The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) presented the 2022 Climate and Energy Leadership Awards to Frederick County for its Power Saving Outreach and Engagement Initiative for Vulnerable Communities Project and the Rise N Shine Foundation Inc. for its “Can We Do Something About Food Waste?” project. These projects were recognized for contributing to COG’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and advance equity across the region by prioritizing historically underserved populations in the planning of their programs.
The awards were announced at the October COG Board of Directors meeting by COG Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee Chair and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Koran Saines and COG Air and Climate Public Advisory Committee Vice Chair Era Pandya.
“I am honored to help recognize the outstanding efforts being done in our region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Saines. “Projects like these are a great example of the important role both local governments and residents play in reaching our climate and equity goals.”
Learn more about the award recipients and their innovative programs below:
Frederick County’s Power Saving Outreach & Engagement Initiative for Vulnerable Communities Project
Frederick County’s Department of Climate and Energy, Division of Energy and Environment (DCE) is working to both mitigate GHG emissions and help vulnerable populations be more resilient to climate risks like extreme heat through its Power Saver Retrofits (PSR) Program. The PSR program provides energy star audits and energy-saving home improvements to moderate- and low-income households, including the installation of efficient HVAC system upgrades. As racial equity became a central focus for Frederick County, DCE participated in community equity conversations with non-profits to begin building relationships. Results of the project show that from 2014 – 2021 the PSR program served approximately 655 moderate-and low-income households. During the FY 2020 program, households saved an average of approximately $624 in utility costs. The Power Saving Outreach & Engagement Initiative for Vulnerable Communities project provides a framework of strategies which serve as a model for what other local governments in the region can do to include vulnerable communities that have not typically been engaged.
Rise N Shine Foundation, Inc. “Can We Do Something About Food Waste?” Project
Rise N Shine Foundation Founder Shrusti Amula, a high school student at Richard Montgomery High School in Montgomery County, embarked on a research project with friends for a STEM competition on food waste and its effects on climate. The team of students volunteered to adopt an elementary school in the county as a pilot and committed time and effort to implement a composting program. The “Can We Do Something About Food Waste?” project aims to divert food waste from incinerators or landfills to compost facilities and save food from restaurants and grocery stores from becoming food waste and provide it to vulnerable members of the community with food insecurity. The foundation runs the composting program at five local schools. It has recovered an estimated total of 52,000 lbs. of food waste that serves eight shelter homes and food banks and has partnered with four organizations to deliver excess food. The total estimated weight diverted from the program is 17.6 tons, which is equivalent to the GHG emissions from over 35,300 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle. The success of this program has inspired other students to start similar composting programs across the county.
MORE: COG's Climate and Energy Leadership Awards