Lois Nichols replaced more than 50 light bulbs, purchased all-new appliances and had her two-story colonial house in Crofton insulated.
After thousands of dollars of investments ? and a few cost-free changes ? Nichols expects to save money on her utility bills and stand as an example for other homeowners.
“We tried to replace everything we knew wasn?t Energy Star-[rated] or efficient,” Nichols said.
For many of these changes to be possible, homeowners need state officials to develop energy-efficiency programs, according to the Maryland Public Interest Research Group.
In a report released Wednesday, the advocacy group outlined programs in other states designed to help consumers save money.
For example, New Jersey offers rebates for the purchase of efficient furnaces and air conditioners, which saves an average of $63 a year on heating and cooling.
In Massachusetts, a utility offers free energy audits to small businesses and incentives for installing efficient equipment.
The report “very clearly makes the case that energy-efficiency programs lower bills and stimulate the economy,” said Johanna Neumann, Maryland PIRG?s policy advocate.
The report was released as the General Assembly is considering two measures aimed at reducing the demand for energy and lowering utility bills:
» The EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act would codify Gov. Martin O?Malley?s plan to reduce per-capita electricity consumption by 15 percent by 2015 through technologies such as programmable thermostats.
» The Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund would provide money for energy-efficiency services to underserved markets.
Maryland PIRG has advocated for these measures, and the report further recommends the state adopt these and other energy policies.
Nichols said energy-efficiency programs give homeowners a needed boost toward upgrading their houses and purchasing efficient systems.
Although seeing the savings will take time, she said she can feel a difference. She can now use a bedroom that was previously too cold.
“Now it becomes a way of life,” she said.
