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Wednesday, October 9, 2024| Department of Environmental Protection
Montgomery County's benchmarking law requires DEP to publish a report and public data disclosure highlighting energy benchmarking data on October 1 each year.
This year's benchmarking report is now available. Previous years’ reports and datasets can be viewed on DEP’s website. Highlights of calendar year 2023 benchmarking include:
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High Reporting Rate: As of October 1, 87% of covered buildings have submitted energy benchmarking reports. These buildings total over 225 million gross square feet of commercial and multifamily area in Montgomery County. 93% have reported or have filed an extension while they work to comply. CY 2023 builds on several years of 90%+ reporting rates among covered buildings.
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Persistent Savings: Benchmarking data for consistently reported properties shows a 14% decrease in weather normalized site energy use intensity (site EUI) between 2018 and 2023, or an average of 3% per year. County results mirror U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research that shows persistent energy savings in benchmarked properties.
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Group 5 Success from the Start: Multifamily properties between 25,000 and 250,000 square feet (Group 5) reported for the first time this year. This new group is comprised of over 400 buildings totaling 36 million gross square feet. Nearly 75% of Group 5 buildings have been reported, a record for a newly reporting building group. Many first-time benchmarkers received support and subsidies through the Montgomery County Green Bank’s Technical Assistance Program for benchmarking, data verification, and gross floor area measurement to ensure accurate, high-quality data.
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Preparing for Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS): The report also provides an overview of Montgomery County’s BEPS Program.
 In addition to the annual reporting, DEP has also released two brand-new data tools to help building owners and the public access and understand energy benchmarking data:
The Montgomery County Building Energy Performance Map provides an interactive and user-friendly tool to investigate compliance status and energy performance data for each covered building’s current and historical benchmarking data. It also provides comparisons of each building’s latest energy performance to proposed building energy performance standards.
Use the filters on the left to drill down by reporting year, benchmarking group, property type, or switch the map legend.
Click on any building to view building details, current energy performance, and a comparison of normalized net site EUI (weather normalized site energy use intensity less any onsite renewable energy) versus the proposed building energy performance standard for that building.
The Performance Requirement Look-Up Tool provides a more in-depth view into historically reported benchmarking for each building, provides each building’s BEPS baseline (or projected baseline if only partway through the baseline period), and projects interim and final BEPS standards for each building based on proposed regulation. This tool can also be accessed by clicking "View Performance Requirements" from any building on the energy performance map.
If you have questions or feedback about these new tools, please contact Energy@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.
Are you a nonprofit looking for energy efficiency upgrades? Through BUILT Nonprofits, DOE will provide up to $100,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits for energy efficiency equipment and installation to reduce operational costs by improving efficiency.
The Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits) funding opportunity will support nonprofit building improvement projects that reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and generate short and long-term energy cost saving so that operational dollars can be redirected toward mission-critical work. Eligible nonprofit participants are 501(c)(3) organizations who own and operate their own buildings. BUILT Nonprofits will provide awards of up to $100k each. The program requires a 20% cost-share.
Learn more and apply by November 12.
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Este mes, EPA va a presentar “Portfolio Manager 101” en Español. Regístrese para recibir una introducción completamente en español a ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Los asistentes del evento aprenderán como navegar Portfolio Manager, agregar una propiedad y meter detalles sobre ella, subir datos de energía y consumición de agua, y generar reportes de rendimiento para analizar progreso. Asista a este webinar si está interesado en:
- Empezar con la evaluación comparativa.
- Entender cómo evaluar su rendimiento de energía.
- Generar informes.
This month, EPA will present a Spanish-language Portfolio Manager 101. Please register for a completely Spanish-spoken introduction to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Regístrese aquí por el evento, Martes, 29 de octubre, 1 pm / register here.
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The Office of Grants Management (OGM) is excited to highlight two new tools that will add clarity, transparency, and reliability to communication on Montgomery County grant opportunities.
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The weekly Montgomery County Grant Opportunity Newsletter will highlight currently open and soon to be launched grant opportunities, as well as updates on closed grant programs and grant related events and trainings. Stakeholders can learn how to register for the Newsletter within OGM’s 5 Step Guide to Prepare for Montgomery County Grants.
- The FY2025 Grant Program Forecast will provide a projection of all confirmed grant programs over the course of FY25 to allow stakeholders to plan and prepare for upcoming opportunities. This living document will be continually reviewed and updated on a weekly basis throughout the fiscal year. The list of grant programs is expected to grow and diversity as OGM helps County departments explore grant programs as an alternative to procurement contracts. Clicking on this link to the FY2025 Grant Program Forecast will always download the most up-to-date version of this document.
OGM will continue to post open grant programs on the OGM County Website and the SM Apply online application platform.
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Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for open positions in climate and sustainability jobs! Featured opportunities this month include several with Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Home Energy Programs:
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Fintech Company OneEthos Partners with Montgomery County Green Bank to Bring Affordable Consumer Solar Funding to Maryland: "will offer loan subsidies that provide homeowners with discounted solar loans with rates ranging from 0% for low-income households, to 4.99% for all other residents. Following a successful one-year pilot phase, the partnership plans to extend to incorporate additional energy efficiency loans." (Access Wire)
MD Energy Administration offers new rounds of grants for community solar, resilience hubs: "The Community Solar Low- to Moderate-Income Power Purchase Agreement Grant Program and Resilient Maryland Program, both of which have received major awards from the Clean Energy States Alliance, are now open for applications." (The Daily Record)
Renters raise alarm over high levels of nitrogen dioxide in apartments: "More than half of the units registered unhealthy levels of NO2." (Maryland Matters)
Energy Providers Challenge Maryland’s New Consumer Protection Law: "Several large energy companies have sued to block Maryland’s new law regulating the retail electricity market..." (Conduit Street)
St. John Properties Headquarters’ Integrated Energy Efficiency Solutions: "enhancements to HVAC, solar, and lighting systems, alongside the implementation of a Building Management System (BMS), resulting in over 225,000 kWh of energy savings and $12,500 in cost savings annually" (Smart Energy Decisions)
The Newest U.S. Energy Jobs Report Says This About The Clean Energy Economy: "Market forces and government incentives are creating a growing number of renewable energy jobs." (CleanTechnica)
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Oct 10, 1 pm | DOE Better Buildings Program
Successful Strategies for Better Insulating
Oct 16, 5 - 8 pm | DC Building Innovation Hub
Decarbonizing DC: Better Buildings through Innovation and Collaboration
Oct 22, 2 pm | EPA ENERGY STAR Program
Go Boldly: Decarbonization Strategies for Commercial & Industrial Operations
Oct 24, 1 pm | EPA ENERGY STAR Program
All Hands on Deck: How to Educate and Motivate Your Internal Stakeholders on Energy Efficiency
Oct 29, 1 - 5 pm | USGBC DC, Maryland and Virginia
Building Transformation Forum: Green Building for All
Nov 21, 1 - 2:30 pm | DOE Building Energy Codes Program
Resources and Best Practices for Growing the Green Building Workforce
Dec 5, 2 pm | EPA ENERGY STAR Program
Making Data Actionable: When and How Data Can Trigger Decisions
*Save the Date* April 8 - 9, 2025 | Montgomery County DEP
Montgomery County Energy Summit
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