energy Costs Down and to Help Protect the Environment
[PDF] (local interest)
A Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Consumer Protection Division
Newsletter that offers
no cost and low cost ways to save energy costs.
Efficiency Ratings
Alliance to Save
Energy
Offers consumer tips on saving money through energy efficiency. Includes
information on energy efficiency tax credits.
Consumer Information - Association of
Home Appliance Manufacturers
Search database of certified dehumidifiers, room air cleaners and room air
conditioners.
Maryland Energy
Star Program (local interest)
A government-backed product labeling program of energy efficient products with
store locator.
Performance Certified Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment
The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
Directory that allows you to search by HVACR
equipment and components by product
lines, certified ratings or manufacturer.
Fuel Efficiency
Provided by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland's State Library Resource
Center
Saving Money at the Gas Pump
Produced by the Federal Trade Commission, this site offers quick gas-saving tips
for different parts of your car, including the tires, the truck, and under the
hood.
The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline
If you think that high octane gas is always the best for your car, you need to
read this page by the Federal Trade Commission.
"Gas-Saving" Products: Fact or Fuelishness?
Not all gas-saving products are created equal. Get the facts from this Federal
Trade Commission page.
Fuel Economy
This government site allows you to look at the fuel efficiency of different
cars, read gas mileage tips, learn more about hybrid cars, and understand why
fuel economy is important.
AAA Fuel Cost Calculator
If you're traveling somewhere, this site lets you plug in the type of car you
have and tells you how much gas you will use on the trip and how much it will
cost. The calculator gives you a list of major U.S. cities to choose from, so
you may not be able to find the exact city you are in.
Building
Green
"Find the green building products that you need for your project and see
examples of green projects around the world."
Green
Building Supply
Green Building Supply features natural and non-toxic building materials -- that
are safe, environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Green Home Guide
Before you begin planning for your green home, check out this U.S. Green
Building Council site. In addition to building and remodeling guidelines, the
site addresses lifestyle issues. It features helpful interactive tools and
information to help you find out how green your life is and how to make it
greener.
Green
Progress
"Green Progress provides the latest news and information on environmental
technology and green innovations being developed to protect our environment and
our well-being."
Green Schools (local interest)
From the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, learn how
to become
a Green School and view a Green School recipient list.
Maryland Environmental Design Program (local interest)
"Dedicated to advancing the application of economically sound and
environmentally sensitive building and site-design techniques, the Environmental
Design Program provides the business community, local governments and interested
citizens."
Maryland Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (local interest)
Find state, local, and utility incentives from the Database of State Incentives
for Renewables and Efficiency.
Lowering Your Utility Bills
Provided by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland's State Library Resource
Center
There are a lot of tricks to make your house more energy efficient, so you use less gas and electricity and have smaller bills as a result. These sites will help.
Energy Efficient Homes | DoItYourself.com
This site has lots of of pages on making your home more energy efficient,
including sections on evaluating your windows and doors, insulating, and
weatherizing.
Home Energy Saver
This Web site, designed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, offers an
energy use calculator that can help find the best ways to save energy in your
home.
Saving Starts at Home
This guide from the Federal Trade Commission gives energy-saving tips for all
areas of your home.
Energy Savers Blog
From the U.S. Department of Energy, this blog provides a place for consumers to
learn about and discuss energy efficiency and renewable technologies at home, on
the road, and in the workplace.
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits
This guide from the U.S. Department of Energy shows you how to conduct your own
home energy audit.
Tips for Cutting Your Carbon
Cool Capital has compiled a list of ideas for reducing your energy use at home.
This page is provided by the Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland USA.
The text version of this page was last revised on
11 November 2009.
The graphics version of this page was last revised on
11 November 2009.
You are welcome to provide feedback.