Baltimore, MD – As President Joe Biden visits Baltimore to discuss infrastructure investments and the climate crisis, Maryland is moving forward with plans to impose new energy-use goals on large buildings. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has outlined energy performance standards targeting structures of 35,000 square feet and larger, a policy designed to curb emissions and meet the objectives of the state’s 2022 Climate Solutions Now Act.
Buildings across Maryland contribute approximately one-third of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the critical role they play in environmental reform efforts. In response, MDE has crafted regulations that will hold building owners accountable for their energy use, requiring them to adopt energy-efficient practices to align with state targets.
“There’s an enormous amount of existing building stock,” said Veronique Bugnion, CEO of ClearlyEnergy, a Maryland-based consulting firm. “To tackle the emissions of the existing buildings, new tools were required and that’s where building performance standards came from.” Bugnion emphasized that while code improvements help, only so many new buildings are constructed each year, making the renovation of existing properties essential to lowering emissions.
Under the new guidelines, approximately 9,000 buildings statewide will be impacted. Starting in 2025, property owners must report their energy consumption to MDE. By 2030, they will be expected to meet interim benchmarks, with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. Certain buildings, including historic structures and schools, will have exemptions, allowing them to meet more lenient standards where full compliance isn’t feasible.
Bugnion stressed the adaptability of performance standards, noting that they provide building owners with flexibility. “It really doesn’t tell them what to do,” she explained. “It tells them what standard to meet, and the standards gradually get more stringent over time.” Initially, many owners may take smaller steps, such as simple insulation improvements, but in the coming years, as systems need replacement, they will likely be updated with more advanced, efficient technologies.
In the coming decade, Maryland officials anticipate that many property owners will convert aging heating and cooling systems to high-efficiency electric alternatives, like heat pumps. Data on building energy use reported next year will assist MDE in formulating Energy Use Intensity Standards, a set of goals that are expected to take effect in 2027.
Maryland’s climate-focused policies add to Biden’s broader national effort to promote sustainable energy use and mitigate climate change. During his Baltimore visit, Biden is expected to address the administration’s support for green infrastructure projects and how these state-level regulations contribute to overall national climate goals.
