The Green Homes Challenge
makes it fun and easy to save energy,
adopt environmentally-friendly practices,
and use renewable energy.

  • Learn about actions you can take
  • Set goals and track your progress
  • Join a Green Team to stay motivated
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Get Started!

  • Sign up for an account
  • Add actions to your To Do List
  • Earn points and medals for completing actions
  • Become a Certified Challenge Taker
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Get Social!

  • Join a Green Team
  • Post to Green Stories
  • Invite your friends to join
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Green Homes Challenge Receives Climate and Energy Leadership Award!  In 2015, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) awarded Frederick County with a Climate and Energy Leadership Award for the Green Homes Challenge. This award recognizes outstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency. 

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Congratulations to all of our Certified Households! Since Frederick County launched its Green Homes Challenge in January 2011, more than 950 households have met one or more of the three Green Homes Challenges: Be a Power Saver, Be a Green Leader, or Be a Renewable Star! Each year, certified households are recognized at our Green Homes Challenge Recognition Event!

Challenger of the Week
Gladden O'Neill Household
  • POWER SAVER
    certified (95)
    50
  • GREEN LEADER
    certified (88)
    50
  • RENEWABLE STAR
    in progress (0)
    10
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Action of the Week
  • Households: 216
    Buy organic, free-range, and/or grass-fed food at least 25% of the time

    Buying organic food lessens the impact of pesticides, fertilizers, and other dangerous chemicals on the environment and the consumer. Different levels of organic certification include “100 percent organic,” “organic,” and “made with organic ingredients.” Foods labeled “100 percent organic” cannot contain any non-organic ingredients. “Organic” foods must contain at least 95% organic ingredients, and foods “made with organic ingredients” must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. To learn more, watch this video on the benefits of eating organic.

    Certified organic meat and dairy products are slightly different than grass-fed and free-range animal products in that “organic” animals may be grain-fed but are also required to have access to pasture. To learn more, watch this video about the requirements for organic animal product certification.

    Free-range and grass-fed (in comparison to grain-fed) animal products contain far more essential nutrients, such as omega-3s, which are vital to brain and heart health and have even been shown to reduce risk of cancer, heart attack, depression, attention deficit disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease. They also contain more beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), and essential minerals. Learn more about the health benefits of free-range and grass-fed animal products.

    Purchasing free-range and grass-fed products cuts down on CO2 emissions, pesticide use, and synthetic fertilizer use related to industrial grain production. It also reduces manure run-off, disease in animals and consumers, methane gas emissions from animals, and animal cruelty. Manure from pastured animals can help build healthy soil, improving habitat for soil organisms, insects, and other native animals. In addition, the grasses and plants allowed to grow on a pasture sequester CO2. Check out these articles to learn more about the environmental benefits of free-range and grass-fed animal products: Grassfarming Benefits the Environment, In Defense of the Cow.

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2,544
Total Participants
1,656,702
Estimated Annual Expenses Avoided
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