On July 22, 2009 CarbonfreeDC was chosen as one of five winners of Green Effect (greeneffect.com), National Geographic’s high-profile competition that grants $20,000 to implement green ideas in local communities. The Extreme Green Neighborhood Makeover plan is to green 20 deserving homes in Washington, DC was chosen by a panel of experts that included actor Edward Norton, Green For All CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins and Center for Environmental Education Founder Jayni Chase.

Green DMV joined the Extreme Green Neighborhood Makeover project to help address rising energy costs and the high unemployment rate in the District of Columbia. Several graduates from the Green DMV green job training program worked to help perform energy audits and weatherize homes in the Deanwood community of the District of Columbia.