Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) announces a three-year US$12.8 million contract with Pepco Holdings Inc. (Washington, D.C.) to implement and manage a portfolio of energy-efficiency programs for homeowners in the utilities' District of Columbia and Maryland service territories.

The programs, which include energy audits, equipment tune-ups, appliance rebates, contractor recruitment and training, and consumer education, will help residents cut energy consumption and costs. They are also expected to reduce Pepco Holdings Inc.'s electric load and environmental impact by conserving an estimated 220,000 MWh of energy over the course of the contract. This would result in the utility avoiding almost 158,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to removing more than 280,000 cars from the road for a year, according to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Pepco Holdings Inc. and Honeywell expect the programs to reach more than 800,000 customers. And Honeywell will provide training, marketing and customer service to drive participation. Honeywell will launch and oversee three programs and help expand a fourth. The company's data management system will manage all program data and interactions, including customer participation, energy-impact calculations and ongoing customer communications, and provide a Web-based reporting dashboard that covers all programs.

• Home Performance with Energy Star Program will provide residential Maryland customers incentives for participating in home energy-efficiency surveys, undergoing energy audits and implementing home energy-efficient improvements.

• Residential Lighting and Appliance Program promotes the switch to high-efficiency lighting and appliances like refrigerators and electric water heaters.

• Residential HVAC Efficiency Program will increase the number of tune-ups performed on existing air conditioners and heat pumps, and encourage homeowners to buy high-efficiency systems when replacements are necessary.

• Residential Low Income Program will provide energy conservation and education services to qualified income-eligible utility customers in Maryland. Honeywell will coordinate with local community-based organizations and contractors to recruit customers and deliver program services.

The new programs will run from 2009 through 2012.