Investing in energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy can help Maryland’s commercial and mixed-use buildings reduce their operating costs. Whether commercial space is owned or leased, there are a variety of options to reduce energy use and save money.
Moreover, many office buildings may be subject to Maryland’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), which covers buildings 35,000 square feet and larger. Owners of covered buildings under the regulation are required to annually report their energy use and emissions.
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. Have questions? Contact [email protected].
The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub is committed to help building owners and operators understand the range of incentives for which they may qualify. Maryland’s small businesses can tap into a range of state, federal, utility, and local incentives to help defray the costs of energy efficiency, electrification, or onsite renewable energy measures to existing or new buildings.
State:
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Commercial & Industrial Grant Program: This program provides eligible commercial buildings funding for cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation upgrades for existing, major renovation, and new construction projects that are above minimum code and performance standards and claim at least 20% energy savings.
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Mechanical Insulation Grant Program: This program provides grants for installing mechanical insulation in industrial and commercial facilities to reduce energy waste, thereby enabling energy-saving improvements to large-scale thermal distribution networks.
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Commercial Solar Grant Program: This program provides funding for solar PV systems that will be owned by or directly benefit (1) low-to-moderate income communities located in a census tract with an average median income at or below 80% of the average median income for the State, or (2) overburdened or underserved communities.
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Maryland Clean Energy Capital (MCAP): Provides long-term financing solutions for funding large projects - offers clean energy and efficiency financing to government, institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
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Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): A statewide program that provides turn-key, low cost, standardized C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) program services to property owners, capital providers, contractors, and local governments in the state of Maryland.
Federal:
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Sec. 48E Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit: The credit is available to taxpayers with a qualified facility and energy storage technology placed in service after Dec. 31, 2024. The Clean Electricity Investment Credit phase-out starts for the later of 2032 or when U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from electricity are 25% of 2022 emissions or lower.
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Sec. 45Y Clean Electricity Production Tax Credit: The credit is available to taxpayers with a qualified facility and energy storage technology placed in service after Dec. 31, 2024. The Clean Electricity Production Credit phase-out starts for the later of 2032 or when U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from electricity are 25% of 2022 emissions or lower.
Local:
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Prince George’s County Green Energy Loan Program: The Program was created to advance public and private investment in clean energy and other innovative green technologies in Prince George’s County. This fund is a Pepco and Exelon sponsored program that supports an emerging industry in the County with loans up to $250,000 for commercial building energy efficiency improvements, energy conservation and renewable energy measures.
Looking for technical assistance for your office building upgrades?
The Hub offers guidance and support to help Marylanders take the next step toward cleaner, more efficient energy solutions.
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Montgomery County Benchmarking Ambassadors: A cured list of stakeholders, volunteers, and energy service companies who have received an orientation to the County’s Benchmarking Law on how to properly benchmark in Portfolio Manager. Please note that inclusion in this list does not confer certification, an official endorsement, or approval from the Montgomery County Government or any of its agencies.
The Hub invites you to explore the materials below to help guide your next steps. Use these resources to help move your building decarbonization project forward with greater confidence.
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Benchmarking: 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
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Energy Audits: Conducting an energy audit is a recommended first step in a building’s electrification and decarbonization journey.
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Better Buildings Initiative: The Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative helps commercial and industrial buildings identify cost-effective energy and water efficiency solutions by barrier, building type, sector, technology, and more.
