BEPS Technical Reports, Presentations & Resources

• A review of the building stock and energy benchmarking information of Montgomery County and development of an approximate list of buildings projected to be subject to a BEPS policy. This building stock was separated into building types to set technically feasible site EUI targets.
• A recommended method for setting building performance standards, what the targets can be, and the estimated impacts of meeting those targets.
• Case studies detailing how different energy performance standards can be achieved for a representative sample of buildings. 
• An estimate of the total capital investment to reach the standards, which would inform both the cost to building owners and the level of economic impact of the recommended standards.

• Full Report Montgomery County Performance Ordinance - Building Energy Performance Standards Report (PDF)
• Executive Summary Building Energy Performance Standards Report (PDF)
• Case Studies: Building Energy Performance Standards Report (PDF)
• March 14, 2021 Transportation & Environment Committee BEPS Technical Report Presentation (PDF)
• March 14, 2021 Transportation & Environment Committee  Briefing: BEPS Technical Report by Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (YouTube)
• July, 2022 - ICF Consultants, in close coordination with the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, completed an Addendum to the BEPS Technical Report (PDF) which provides an analysis of potential utility rebates through the EmPOWER Maryland 2021-2023 program cycle that could be applied to the BEPS Technical Report case study energy measure packages.

• May 11, 2022 Building Energy Performance Standards Law + Regulations Preview webinar
• • Slides (PDF)
  • Q&A document (PDF)
• Overview of BEPS law, proposed BEPS regulations, and compliance options (PDF) 
• Building Energy Performance Standards and Rent Stabilization Overview (PDF): Of the roughly 350 rental properties covered by BEPS, approximately 60% were built before 2001, as reported by the owner via energy benchmarking. As such, many, but not all, rental properties covered by BEPS are also subject to rent stabilization requirements. 

• Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 was passed by the MD general assembly last April and will require buildings 35,000 gross square feet and larger, statewide to begin benchmarking and to meet building performance standards.
• Maryland Department of Environment Building Energy Performance Standards

In early 2020, DEP engaged stakeholders in a working group to vet policy elements of a Building Energy Performance Standard. Participants included the commercial and multifamily building communities and those that serve them including advocacy groups, utilities, energy contractors, and County government representatives. During the stakeholder work session meetings, attendees reviewed building performance policy models adopted by other jurisdictions, including Washington, DC, New York City, and St. Louis, and developed recommendations on a BEPS policy that balances the challenges of a climate emergency with the realities of the County’s varied building stock.

In pursuing building energy performance standards, Montgomery County was one of four jurisdictions selected for the 2020 cohort of the City Energy Project, a national initiative from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Institute for Market Transformation that supports innovative, practical solutions that cut energy waste, boost local economies, and reduce harmful pollution. In Montgomery County, the City Energy Project technical support team has assisting in the development and implementation of the first-ever BEPS policy at the county level.

• Stakeholder Work Group Report on Building Energy Performance Standard Recommendations – September 2020 (PDF)