Maryland State Departments Hosts Energy Performance and Conservation Session

A Multi-Agency Effort to Improve Facilities through Performance Contracting

BALTIMORE, MD– Today, the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) along with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the Maryland Department of Budget and Management, the Maryland State Treasurer, and the Maryland Clean Energy Center hosted a Opportunities for Facility Improvement through Energy Performance Contracting session at the UMBC Technology Center in Halethorpe, Md..

“This successful collaboration between our state agencies will provide other institutions with the building blocks needed to create more energy efficient facilities,” said DGS Secretary Ellington E. Churchill Jr.  “The Department of General Services continues to serve the citizens of Maryland by identifying and developing more energy efficient projects to reduce energy cost and spending.”

The goal of the energy performance contracting session is to provide information and support to other state and local agencies by pursuing innovative and proven strategies to reduce energy costs and environmental impacts for the State of Maryland.

“The State of Maryland spends approximately $575,000 per day on energy for state buildings,” explained MEA Director Mary Beth Tung. “Addressing energy efficiency to conserve costs makes sense fiscally and environmentally.”

Energy performance contracts (EPC) are projects in which the cost of the project is paid for over time through guaranteed annual energy and operational savings.  EPCs can also help address capital improvements, ongoing maintenance issues, and reduce an agency’s environmental footprint.  Currently, the state saves approximately $24.9 million annually through EPC programs.

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About DGS: The Department of General Services is responsible for essential services and programs administered on behalf of the state, including procuring goods and services; designing, building, leasing, managing and maintaining facilities; leading energy conservation efforts; and providing essential services such as fuel management, disposition of surplus property and records management. The Department of General Services Maryland Capitol Police maintains safety and security at state buildings.

About MEA: The mission of the Maryland Energy Administration is to promote affordable, reliable and cleaner energy for the benefit of all Marylanders.  To achieve its mission, MEA advises the Governor and General Assembly on matters relating to energy policy.  MEA administers grant and loan programs to encourage clean energy technologies in all sectors of Maryland’s economy: Residential, Commercial, Agricultural, and Transportation. For more information about the Maryland Energy Administration, visit www.energy.maryland.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.