K-12 & Institutions of Higher Learning:
Maryland’s schools serve as a foundation for our state’s future, providing a healthy environment for learning and self-discovery for students.
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School buildings face unique energy challenges, including meeting the energy needs of multiple buildings, various room designs, and fluctuating occupancies, all while navigating budgeting realities.
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Moreover, schools that operate with zero emissions equipment and systems means more resources can be directed to students and faculty.
Maryland’s educational institutions 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. The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub) is committed to help building owners and operators understand the range of incentives for which they may qualify.
State:
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Higher Education Clean Energy Grant Program: This program provides funding to Maryland’s Institutions of Higher Education for the adoption of on-site renewable energy technologies, the integration of strategic energy planning into operations and academic curricula, and the advancement of workforce development in the renewable energy sector.
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Decarbonizing Public Schools Grant Program: This program provides incentives for school districts looking to expand their capacity to manage energy data and reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions while planning for future high-performance schools.
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Electrifying Community Buildings Grant Program: This program provides funding for eligible commercial buildings (such as private K-12 and charter schools) seeking to replace existing fossil fuel-powered equipment with efficient electric alternatives.
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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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Open Energy Grant Program: This program provides grants for clean energy projects that do not fit the criteria of MEA's other grant programs.
Local:
Federal:
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Department of Energy Loan Programs Office: The U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO) is committed to financing American energy and manufacturing projects that meaningfully contribute to U.S. energy security, grid reliability, and lowering costs for all Americans.
Utility:
Looking for technical assistance for your education 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 Green Bank Technical Assistance Program: Supports studies for commercial sector owners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including ASHRAE Level I, Level II, Level III/ Investment Grade audits and/or targeted analyses into benchmarking, energy efficiency, renewable energy (e.g., solar PV), electrification, EV charging infrastructure, and resiliency measures. Eligible property types include but are not limited to office, industrial, retail, hospitality, common ownership communities, multifamily rental (market rate and affordable), and nonprofit-owned properties such as faith-based and educational institutions.
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Montgomery County Benchmarking Ambassadors: A curated 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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Education Sector FY26 Grant Program Directory: Find the right Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) grant program for your school building. This guide helps you quickly identify the opportunities that best match your building type and project scope.
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Benchmarking: 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.
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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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Space Heating Electrification Guide for Large Commercial Buildings with Boilers: Most large buildings and many multifamily residences use natural gas or steam boilers to produce hot water to meet space heating demand and tenant comfort requirements. This guidance document focuses mainly on electrification strategies for fossil fuel boilers for existing buildings, which have greater challenges than new-construction applications.
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Better Buildings Initiative: K-12 Districts: The Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative helps K-12 districts identify energy efficiency and clean energy solutions by barrier, building type, technology, and more.
Case studies offer examples for how property owners and operators can design their own decarbonization projects and serve as sources of inspiration to help motivate a transition to cleaner energy in facilities across Maryland.
The Hub is dedicated to providing these types of materials in an effort to jumpstart project plans into action.
