Yes, we have a TerraLogos Facebook page.

But, we certainly wouldn’t win any praise for our efforts to date. Actually, I think you would rank us as rather lazy.

As the TL social marketing manager, I’m in charge of fixing that. We want to show you what’s going on at TerraLogos and provide tips for saving energy & resources. It’s part of our goal to empower people to gain control of their energy use.

For improvements, we’re planning regular features, like an IR Photo Guessing Game with thermal images we’ve taken on energy audits. See if you can guess what the infrared image shows, and we will reveal the answer a couple of days later.

We’ll also feature the strange & bizarre things we find in Maryland, with “interesting” shots of special building “features” we’ve uncovered on energy audits. Plus, we’ll have action photos, slideshows and videos of actual energy contracting projects in process.

And, of course, there will be our regular postings on energy saving products & tips, plus news items that will keep you up to date. We want to provide information that can help you make a difference.

Help Us Donate $1,000

To encourage more of you to join us on Facebook and take advantage of our efforts, we are starting a fan campaign.

For every new “Like” for TerraLogos, we will donate $1.00 to our friends at 1000 Friends of Maryland.

We are making it our goal to donate a $1,000 to 1000 Friends from a 1,000 “friends” of TerraLogos!

Just click here for our Facebook page and “Like” TerraLogos.

Already liked our page? Then, please share us with your friends and encourage them to “like” us as well. We started at 147, so our goal is 1,147 fans. Help us see how fast we can reach our goal.

Why 1000 Friends of Maryland?

1000 Friends’ Calvert Street Office

1000 Friends of Maryland is not just a great non-profit organization that helps improve the quality of life in Maryland’s urban and rural communities. They are also an early TerraLogos customer, having completed an energy audit of their Calvert Street building in 2008.

They went on to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint by completing a bunch of their recommended energy improvements. We applaud them for their leadership in improving their energy efficiency, and also for the many other efforts they have made to act responsibly for a sustainable future.

1000 Friends tackles the tough issues and makes a difference – issues like urban growth & transportation, planning & zoning, and land preservation. We believe in the importance of their work and their success as an organization. We are proud to have the opportunity to support their efforts via this new partnership.

• Like TerraLogos on Facebook here.
• Visit 1000 Friends website here.

About 1,000 Friends Of Maryland

1000 Friends of Maryland believes in strong, vibrant communities and healthy rural economies. They work to ensure that new growth creates great places to live, work and play, and to protect Maryland’s farms and open space.

1000 Friends works hard for you by:

• Encouraging reinvestment in our older communities,
• Supporting improved transit that helps Marylanders get where they need to go,
• Protecting and revitalizing historic areas,
• Reducing water pollution from development, and
• Keeping farmers farming.

They are a lean, efficient organization working hard every day to help Maryland thrive economically, environmentally and socially. We know they will put our donation to great use.

The post $1,000 to 1000 Friends of Maryland appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

Here are  three upcoming events that look real interesting to us. They feature special guest speakers who will take you on an exploration of our environmental history.

All events will be in the
Peabody Room at the
Cathedral of the Incarnation
4 East University Parkway
Baltimore 21218

Free admission, parking & refreshments
Contact: Joe Stewart, 410.243.4418
ten.tsacmocnull@74913trawetseoj
BCHS will stamp “War of 1812 Bicentennial Passports”

Sponsored by
Baltimore Histroical Society
Friends of MD’s Olmsted Parks & Landscapes
Cathedral of the Incarnation Creation Care

And here are the individual events – Mark your calendar.

Geoffrey Buckley
AUGUST 10, 2013
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Geoffrey Buckley is the author of “America’s Conservation Impulse: Saving Trees in the Old Line State”, “Mountains of Injustice: Social and Environmental Justice in Appalachia” and the upcoming “North American Odyssey: Historical Geographies for the Twenty-First Century”. He is an Ohio University Professor and Long-Term Ecological Research – Baltimore Ecosystem Study Co-Principal Investigator. He has a Ph.D. in Geography from University of Maryland, a M.A., Geography from University of Oregon and a B.A., Environmental Studies and American History from Connecticut College.

