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Thursday, July 14, 2022 | Department of Environmental Protection
Comprehensive Building Decarbonization Legislation (Bill 13-22) was introduced on June 14. If passed, the county will be on its way to a future in which all new buildings are fully electric.
Bill 13-22 would require the County Executive to issue all-electric building code standards for new construction, major renovations, and additions by January 1, 2024. The requirement excludes certain building types, such as manufacturing, crematories, hospitals, and commercial kitchens, for which electrification is not yet economically viable or that requires fossil fuel combustion for safety, like emergency backup systems.
A public hearing is currently scheduled for July 26. You can sign up to testify, there is currently a wait list to testify, but don’t let that deter you! Council often opens up additional spots closer to the hearing date. You may also submit written, audio, or video testimony using this form, and learn more about the bill on My Green Montgomery.
Benchmarkers that submitted their 2021 energy benchmarking reports were emailed a Benchmarking Scorecard yesterday. The scorecard is provided to the Portfolio Manager contacts and contains information about your energy performance compared to all benchmarked buildings, other buildings of the same property type, and to your own building's historical consumption.
Be sure to check page 2 for resources and links to help you save energy and take advantage of incentive, financing, and technical assistance programs.
If you did not receive a scorecard, please first check your spam or junk folder and then reach out to energy@montgomerycountymd.gov with your building's name and Montgomery County Building ID to receive a copy.
Did the scorecard go to the wrong person? Make sure your contact info is updated in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The account email can be updated under Account Settings at the top of the page. (DEP cannot update this contact info for you, unfortunately.)
The Capital Area Solar Co-op is back for its second year. Open to all residents and small businesses in Montgomery, Prince George's, & Frederick Counties in Maryland, the co-op organizes a group to go solar together and leverage bulk-purchasing power to get discounted pricing and a quality installation.
Visit Solar United Neighbors website to learn more about the co-op or participate in an upcoming information session.
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Join the Montgomery County Green Bank on July 27 for an in-person speaker panel breakfast discussion on commercial solar opportunities in the affordable housing market.
There will be ample opportunity for networking among solar installers, capital providers, and developers. Speakers may include City First Enterprises, Lumina Solar, and the Maryland Energy Administration.
Register today!
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After giving out all its available funding for EV charging rebates in Fiscal Year 2022, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) will have new funding for residential and commercial EV supply equipment (EVSE) beginning July 1, 2022. Check MEA’s website for updates for instructions on how to apply.
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The Montgomery County Council unanimously voted Tuesday to pass Bill 3-22, Legislative Branch – Climate Assessments – Required, which would require the director of the Office of Legislative Oversight to prepare a climate assessment for each bill, zoning text amendment, master plan and master plan amendment pending before the Council.
“This groundbreaking legislation will support local lawmakers to make impactful decisions through a climate lens and preserve the environment,” Council President Albornoz said. Read more about the bill here.
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Local News
Building Decarbonization: County officials unveil legislation to require electricity as the sole energy source for new buildings (Bethesda Beat)
Community Solar: Community solar development proposed in Rockville (Bethesda Beat)
Electrification: County Council introduces legislation banning gas-powered leaf blowers (Bethesda Beat)
State Policy: Climate Commission Ponders Task Ahead: Helping to Implement New Law (Maryland Matters)
Other News
Building Certification: Sustainability Street: Inside BREEAM Certification (Commercial Property Executive)
Carbon Neutrality: Define, Measure, Reduce: How Buildings Go Carbon Neutral (Facilities Net)
Efficiency Standards: DOE proposes new energy-efficiency standards for gas furnaces (Daily Energy Insider)
Energy Transition: PJM capacity prices fall 32% with more nuclear, solar capacity clearing in the latest auction (Utility Dive)
Heat Pumps: Cold Climate Heat Pumps Light Up Climate Fight (CleanTechnica)
LEED Zero: LEED Zero Certifications Reach 23 Million Square Feet (Facilities Net)
Passive House: The business case for passive house multifamily (PHIUS)
Power Purchase Agreements: How to negotiate a lower-risk power purchase agreement (GreenBiz)
Workforce: DOE: Here’s what’s happened to EV, renewable, fossil jobs (E&E News)
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July 14, 6 - 7:15 pm | Solar United Neighbors
Maryland Co-op Info Session #4
July 19 - 21 | US DOE
2022 National Energy Codes Conference
July 21, 6 - 9 pm | USGBC NCR
A Midsummer Night's Green, the USGBC National Capital Region 2022 Community Leadership Awards
July 27, 8:30 - 10 am | Montgomery County Green Bank
Contractor Breakfast: Montgomery County Solar Opportunities in Affordable Housing
July 27, 4 - 5:30 pm | USGBC Maryland
Ask an Engineer: Climate Solutions Now Act
Aug 18, 12 - 1:15 pm | Solar United Neighbors
Maryland Co-op Info Session #5
Aug 31, 1 - 2:30 pm | USGBC NCR
USGBC NCR Presents: LEED Building Tour
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