JANUARY 10

CROWNSVILLE, MD – Home improvement contractors from all over Maryland got a crash course on how the state’s Be SMART program can help them obtain financing for energy efficiency improvements to homes, businesses and multifamily buildings.

The $20 million loan program, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings program, advances Governor O’Malley’s effort to produce a cleaner, greener, more sustainable future for Maryland citizens by helping homebuilders make improvements that could result in energy savings of up to 30 percent. Those savings translates into significantly lower energy bills for consumers, more comfortable buildings and reduced consumption of fossil fuels.

Contractors were told during the Jan 10 educational forum that Be SMART financing can be used for the purchase and installation of equipment and materials for energy efficiency measures such as ENERGY STAR qualified HVAC systems, insulation, windows, draft stopping and duct sealing, appliances and fixtures, and water heating equipment. The forum also covered training and licensing incentives as well as an overview of Maryland’s building codes. Learn more about the Be SMART program.