Click here for Geoffrey Buckley’s full bio and CV

McKay Jenkins
NOVEMBER 2, 2013
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

McKay Jenkins is the author of “What’s Gotten into Us? Staying Healthy in a Toxic World” and editor of “The Peter Mattiessen Reader”, an anthology of American nature writing. He is the Cornelius Tighman Professor of English, Journalism and Environmental Humanities at the University of Delaware. He has a Ph.D. in English from Princeton University, a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University and a B.A. in English from Amherst College.

Click here to go to McKay Jenkins’ webpage

Click here to read Jenkins’ latest essay “The Era of Suburban Sprawl has to End. So, Now What”

Adam Rome
DECEMBER 7, 2013
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Adam Rome is the author of the recently published “The Genius of Earth Day: How a 1970 Teach-In Unexpectedly Made the First Green Generation” and the prize-winning “The Bulldozer in the Countryside: Suburban Sprawl and the Rise of American Environmentalism”. He also is past editor of the journal “Environmental History”. He has a B.A. from Yale and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in American Environmental History. He teaches history and environmental non-fiction at the University of Delaware.

Click here for Adam Rome’s full bio and CV on the University of Delaware Website

The post Explore Environmental History appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

Ask anyone if they would like to upgrade their home appliances, and you will usually get the same few answers.

• “Sure, but it’s too expensive.”
• “The one I have now works fine.”
• “They don’t make ‘em like they used to.”

A new report on appliances released by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Appliance Standards awareness Project (ASAP) has shattered these common misconceptions. According to the report, national efficiency standards for appliances, equipment, and lighting have created a win-win situation for consumers.

Not only are new appliances more efficient, they perform better and are cheaper than older models.

People generally understand that buying energy efficient appliances will lower their energy bills, but many still believe that this savings will cost them more upfront for the appliance, or indicate poor performance compared to traditional models.

The data, however, indicate otherwise.

Change Is Good

The average price of a refrigerator (in 2011 dollars) declined from $1,300 in 1987 to $850 in 2010, a 35% decrease. Clothes washers and dishwashers have also seen declines in price: 45% and 30% respectively. Plus, rebates are available to reduce costs further. Even in products where the price had increased, the analysis showed that the increase was outweighed by electricity bill savings.

In addition, the report indicates that manufacturers have also implemented new features on products as efficiency standards took effect. For example, today’s refrigerators have many more options for water and ice dispensers, bottom freezers, and additional compartments. Clothes washers have received similarly advanced features such as large tub capacity, electronic controls and displays, and steam cycles.

All these new features on energy efficient models do not come at the expense of overall performance. The study shows that refrigerator temperature performance has improved and noise levels have decreased over time. Clothes and dish washers have both maintained the same performance with significantly less water usage than older, non efficiency-standardized models.

A report with such succinct data will hopefully be enough to convince consumers who have not yet switched to energy efficient appliances. As Andrew deLaski, the executive director of the ASAP, says, “Many of us tend to be nostalgic about the past, but what this report shows is that your parents’ appliances not only cost more to run, but probably didn’t perform as well either.”

Getting Started

Here are three links that will help if you choose to upgrade:

• BGE Smart Energy Savers Appliances Rebates & Recycling Programs
• Pepco Appliance Rebate Program and Recycling Prorgams
• Calculate & compare energy use of appliances to find what’s best for you

The post Energy Efficient Appliances are a Win-Win appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

eMonitor is our pick for an energy monitor

We are changing the way we use energy in our homes.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey, heating and cooling now represents about 48% of U.S. homes’ energy consumption, down from 58% in 1993. Meanwhile, electrical load accounted for by appliances, electronics and lighting has grown from 24% in 1993 to 35% today.

While heating and cooling still clearly represents the largest source of energy consumption in the average North American home, as well as the largest opportunity for improvement in residential energy efficiency, electrical load is an increasingly large piece of the pie.

