Addressing Unfunded Mandates Via Energy Savings

By Christopher Russell, State Buildings Program Manager

Sustainability leaders gathered on December 4, 2018 in College Park for the University System of Maryland Sustainability Summit at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. The Maryland Energy Administration’s Christopher Russell, Program Manager for State Buildings, addressed the perennial challenge of unfunded mandates. Russell introduced finance tactics and tools to attendees who pursue sustainability goals imposed without commensurate funding support.

Russell explained energy performance contracting, which ”borrows against future energy savings to finance upgrades” of lighting, space conditioning, and other large mechanical systems. “When colleges and universities use energy savings this way, it reduces escalation of tuition rates.”

Similar opportunities await State and local government agencies as well. To learn more about energy efficiency, visit us online.