Day of Caring - Resident Gets Keys to Newly Renovated Home

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers of Constellation Energy, BGE and Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity, 13 homes in the Monument-McElderry-Fayette community are well on their way to complete renovation. 

More than 50 volunteers from Constellation Energy and BGE dedicated their entire day on March 25, 2009 to priming, painting, insulating, framing and air sealing these Baltimore City houses. They were able to celebrate their efforts with the Baltimore resident who will soon be moving into her nearly completed, newly renovated home on Jefferson Street near Johns Hopkins Hospital.

"Being involved in the Day of Caring was a very gratifying experience," said Jackie Heaney, a BGE gas analysis specialist and lead coordinator of the effort. "This is all about changing people's lives by providing affordable housing - and that's so important, especially in these very tough economic times. At the end of the day, all the volunteers were very tired and sore, but no one complained. We walked away knowing that we had given back to the community in a very meaningful way."

The home is one of 100 benefiting from a five year, $500,000 shareholder funded contribution to Chesapeake Habitat from BGE through the Constellation Energy Foundation. 

"BGE is happy to take part in this event and is especially pleased that energy efficiency measures were taken during the renovation process to help these new homeowners better manage their energy bills," said Mark D. Case, senior vice president of strategy and regulatory affairs for BGE and also a Chesapeake Habitat board member. "This collaborative effort is one example of what BGE is doing, not only to help individual customers, but to also help address Maryland's future energy needs.  Energy efficiency and conservation efforts put downward pressure on wholesale prices for electricity and, over time, reduce energy costs for everyone."

Ken Gray, BGE supervisor of underground gas construction, spent much of the day cutting and installing molding in the new home.

This effort is just one of several Days of Caring, and is part of a larger plan to revitalize this community. Twelve other homes in the community are in the final stages of renovations and should be completed by June 2009. All homes will be energy efficient and purchased by limited income customers.