Montgomery County Awards Commercial and Multi-Family Energy Efficiency Incentives; $1.7 Million in ARRA Funds Help to Reduce Grantees Annual Utility Costs by $800,000

October 20, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that 43 businesses, multi-family properties and faith-based organizations are in various stages of completing energy efficiency projects using $1.7 million from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG). The recipients leveraged the incentives for $4.4 million in projects that include installing energy efficient lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning. Many recipients also improved insulation and implemented small improvements to encourage energy conscious behaviors. According to estimates by the grant recipients, these projects are expected to collectively save more than $800,000 annually in utility costs.