Maryland Energy Administration

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Benchmarking

MD Clean Buildings Hub (1).png​Energy benchmarking is the process of tracking a building's annual energy use and using a standard metric to compare the building's performance against past performance and to similar building types. Benchmarking improves understanding of energy consumption patterns; helps identify energy saving opportunities within a portfolio of buildings; and manages business bottom line through consistent data collection and tracking. ​

The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub), an initiative of the Maryland Energy Administration, empowers Maryland’s building owners to make well-informed energy investments in their properties by connecting them to financial, educational, and technical assistance. Sign-up for the Hub newsletter here. ​​

ENERGY STAR PORTFOLIO MANAGER Benchmarking is typically done in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®, which is a free online tool managed by the Environmental Protection Agency that enables building owners to measure and track their buildings' energy, water use, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS (BEPS) To ensure compliance with the Maryland BEPS, owners/operators of buildings 35,000 square feet and larger will need to report and share their building’s energy use and emissions with Maryland’s Department of Environment (MDE) annually, beginning on June 1, 2025, and every June thereafter.​

​​Portfolio Manager Resources

Need Portfolio Manager resources? Look no further! Review the following dropdown menu for Portfolio Manager guides, trainings, technical support, and more.

Portfolio Manager Quick Start Guide: Offers the basics to setting up a Portfolio Manager account, including adding a property/properties, entering energy data, and seeing results.
Portfolio Manager Trainings: The Trainings Library offers both live and recorded webinars, written and video tutorials, and how-to’s for specific functions of the software.
Portfolio Manager Technical Support: Offers expert advice and guidance on how to benchmark building(s) in Portfolio Manager.
Maryland Building Energy Performance Standards Benchmarking Guide: This guidance document explains how owners of covered buildings under the Maryland BEPS can benchmark their properties and share data with the MDE using Portfolio Manager.

Benchmarking Resources & Technical Assistance

Explore the following benchmarking resources and technical assistance for your building.​

MDE Benchmarking & Reporting Working Group Recording: Review of BEPS reporting requirements and benchmarking process. The recording may be viewed on MDE’s YouTube playlist.
MDE BEPS Portal: Building owners or managers can find or request their buildings’ Unique Building ID (UBID) in the BEPS Portal. A UBID is needed to submit benchmarked energy data to MDE.
Interfaith Power & Light DMV Office Hours: For congregations ONLY. Congregations can sign up for office hours to get their clean energy questions answered, including on how to benchmark their building’s energy data.
Montgomery County Benchmarking Help Desk: For Montgomery County Buildings ONLY. Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection 1:1 virtual 30-minute technical support for buildings subject to the County’s Benchmarking Law.
Montgomery County Benchmarking Ambassadors: Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection list of stakeholders, volunteers, and energy service companies familiar with the County’s Benchmarking Law on how to properly benchmark in Portfolio Manager.

Utility Resources

EmPOWER Maryland​​: Ratepayers located in the following service territories can access energy efficiency-related resources through their utility:

Connecting With Your Energy Data Provider: MDE guidance document outlining how to get building’s calendar year energy consumption data from Maryland utilities.
BGE Energy Usage Data System: For buildings located in BGE's service territory.
Delmarva Power Energy Usage Data System: For buildings located in Delmarva Power's service territory.
Pepco Energy Usage Data System: For buildings located in Pepco's service territory.
Potomac Edison Benchmarking Tool: For buildings located in Potomac Edison's service territory.
SMECO Energy Benchmarking Tool: For buildings located in SMECO's service territory.
Washington Gas Energy Benchmarking Portal: For buildings located in Washington Gas' service territory.

Third-Party Verification Resources

Buildings covered by the State BEPS will need to submit proof of third-party verification to MDE on June 1, 2026 and every five years thereafter. 

MDE's BEPS Benchmarking Guide: The third-party verification requirement is detailed in the Maryland Department of the Environment's BEPS Benchmarking Guide.
​MDE's Benchmarking & Reporting Working Group: Stay informed and subscribe to receive the Maryland Department of the Environment's general updates or be notified of working group meetings.
Maryland BEPS Third-Party Verification Requirements & RFP Explainer: For owners of buildings covered by Maryland’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) outside of Montgomery County. Building owners will need to have their June 1, 2026 benchmarking reports (calendar year 2025 data) third-party verified - the Hub’s downloadable sample request for proposal (RFP) can help with hiring a vendor, and this companion webpage helps walkthrough the process.
Montgomery County BEPS Data Verification Resource: For owners of buildings covered by Montgomery County's Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). The Benchmarking Law requires that building owners complete a verification process the first year of compliance and every 3 years after. This How-to Guide for Data Verification (PDF) provides step-by-step guidance on how to complete data verification.
Maryland DGS Third-Party Verification Contract: Maryland's State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations may use a firm contracted by DGS for third-party verification services. Please contact Richard Louis at [email protected] for more information.
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Maryland Energy Administration
1800 Washington Blvd.
Suite 425, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 537-4000 | 1-800-72-ENERGY