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Wednesday, July 12, 2023 | Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County’s Energy Benchmarking Law requires building owners to track energy use of buildings 25,000 gross square feet and greater in the county, have the data verified, and report it to the County annually.
The submission deadline for all Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, and Group 4 covered buildings in the County was Wednesday, June 1, 2023 and building owners will begin getting non-compliance follow up letters shortly. This includes commercial buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and greater and multifamily buildings 250,000 sq. ft and greater where the benchmarking status is "not submitted."
If you still need help reporting or having data verified, please contact the Green Bank's Technical Assistance experts today at ta@mcgreenbank.org or submit an application form today. The Green Bank partners with benchmarking experts and helps to defray the cost of these services.
THE GREEN BANK OFFERS MORE THAN JUST BENCHMARKING SUPPORT
The law also requires you to meet long-term site energy use intensity performance standards. Here, too, the Green Bank can help.
The Technical Assistance Program also helps you define a business case for energy conservation measures on your commercial properties in Montgomery County. For a great start for your retrofitting and renovation initiatives, they can cover a portion of the cost of ASHRAE Level I, Level II, Level III/ Investment Grade Audits, plus feasibility analyses—and show you how you can ultimately save time and money.
Learn more here.
In collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Affairs, DEP has published a list of FAQs that common ownership communities (COCs) should keep in mind when it comes to benchmarking their properties and preparing for the County and State building energy performance standards requirements.
The Common Ownership Communities: Energy Benchmarking and Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) page covers questions about:
If you have a question that hasn't been covered, you can leave a leave a reply on the blog post for DEP staff to answer.
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County Executive Marc Elrich led a press conference to celebrate the County’s second “resilience hub” powered by renewable energy microgrids in mid-June. The resilience hub, located at a Derwood Animal Shelter, advances the climate change mitigation and adaption goals outlined in the County’s Climate Action Plan. The hub will supply carbon-free energy to the surrounding community through the microgrid, which can operate independently from the traditional grid. In the event of extreme weather and disaster, it will serve as a backup power source providing heating and cooling or the ability to charge devices.
The hub’s capabilities were tested in November 2022, when a plane crashed into a Gaithersburg power line, leaving 120,000 residents without power. The Derwood hub, however, supplied its own power and remained online. “You can see how this would impact the day where we get to put microgrids out more at the neighborhood level,” Elrich said, “and that eventually is coming.”
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Tune in to the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) podcast for the latest news and information – from permits to plans to solar panels and fences to decks and EV charging stations. This is the place to connect with experts about renovating your home (adding a deck, fence, pool or shed); opening a new business (certificates and licenses); planning a special event; and more.
Four episodes are available now and have covered topics about the importance of deck maintenance, building safety, fire prevention tips and what is trending in commercial building. The latest episode, “Use and Occupancy Certificates,” features important information for business owners who may be considering buying or leasing a commercial space.
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Local News
State Can Achieve Its 60% Emissions Reduction Goal, UMD Analysis Shows (MarylandToday)
Report offers glimpse of what it will take for state to reach ambitious climate goals (Maryland Matters)
New PSC chair vows to ‘leave no Marylander behind’ as Moore looks to remake agency (Maryland Matters)
Steady growth projected for Montgomery County over the next 30 years (The Third Place)
Turning poop into power in Montgomery County (WTOP)
Renewables make up 16% of District of Columbia electricity sales, new data shows (Utility Dive)
Amazon’s HQ2 is here, and it’s seriously sustainable (GreenBiz)
Other News
What Are Building Performance Standards? (Facilities Net video)
It’s time for buildings to stop using a third of US energy, some states say (Route Fifty)
June Extremes Suggest Parts of the Climate System Are Reaching Tipping Points (Inside Climate News)
Now Is the Time to Go All In on Heat Pumps (RMI)
Right-to-charge laws bring the promise of EVs to apartments, condos and rentals (The Conversation)
The Future of Buildings is Net-Zero Energy (Facilities Net)
Some Energy-Saving Strategies That Can Save You Money (Green Lodging News)
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July 18, 9:30 am - 5 pm | Environmental and Energy Study Institute
2023 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum
July 20, 12 - 1 pm | Information Technology & Innovation Foundation
Reimagining Energy Permitting for the 21st Century
July 27, 6 - 9 pm | USGBC National Capital Region
A Midsummer Night's Green
Sept 5 - 7 | National Institute of Building Sciences
Building Innovation Conference
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