At TerraLogos, our home performance contracting focuses predominantly on the biggest area – heating and cooling – with improvements like air & duct sealing and insulation & equipment upgrades.

But, how do we tackle the next big user – electrical equipment? With an energy monitor.

By properly understanding how we use our energy, we have the knowledge we need to reduce both our energy bills and our carbon footprint. So, what monitor should you use?

Active User Required

One caveat on these monitors – they do require some technical understanding of electronics and computer competence to set-up, monitor and act on the data they provide. These tools will supply information that will help you make wise energy decisions.

But they will NOT reduce your energy use on their own. It’s up to you to change your behavior based on the information they provide.

Energy Monitor Compared

TED is a less expensive choice for the tech savvy

With an expanding market for energy monitoring devices two have begun to stand out in the residential and commercial sectors, The Energy Detective (TED) and eMonitor.

Both of the devices monitor a home’s energy consumption in the same way – by measuring the magnetic flux produced by current moving through a wire.

By accurately monitoring your day-to-day patterns of energy use, you can make decisions on how often to use a device, how important it is to turn things off and even when it’s time to say goodbye to an old energy hog. Knowledge is empowering.

The table below outlines our analysis of the differences between the 2 monitors.

 Our Favorite

Our pick goes to the eMonitor, as its software is more user friendly and it will better track all the electrical appliances in your home. This will provide you with the info you need to make wise and effective energy decisions.

The average homeowner looking to purchase an energy monitoring device would get more useful data from the eMonitor. However, it does cost more, and a technically savvy person may be able to get similar information, though not as accurate, by using a TED.

** TED Software

You can include a TED wireless display unit (+$40) when you purchase your monitor. This unit allows you to tour your home, turning things on and off, to determine how much they cost you to use.

In order to estimate and track the use of individual appliances with a TED, you need to install 3rd party software. Such software makes intelligent guesses as to what appliance is causing a surge in energy use at any given time, and assigns this “signature” to its guess – like refrigerator or dishwasher.

One of the more popular third party TED softwares is a free program, Bidgely. This software can track/estimate the energy consumption of some of the more common appliances, but not all.

The post Energy Monitors Reviewed appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

My First Days as a Marketing Intern

Before I started at TerraLogos, there were three big questions in my head:

1. Will I be able to adapt to a new workplace in a new industry?
2. Will I have a chance to make a difference at the company?
3. Will TerraLogos be a company where I can feel good about spending my summer?

In my previous internship at Substance151, I had gained significant knowledge on how to market a green business. I wanted to pursue that track and look for an internship where I could contribute directly to the company’s success.

While I had found a great opportunity in TerraLogos, I was concerned that I had no direct experience with the energy efficiency industry.

Luckily, I wasn’t left out in the cold. The entire TerraLogos team took me under their wing, and they didn’t hesitate to help bring me up to speed on the company’s operations and business model. I felt at home right away.

The Marketing Manager Intern

Even with all the help from the staff, I knew there would be a significant challenge ahead. Peter had told me the position would be fairly self-directed, and that I would be expected to help strategize and expand upon TerraLogos’ existing marketing efforts. Peter and I joked that the position was really a “marketing manager intern.”

Peter and I had agreed prior to my first day that TerraLogos had room for improvement in its social media marketing. The TerraLogos had a Facebook and Twitter account, but they weren’t being used effectively to get the message out. I was excited to take on the project to improve TerraLogos’ social marketing, and to therefore have the opportunity to make a difference in the company’s overall success. This internship would take place alongside my final semester of MBA classes, so I had made it a goal to gain real experience working with a company’s marketing department at a decision-making level.

A Company with a Purpose

To really make a difference, however, I knew this would need to be a company that I genuinely cared about. After hearing about TerraLogos’ mission, I knew I had found the right place. TerraLogos seeks to transform the buildings where people live and work to improve comfort, health, and energy use. The work that they do here isn’t just energy auditing and contracting; it’s educating people about why these things are important.

