Mary Thomas
Associate Director,
Building Innovation Hub
Owners of buildings covered by the Maryland State Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) must submit third-party verified energy benchmarking data to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in 2026.
What does this mean? Recently, the Hub co-hosted a webinar with the Maryland Energy Administration’s Maryland Clean Buildings Hub to level-set the requirements, explain why they are important, and discuss a suite of resources available to assist building owners.
Note: Buildings in Montgomery County are subject to separate benchmarking and verification requirements not specifically covered in this webinar.
Webinar: Maryland Third-party Data Verification for Buildings
Below are key takeaways:
1. This isn’t a one-time thing
Starting in 2026 and every five years thereafter, Maryland building owners need to submit third-party verification with their benchmarking data. Getting it right this time will help make the process easier down the road. Benchmarking is an annual requirement due on June 1.
- See this explainer for the timeline, FAQs, and other details
2. Start early
Data verification is straightforward if there is good supporting documentation, but it can sometimes be more complicated than it first appears. Verifiers need to review building documentation and utility bills which can be missing or contradictory, and additional work may be needed. Start early to ensure there’s time to address these issues, and avoid the crunch ahead of the deadline!
- Read tips for working with vendors and navigating the process.
3. Help is available
Local resources are here to help building owners navigate the process and take action:
- Download the sample RFP to use in hiring a third-party verifier
- Find a qualified vendor using the Building Innovation Hub’s vendor library or take advantage of our matching service
- Explore the Maryland Clean Buildings Hub’s suite of resources related to third-party verification, including:
- Consider signing up for the MDE Benchmarking & Reporting Working Group sign-up form (next meeting Dec. 2)
- For state agencies, local governments, and non-profits, access expert decarbonization support via the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) Third-party Verification Contract Vehicle
4. It’s worth it
Accurate benchmarking data is an important step in understanding annual energy usage, identifying savings opportunities, and taking the first step towards building performance improvements. This is critical for building owners and managers to improve operations and save costs, and for municipalities to understand energy usage and emissions across the jurisdiction. Third-party verification ensures benchmarking data is accurate, which helps with confident decision making around building performance.
Do you know someone who would benefit from this presentation? Reach out to info@buildinginnovationhub.org to tell us about it.