The Commissioners of Kent County, MD and Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore are pleased to announce the launch of Kent County’s Residential Energy Equity program, an initiative designed to help local low to moderate income households reduce utility costs through energy-efficiency improvements and repairs.
Supported by a $151,800 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration, the program assists residents with limited income tackle increasingly high energy bills due to older appliances and systems, exacerbated by physical issues with the house or apartment.
“The Residential Energy Equity program allows us to address the root causes of high energy bills while ensuring our residents live in homes that are safe, healthy and resilient,” said Rosemary Ramsey Granillo, director of the Kent County Local Management Board. “This partnership strengthens our local housing stock and ensures energy efficiency improvements reach the families who need them most.”
Work is already underway identifying eligible homeowners in Kent County, including properties in Chestertown and Millington. Both homes were identified through Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore’s community outreach network as households experiencing extreme energy burdens due to aging or failing core systems.
“This program pairs critical mechanical repairs like HVAC and water heater upgrades with essential structural fixes that protect families against rising utility costs and severe weather,” said Genevieve Croker, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore. “Our Safe and Healthy Homes Program addresses critical hazards, and ensuring homes are energy-efficient and affordable to run is vital to that work.” Interested applicants can contact them at info@rteasternshore.org or 410.778.4544.
Replacing aging HVAC systems and water heaters delivers an immediate, measurable impact on monthly household utility expenses. Heating, cooling, and water heating account for the vast majority of residential energy consumption, particularly in older rural homes with limited insulation.
While Rebuilding Together services are available only to homeowners, renters are also eligible for this program and should visit www.kentcounty.com/residents/mea or contact the Kent County Local Management Board at lmb@kentgov.org or 410.810.2674.
The Kent County Local Management Board coordinates policy and services to improve the lives of children, youth, and families and is a department of Kent County Government. The Board is a collaboration among organizations and service providers, and leverages funding opportunities to expand programs and activities. Currently they fund 26 different initiatives that strengthen youth, workforce, and community development. Find details at www.kentcounty.com/residents/local_managment_board
Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore’s mission is repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives. They leverage gifts of time, money, skill and labor to repair and rehabilitate homes for income-eligible seniors, veterans, those living with disabilities, and families with children in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties. All work is done at no cost to homeowners who meet the eligibility criteria. This is an equal opportunity program. Learn more at rebuildingtogethereasternshore.org.