There is an essential duality to the purpose behind this process: improving people’s lives by upgrading their homes, and helping the community as a whole by encouraging energy efficient practices and less waste. It is inspiring to see a company truly embrace sustainable values by working towards environmental and business goals simultaneously.

I can safely say that anxiety has melted away since I’ve been an intern here at TerraLogos. Not only do I feel right at home in the office, but every day I know I have the exciting opportunity to help improve a business that is truly making a difference for the community.

If you’re interested, also check out my first blog on my recent trip to China.

The post Landing on Solid Ground appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

When Americans are polled about solar energy, 9 out of 10 respond favorably. Why then don’t we see more solar systems being installed on residences if there is so much support?

That’s because 8 out of 10 are unable to install solar on their home roof. The reasons are numerous – too much shade or poor solar orientation, a roof in need of repair, restrictive historic district regulations, multi-family building ownership limitations, or maybe they’re a tenant and it’s not their roof.

Maryland Solar United Neighborhoods (MD-SUN) was formed to provide access to solar power for this 80%. This new approach for going solar is called “Community Solar”.

Solar with a Group

Community solar is about installing solar systems, usually photovoltaic (electric-producing) panels, on a large roof in the neighborhood or somewhere nearby that has a good south-facing roof. This host site can be a church, public building, warehouse, office building, or any structure that sits in the sun and has an owner willing to use his/her roof for the solar panel installation.

A community group of investors organized as a limited liability corporation (LLC), raises the money to finance the solar installation at the host site, hires a solar installer, maintains the solar system, and sells the solar electricity to the host site at a price that is less than the going utility rate.

This is exactly the same financing model that many of the nation’s top solar installers use. Community Solar allows the financial benefits of solar installations to fund projects at the local level for neighborhood organizations and groups.

This is a win-win for all.  The homeowner/investor becomes part owner of a larger solar system and makes a small profit for being the financier. The host site operates on less expensive solar electricity.  The solar electricity produced replaces fossil fuel generated electricity and cuts carbon in the atmosphere. Plus, the invested capital stays within the community.

MD-SUN Can Help

Maryland Solar United Neighborhoods (MD-SUN) was formed with the mission to promote community solar in Baltimore and across the Maryland. Funded by the Abell Foundation and Town Creek Foundations of Maryland, MD-SUN provides technical assistance and support to residents and groups interested in installing solar in their community.

MD-SUN is the MD component of the Community Power Network, which works to build and promote locally based renewable energy projects and policies.

Community solar has already proven to be successful here in Maryland. It was first implemented at the University Park Church of the Brethren in 2010. A direct outgrowth of this first Church project, MD-SUN utilizes the knowledge gained and lessons learned from this and similar solar installations to help other Maryland non-profits complete additional solar projects.

Together, we are building the renewable energy resources for our state.

Best Opportunities

Consider your own situation. Do you live in a house surrounded by trees? Are you a renter or a condominium dweller? Or do you fall into one of the other categories listed above?

Do you know of a building that would be good candidate for solar panels? From experience, the best sites for such projects are

1. non-profits that own their own buildings,
2. have a relatively large area of roof that receives full sun exposure, and
3. a committed group of members or friends that is willing to invest in a solar project.

If you think your group might be interested, please call us at  (301-779-3168) or email us (ten.tsacmocnull@hcsorbcdivad).  MD-SUN we would welcome the opportunity to assist with your project.

About the Author:
As the director of MD-SUN, David Brosch works to provide free help and support for community solar projects to Maryland residents and organizations. He started the original community solar project at University Park Church of the Brethren, and is the president of the Solar LLC that organized and financed that project.

The post Community Solar appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

Visiting one of the most Polluted Cities on Earth

On my recent trip to Beijing, I was curious to see if the rumors I had heard were true. China is one of the most powerful emerging economies in the world, and yet it has a reputation for compromising environmental health and safety in favor of industrial growth.

