There are many different equipment and building upgrades that help advance clean energy and efficient electrification efforts.
The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub), an initiative of the Maryland Energy Administration, provides resources to help Maryland property owners explore what options best fit their building’s needs and long-term energy and cost savings goals.
Have questions? Contact [email protected].
Monthly Newsletter: Subscribe to the Hub's monthly newsletter The Blueprint to be informed about relevant funding and financing announcements, educational offerings, events, case studies, and more.
YouTube Channel: Visit the Hub's YouTube to access webinars covering various grant program requirements, building sector-specific conversations, building decarbonization "first movers" spotlights, and more.
Upgrades & Equipment Resources:
Looking for electrification guidance? Click on the equipment-type below to access educational, financial, and technical resources to help realize your project goals.
Can include ENERGY STAR or equivalent appliance upgrades that use advanced technology, meets or exceeds energy efficient standards, or maintains and improves performance while reducing power use.
Efficient appliances may include, but are not limited to:
- Electric or Induction Stovetops & Ovens
- Refrigerators
- Dishwashers
Heat Pumps:
High-efficiency systems that transfer heat from one place to another using electricity, providing both heating and cooling for a building. By replacing fossil fuel-powered equipment, heat pumps support building electrification and can often lower utility bills.
Types of heat pumps include:
- Air-source heat pumps
- Water-source heat pumps
- Ground-source heat pumps
- Cold-climate heat pumps
Highly efficient appliances that heat water by extracting heat from the surrounding air instead of generating it directly. Heat pump water heaters use significantly less electricity than a standard electric water heater and typically result in lower utility bills.
Highly efficient electric dryers that use a heat pump system to dry laundry by recirculating warm air instead of venting it outside. These appliances generally help reduce green house gas emissions and result in lower utility bills.
May include management systems such as sensors, controls, and other automated adjustments to help reduce wasteful energy consumption and ensures systems are not overused.
Examples could include:
- Building automation systems
- Variable speed drives
- Steam traps
- Pressure-reducing valves
- Centralized monitoring systems
The process of preparing a building, system, or infrastructure for future efficient electrification in a smart, cost-effective, and strategic way. Laying the groundwork to electrify efficiently helps ensure long-term cost-savings and maximum greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Examples of responsible pre-electrification may include:
- Building controls/automation systems
- Building envelope upgrades (insulation, air sealing, etc.)
- Electric wiring and panel upgrades
Upgrades & Equipment Resources:
Looking for energy efficiency guidance? Click on the equipment-type below to access educational, financial, and technical resources to help realize your project goals.
A Wi-Fi enabled device that automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperature settings in your building or home for optimal performance. Advantages of smart thermostats may include improved convenience, increased control, and tracking and data insight.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are the most energy-efficient lighting technology. Quality LED light bulbs last longer, are more durable, and offer comparable or better light quality than other types of lighting.
Improves a building or home’s overall energy performance by making changes that reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling, resulting in spaces that are more comfortable and energy efficient. Types of weatherization may include:
- Insulating attics, walls, and foundations
- Air sealing leaks around windows and doors
The use of technology to manage and control various systems within a building, including HVAC, lighting, security, and access control, creating a more efficient and comfortable environment.
Upgrades & Equipment Resources:
Looking for onsite renewable guidance? Click on the equipment-type below to access educational, financial, and technical resources to help realize your project goals.
Refers to solar energy systems installed directly at a facility or property to generate electricity that is used on-site. It's a form of on-site energy generation where the electricity produced is consumed at the same location it's generated.
Refers to systems that store energy generated from renewable sources like solar or wind, directly at the location where it's used, rather than sending it to the main power grid, such as:
- Battery Storage
- Thermal Storage
Refers to systems that use the relatively constant temperatures in the earth’s subsurface to warm indoor air in winter and cool it in the summer. These systems offer an efficient and low-carbon option to heat and cool homes, businesses, and entire communities and campuses.
- Heat Pumps - Closed Loop Systems
- Horizontal
- Vertical
- Pond & Lake
- Heat Pumps - Open Loop System
