Pat Warren
BALTIMORE (WJZ)
Slowing the burn. Baltimore City and Constellation Energy set a goal to reduce the city's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 15% before 2015. Political reporter Pat Warren explains how they're trying to get city residents on board.
Inez Robb of Sandtown and Sheila Dixon of City Hall share a podium and a purpose: reducing household energy use.
"I don't know about you, but I've already started doing that, particularly with changing my lightbulbs," Dixon said. "It's helping."
Robb is walking that walk. With the help of Civic Works home energy experts, she's first to take the pledge in Baltimore's new neighborhood energy challenge.
"I've had installed the CFL bulbs and also an aerator for my sink," Robb said.
The aerator and CFL--compact flourescent light bulbs--are some of the changes participants in nine city neighborhoods can make for free, courtesy of a group of sponsors, including Constellation Energy.
"I've gotten the BGE programmable thermostat installed," Robb said.
"These are the type of tools we can put into people's hands to make them understand that running a dishwasher at midnight is better at running it at 3 in the afternoon," said Mayo Shattuck.
Leaders in nine areas will sign up their neighbors and get everybody talking about ways to save energy.
"Buying energy-efficient products now--all of these things are helping," Dixon said.
Targeted neighborhoods include Park Heights, Reservoir Hill, Ten Hills, Mt. Washington and Roland Park.
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