If you’re a Maryland business owner or facility manager who is interested in the prospect of saving money and energy with a Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system, now may be the time to act. The Maryland State Senate has introduced a bill that would prohibit all new buildings from using natural gas and heating oil beginning in 2023, while placing additional restrictions on heating systems in older buildings. In this blog, we’ll explain what you need to know about Maryland’s proposed Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 and the ways we can help you achieve energy and cost savings.
With the goal of reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions through various measures, the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 would affect both new construction and existing buildings. Firstly, it would prohibit the use of fossil fuels for water or space heat demands in new construction beginning in 2023.
While it wouldn’t prohibit gas in existing buildings, the bill would require them to lower their greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040. Any commercial or multifamily residential buildings larger than 25,000 square feet would have to begin reporting emissions in 2025. They would then need to report a 20% reduction in net greenhouse gasses by 2030, 40% by 2035 and, ultimately, net zero by 2040. Facilities unable to comply would have to pay an unspecified fee.
So, whether you’re in the process of constructing a new facility or just interested in lowering emissions to match these proposed current guidelines, a CHP system could greatly benefit you in 2022. Our CHP systems use on-site natural gas engines to generate electricity while reclaiming heat off the engine to provide thermal energy. The United States Department of Energy acknowledges them as an efficient method of providing energy while also reducing energy costs and carbon emissions. Incorporating CHP into the electric grids and gas systems of tomorrow will aid tremendously in further reducing carbon emissions and lowering your energy costs.
At Dalkia Aegis, we’ve helped building owners fund energy efficiency and on-site energy projects to meet the standards of bills similar to the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022. Our team of experts can help you complete applications for available state or federal grants that would help with financing needed changes. In addition to federal funding, we offer our own power purchase agreement (PPA) for CHP systems called the Dalkia Aegis Shared Savings Program. Through this program, there are no upfront costs for the installation, and we design, install, own, maintain and fuel the system at your facility while providing you the produced electricity at a discounted rate. At any time through the life of the system, building owners can buy it back, reaping more cost-saving benefits for themselves.
If you are interested in learning more about our CHP systems or our on-site energy solutions, please reach out today.