I figured the stories I’d heard were exaggerated, but the trip made me see the reality of the current levels of pollution in China:

While living in one of the most advanced countries in the world, the Chinese have neither clean water to drink nor clean air to breath.

Water Pollution

Caused primarily by industrial waste and raw sewage, water pollution has been an issue in China for decades. Most households release sewage directly into rivers and lakes without being treated, as there are few facilities to process the waste. As a result, many of these rivers and lakes are not just regarded as unsafe for drinking, but even “unfit for human contact.”

While the issue has moved up on the government’s priority list, it is uncertain how long it will be until the situation is noticeably improved. The Chinese people have learned to adapt by boiling their water or buying it bottled, but to an American tourist there is a distinct sensation of losing something of real value that we take for granted.

Seeing a “don’t drink” sign (see photo) over the bathroom sink in our hotel room only vivifies that sensation.

Air Quality

Air pollution is causing an equally detrimental situation. China’s massive population creates a huge demand for resources, especially energy. Most of this energy comes from burning coal, which has led to some of the worst air quality conditions on the planet, particularly in cities like Beijing.

The symptoms are readily observable for anyone spending time in the city. Many citizens wear surgical masks outside in order to avoid breathing in the polluted air, and such masks are even readily available at the local 7-11′s. Thick smog makes overcast, grey days the dreary norm.

As one tour guide told us, “In the US you might hear someone say, ‘once in a blue moon’.  In Beijing, we say, ‘ once in a blue sky‘.”

Looking Forward

The time I spent in Beijing made me realize necessity of companies like TerraLogos. It is easy to ignore the dangers of adverse environmental impact, yet it is vital that we maintain awareness of our energy usage and the need for efficiency. I am proud to be spending my summer here as an intern, and I hope that I can help the TerraLogos team to continue making a difference for the community and the environment.

Also check out my blog about my first impressions as a TerraLogos marketing intern.

The post Water & Air Quality in Beijing, China appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

Becoming a TerraLogos Building Analyst Intern

I started working at TerraLogos Energy Group several weeks ago.

I was nervous to start my first “real” job. I was trading in my lifeguard suit, whistle, and sunglasses in for a blue polo, contractor pants, and hiking shoes.

This was a change that I was ready to make after my junior year at James Madison University. I am studying Integrated Science and Technology with a concentration in Energy.

It started with a blind phone call to the TerraLogos office asking about potential internships. To my surprise, Susan was open to the idea of an intern for the summer.

Before long, I had completed an interview, been offered and accepted a position and was sitting at my own desk with an Arnold Pomegranate from On the Hill.

I had started my work as a building analyst intern.

Learning about energy and efficiency in the classroom is one thing. Working in the field and experiencing the real-world applications is entirely different. It changes you.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have noticed myself slowly becoming a building science nerd. I’ve been bugging my friends to let me poke around their attics to check insulation levels and crawl into their crawlspaces to see they have vapor barriers.

TerraLogos has even encouraged my new habits by allowing me to do research in areas that peak my interest, such as energy monitoring. I mentioned my interest to some of the other Building Analysts, and before I knew it, I was writing my own energy monitor blog.

I have already learned so much and am grateful for the opportunity to learn even more about building science. But more importantly, TerraLogos taught me the value of a new socially aware business model – one that helps customers buy something they need rather than selling them something they don’t need.

As a company, TerraLogos prides itself on the many customers they have helped by improving the comfort of their homes, saving money on their energy bills, and reducing their impact on the environment. This feels good.

The post From Bathing Suit to Building Analyst appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

Well, actually it was late February – appropriately, right around President’s Day – when who should drop by, but our old (very old) friend, Abe Lincoln. Honestly.

The TerraLogos building has served some interesting purposes during its existence: the corner grocery store, an antique dealership, and office for an energy improvement contractor. And, now we can add photo shoot background to the list.

Back in February, our headquarters was photographed as the backdrop of an advertisement for Centerstage Baltimore’s upcoming play, A Civil War Christmas.

