Commercial and residential buildings emit greenhouse gasses and other pollution into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change and air quality concerns in Maryland. Burning fossil fuels for heat and hot water are two of the most common sources of direct emissions from buildings. 

Maryland is implementing Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) as required under the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. The goal is for covered buildings to achieve zero net direct greenhouse gas emissions and energy use intensity standards by 2040. Property owners and builders can take action now to meet this target. The latest regulations will be adopted in 2024. 

Efficient net-zero emissions buildings improve comfort, resilience, and reliability, and provide savings on energy costs compared to old, inefficient, and buildings that run on fossil fuels. ​ Investments in achieving these standards are investments in the buildings that will pay dividends to occupants and building owners for decades to come. MDE and MEA are working together as part of BEPS implementation to help buildings realize the benefits of efficient electrification. 

Start by Benchmark​​ing

Buildings covered under state policy are 35,000 square feet and larger (excluding the parking garage area). Historic buildings, public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools, manufacturing buildings, agricultural buildings, and federal buildings may apply to be exempted from the reporting and performance standards.  

Starting in 2025, owners of covered buildings will be required to report energy data to the Maryland Department of the Environment through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Starting in 2030, buildings must meet interim standards, with final standards, including net-zero direct emissions required by 2040. 

Energy Efficiency Invest​​​​ments

These "no regrets" efficiency measures can help save building owners money in the long run and can mostly be implemented at any time:

• Conduct an energy audit, usually available from your local utility company ("annual physical for your building")
• Install LED lighting ("more lighting for less energy")
• Purchase ENERGY STAR certified electric equipment ("go on a Watt diet")
• Make weatherization improvements to the building envelope including air sealing and insulation ("a sweater for your building")
• Retro-commission building systems ("bring your building to the mechanic for a systems "tune-up")
• Install control systems for plug loads, lighting, and HVAC equipment ("turn off the lights when you leave the room meets the 21st Century")
  

Time for an Upgrad​e?

If your equipment is getting old, now is the time to go all-electric and eliminate your direct emissions. 

Start preparing for the switch by checking if your electrical system can handle it and looking at efficient electric replacement options. The best time to switch is right before your old equipment completely breaks down. Sometimes, it might even save money to switch to electric earlier. 

Building owners should discuss these options with their building engineers and contractors. Wherever possible, building owners should pursue efficient electrification options, mainly heat pumps, which use 2-3 times less energy than their electric resistance counterparts. Common options for efficient electrification include: 

• Heat pumps for space heating and cooling
• Heat pumps or distributed electric point-of-use for water heating
• Heat pump laundry systems
• Induction cooking
  
  

We ​can help

Do you have questions about building performance standards? Email our Building Decarbonization Team at BEPS.MDE@maryland.gov​​ or call (410) 537-3183. Other resources are available to help guide you: 

• Ask ENERGY STAR portfolio manager tool experts: This biweekly webinar is a forum to ask questions of experts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on how the tool works and the benchmarking process. 
• Video on how and why to decarbonize buildings.
• The Maryland Energy Administration will be launching the Clean Buildings Hub, a one-stop shop for relevant information and resources, such as decarbonization incentives. Sign up here to receive updates on its development. 
  

Reso​​urces and Technical Support Documentation

The full text of the proposed regulatory action appeared in the Maryland Register on December 15, 2023​

​Compliance Considera​tions for Site Energy Use Intensity Exceedance for Maryland Proposed Building Energy Performance Standards

Complete Technical Support Doc​ument with regulation and appendices 

Appendix A: TM 23-01 Technical Guidance and Calculation Methodologies to Comply with Building Energy Performance Standards, August 2023

Appendix B: Identification of Potentially Covered Buildings

​Appendix B Supplement: Identification of Potentially Covered Buildings Results

​Appendix C: Maryland BEPS Impact Analysis Methodology

Appendix D: 2023 ACP Emissions Benchmarking 

App​e​ndix E: MD BEPS Webinar 1:  Maryland BEPS Introduction​

Appendix F: MD BEPS Webinar 2:  Understanding the Maryland BEPS Standards​

Appendix G: MD BEPS Webinar 3:  Development of Maryland's Standards

Appendix H​: BEPS Overview for Stakeholder Meetings

Appendix I: Preliminary Building Stock Analysis Highlights

Appendix J: Cost-Benefits Analysis Briefing

Appendix K: AQCAC Presentation 1

Appendix L​: AQCAC Presentation 2

Appendix M​: June 2023 BEPS Stakeholder Comments

​Maryland BEPS Fact Sheet

Impact of Maryland's BEPS Targets on Peak Loads