Home Energy and Solar
Home Energy Efficiency Incentives
Energy efficiency is often the best way to reduce your energy bill. Reducing the leakage of valuable heated or cooled air also makes your home more comfortable. Luckily, in Maryland there are many programs that incentivize home energy efficiency.
Whether you rent or own, live in a shared house, apartment, townhouse, or stand-alone home, there are rebates and incentives to save your energy and money. If you have a contractor for a larger project, ask if they manage grants and incentives.
Explore incentives to help pay for home energy efficiency improvements:
- MD Energy Administration Energy Efficiency Grants for Homes
- MD Department of Housing and Community Development Home and Energy Improvement Incentives and Grants
- BGE Power Saver Program
- High Performance Homes Tax Credit
In particular, BGE's Free Quick Home Energy Check-up will provide you with free lightbulbs, shower heads, and other goodies to make an immediate impact in your space. There are rebates for buying and recycling appliances, to tune up your air conditioner, and more.
For a deeper dive, homeowners can request a Home Performance with Energy Star assessment, which will pinpoint exactly where your home is performing well or could improve. Many people assume that their windows are old, or they need an expensive air conditioning replacement. Sometimes less-obvious changes make a huge difference and could cost much less. The Home Performance with Energy Star assessment usually costs at least $400, but with BGE you can get one for $100.
Residential Solar
Many homeowners are excited by rooftop solar. However, it's a large project that requires a lot of details and decisions. We have prepared a starting primer for home owners below, but this is not an exhaustive resource list. Each home owner should do their own research and work closely with a trusted contractor to make the best decisions for their unique situation.
Installing solar panels on your house or property is a big decision. Prepare with these resources:
- Start with the “Be Solar Smart Consumer Checklist” to help you navigate the process.
- The MD Energy Administration Consumer Guide to Solar will help homeowners understand the many financing and equipment options.
- The Clean Energy States Alliance Solar Homeowner Guide is another consumer information resource. This guide was published in 2018, but it is still an excellent introductory guide.
- The Solar United Neighbors are a non-profit consumer advocacy group. Their website provides resources for home owners and up-to-date articles about MD residential solar policy.
- The MD Energy Administration Residential Solar Incentives webpage lists grants and incentives for residential solar.
Choosing a contractor and understanding your contract are crucial to getting a system that serves your needs.
- A solar developer/contractor should have an active MHIC and NABCEP license in the state of Maryland.
- It’s a good idea to get at least three proposal bids. Multiple bids allow you to compare prices, judge response time, and gauge the overall professionalism of each contractor/company.
- There are many financing models, with different upfront costs. Each homeowner will need to decide if they want to own the solar equipment, the electricity, or simply get a reduction on their monthly bill.
- Solar roof installations may interfere with an existing roof warranty. The best time to install is when you're replacing the roof anyway.
- Maintenance and upkeep of the panels and roof are very important. Make sure the solar installer or your roofer are responsible for cleaning and checking for leaks every few years.
- There should be legal language to transfer the solar contract if you sell your home. You will need to disclose this to any potential buyers.
- If you want to use the electricity your panels produce, you will need to include this in the contract. It will require equipment called an inverter, which may cost extra. If you want electricity during a power outage, you may consider installing a backup system with batteries, which may cost extra.
- Once you own the electricity your panels produce, you also qualify for Solar Renewable Energy Credits, which you can keep or sell. Depending on your contract, your installer may use these to pay for the cost of installing your solar.
- How much sun does my roof get?
- Baltimore County Permits for Residential Solar
- BGE Residential Solar Install Process
- Solar Renewable Energy Credits
- MD Energy Administration Energy Storage Income Tax Credit
- Maryland Solar for All Program for middle- and low-income households
- Maryland Climate Action Fund for middle- and low-income households
- A recent law passed in MD forbids HOAs from denying home owners solar panels on their roofs, or restricting where / how the solar panels can be installed.
Community Solar
Not everyone’s home can host solar. Renters, multifamily building residents, and shaded homes just aren’t a good fit.
Community Solar is a subscription program that saves you money. You receive a subscription bill each month for a specific solar installation; these are real, nearby panels that you can go visit. In return, you receive a credit on your BGE bill for the value of the electricity provided. The average community solar member saves 10%-15% off of their electricity bill including the subscription fee. So even though you have an “extra bill,” you are still saving money. There are even community solar programs for low- and medium-income households.
Maryland has recently passed a law that will make Community Solar even easier. The law went into effect on January 1, 2025, and will make the subscription process easier and more streamlined.
Please note that if all local community solar subscriptions have been purchased, there may be a waiting list to join an existing community solar program. Subscriptions may also become available when new installations begin construction. There have been cases where a group of neighbors have banded together and negotiated with Community Solar companies to get a group discount.
Keep an eye on the Maryland Energy Administration’s Community Solar website for updates!
- The Office of People’s Counsel Community Solar FAQ provides details about Community Solar.
- The BGE Community Solar summary page outlines how the program works with your electric bill.