We were honored and excited to help out, and the pictures came out great. Centerstage recently released their Season 51 preview brochure and video, featuring the photos of a merry Abraham Lincoln and an angelic children’s choir, singing Christmas carols in front of our decorated building. Check out the video here for their upcoming season.

A Civil War Christmas, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, takes place on “a bitterly cold Christmas Eve in 1864″.  All along the Potomac, from the White House to the battlefields, friends and foes alike find their lives strangely and poetically intertwined. Weaving together carols, hymns, and folk songs, this “beautifully stitched tapestry of American lives” (The New York Times) is sure to become a new holiday classic for the entire family.

The show is set to run from November 19, 2013 to December 22, 2013. Full Season Subscriptions to all 7 shows in CENTERSTAGE’s 2013-14 Season are on sale now. Tickets for A Civil War Christmas will go on sale in July. Either way, be sure to grab some tickets to Centerstage and enjoy some holiday fun this year while supporting your local theater. We’ll see you there!

Visit the Centerstage website here and check out their 2013-14 Season here.

The post Christmas in May appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.

Tap Into the Green Power Plant on Your Roof – for Free!

We have always believed that the path to a clean energy future involves two steps.

1. Find & fix your energy leaks to reduce as much as possible the overall amount of energy you need.
2. Then, obtain this energy from renewable energy sources.

It made sense to do the steps in this order, since solar and geothermal systems required a large capital investment. After all, why would you spend good money to make clean power only to see 20% of it fly out your leaky attic or wasted by an antiquated heat pump?

Putting efficiency first still makes sense, but now you can fix your leaks AND have clean power too, as the economics of the solar industry have changed dramatically.

Not long ago, solar required a significant cash outlay to install – one with a handsome return on investment, but a major one nonetheless. But, now you can get on-site energy production with zero up-front cost to you.

New Solar Partner

TerraLogos is excited to announce a new partnership with Astrum Solar, a local company that happens to be the largest full-service residential solar installer based on the East Coast. Qualifying TerraLogos clients can have an Astrum Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system installed for free and pay for their solar energy monthly (just as you would your regular electricity bill, only lower). Plus, you’ll get a $250 TerraLogos-Astrum cash-back bonus as a thank-you for taking the clean energy path.

You can save thousands of dollars in energy costs over the life of the system.

Getting the economics right was only part of the equation – we also wanted to choose a solar PV partner that offered the same premium customer experience that we pride in ourselves. We found that quality in Astrum Solar.

Astrum Solar offers several premium touches that made it stand out among the competition – a turnkey, hassle-free installation approach; free, in-person site surveys performed up front before you ever meet with a sales consultant; more efficient and flexible microinverters included standard on every job; system performance guarantees; performance monitoring included for the lifetime of the system; and more.

Local & Sustainable Business

Not only do we have the confidence that Astrum Solar will treat our clients with the same respect we do, we also chose them because, despite their regional scope and size, they are a Maryland company, headquartered in nearby Howard County. The company was founded by two Baltimore natives. Even as they have grown to serve  twelve states through six regional operations centers, their corporate headquarters remains right in our backyard.

We like the combination of a large, regional outfit with a deep set of resources and experience, that is also part of our local business community.

Also, they clearly “walk the talk” with respect to sustainability – a visit to their corporate headquarters reveals that dedication. Anything that can be recycled, is –from office paper and cardboard shipping containers to scrap pieces of aluminum roof railing from installation jobs. Their fleet of sales vehicles is comprised entirely of hybrid cars and their survey trucks are carbon neutral thanks to the company’s purchase of carbon offsets corresponding to annual mileage. And while their leased space in Annapolis Junction is not approved for a solar installation, they have worked with their landlord, Merritt Properties, on solar installs for numerous other locations.

Getting Started

Are you intrigued about the prospect of generating your own clean power at home, and actually getting paid to do it? We don’t blame you. Click here and register for your free, no-obligation solar consultation.

The post Efficiency + Solar PV = Clean Future appeared first on TerraLogos Energy Group.