Your Complete Guide to Compliance and Savings with BEPS Benchmark

Your Maryland BEPS Compliance Guide: Rules, Fines, and Savings

If you own or manage a commercial building in Maryland larger than 35,000 square feet, Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) is now part of your reality.

The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 set aggressive statewide goals: a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2031 and net‑zero by 2045.

Commercial buildings play a major role in hitting those targets, which means owners must benchmark energy use, meet performance thresholds, or face fines that can climb quickly over multiple compliance cycles.

BEPS Benchmark exists to make that process easier. The BEPS Benchmarking Tool turns your basic building and utility data into an instant BEPS risk score, a modeled fine range, and a high‑level HVAC savings estimate.

Instead of guessing where you stand, you get a quantified snapshot that helps you prioritize capital, plan upgrades, and avoid penalties.

This Maryland BEPS compliance guide explains the rules, modeled fines, and how to use BEPS Benchmark as the front door to a practical compliance and optimization plan, with HVAC controls and BAS tuning as the main levers

Understanding BEPS: Who’s Covered and What’s Required

At its core, Maryland’s BEPS program requires owners of commercial buildings 35,000 square feet and larger (excluding parking) to annually report energy benchmarking data to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

A covered building is any commercial or multifamily residential building in Maryland (or owned by the state) with a gross floor area of 35,000 sq. ft. or more, excluding parking, that is either a single building, a condominium with a combined area ≥35,000 sq. ft., or two or more buildings sharing a meter or heating/cooling system.

Exemptions apply to:

• Historic buildings (designated under law)
• Public and nonpublic elementary/secondary schools
• Manufacturing and agricultural buildings
• Federally owned buildings
• Hospitals (under recent amendments)

If a building is covered, owners must:

1. Benchmark annual energy use in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager using the building’s Unique Building ID (UBID).
2. Share that data with MDE’s BEPS account in Portfolio Manager by the annual deadline (initially June 1 or September 1, depending on the cycle).
3. Beginning in 2026, have benchmarking data verified every five years by a qualified third party (PE, architect, CEM, etc.).

For detailed step‑by‑step instructions on how to benchmark in Portfolio Manager for BEPS, refer to MDE’s official BEPS Benchmarking Guide (PDF).

For buildings in Montgomery County, local BEPS rules apply to buildings 25,000 sq. ft. and larger, with performance standards based on site EUI and interim/final targets tied to each building’s baseline.

Montgomery County building owners should review the full BEPS Executive Regulation 17‑23AM (PDF) for detailed performance standards, compliance pathways, and penalties.

Buildings in the county that comply with Montgomery County BEPS are treated as compliant with state BEPS for 2025 and will be waived from state requirements starting October 1, 2025, as long as they meet county rules.

How BEPS Benchmark Turns Compliance into a Clear Action Plan

BEPS Benchmark helps large‑building owners and operators turn BEPS requirements into a clear, step‑by‑step plan. Instead of facing a vague mandate, owners can use the BEPS Benchmarking Tool to:

• Input basic building data (size, location, primary use) and recent utility bills.
• Get an instant BEPS risk score that shows how far the building is from likely Maryland thresholds.
• See a modeled annual fine range if performance targets are not met.
• Receive a high‑level HVAC savings estimate based on typical optimization potential for that building type and size.

This quantified snapshot does three things:

1. Clarifies risk – Owners see whether they are in low, medium, or high risk of non‑compliance and escalating fines.
2. Prioritizes capital – The HVAC savings signal helps owners decide whether to focus on quick wins, major retrofits, or continuous optimization first.
3. Accelerates planning – With a clear risk score and savings estimate, owners can quickly brief internal teams and external vendors on what needs to be done to meet BEPS and protect NOI.

For buildings that need deeper optimization, experienced partners can integrate advanced analytics with your existing BAS to deliver double‑digit energy savings while maintaining comfort.

Your 4‑Step Roadmap to BEPS Compliance and Energy Savings

Achieving BEPS compliance doesn’t require a full building overhaul.

Follow this four‑step roadmap, with BEPS Benchmark as the starting point, to lock in compliance and unlock savings.

Step 1: Complete Your Benchmarking Baseline with Portfolio Manager

Start by gathering 12 months of utility data (electricity, natural gas, and any other fuels) and entering it into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to generate your building’s EUI and percentile ranking.

Key actions:

• Create a Portfolio Manager account and add your property using its UBID from the BEPS Portal.
• Enter all energy used by the building, including tenant meters and any on‑site generation.
• Connect and share your property with MDE’s BEPS account by the annual deadline.

Once you have EUI and basic building data, plug those values into the BEPS Benchmark tool to see how far you are from likely Maryland BEPS thresholds and what your modeled annual fine range looks like.

If benchmarking feels overwhelming, BEPS Benchmark provides guidance on setting up ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and interpreting your EUI, percentile, and BEPS risk level.

Step 2: Identify and Implement Quick Operational Wins

Maryland encourages basic efficiency measures like LED lighting, envelope improvements, and low‑cost operational fixes, which can yield 10–20 percent savings in targeted areas.

These are valuable first steps because they:

• Improve EUI quickly with minimal capital.
• Demonstrate progress to regulators and lenders.
• Buy time to plan larger HVAC and BAS upgrades.

For ongoing HVAC optimization and BAS tuning, BEPS Benchmark connects users with vetted solution providers that specialize in autonomous controls and continuous commissioning.

Step 3: Deploy Continuous HVAC and BAS Optimization

HVAC systems typically account for 40–60 percent of a commercial building’s energy use, making them the most powerful lever for improving EUI and avoiding BEPS penalties.

A practical approach:

• Conduct a quick audit of HVAC operations: Are units running during unoccupied hours? Are zones battling for temperature control? Is equipment short‑cycling?
• Deploy advanced HVAC optimization platforms that integrate with your existing BAS to continuously tune schedules, setpoints, resets, and equipment coordination.

These solutions use advanced analytics and machine learning to:

• Create a digital model of the building’s thermal behavior.
• Detect faults and inefficiencies in real time.
• Automatically implement optimized control strategies while preserving occupant comfort.

For example, a 250,000‑square‑foot Maryland office building cut HVAC energy use by 18 percent within months of deploying continuous optimization, moving out of the high‑risk BEPS category without major capital outlay.

Similarly, a Maryland hospital reduced HVAC energy by 22 percent, exempted itself from Phase 2 requirements, halved alarm volumes, and eliminated the need for constant operator overrides.

Step 4: Report Progress, Verify Savings, and Iterate

Submit your annual benchmarking reports on time, and for lower‑performing buildings, include robust improvement plans backed by data.

Key best practices:

• Work with providers who use IPMVP‑compliant measurement and verification so your savings and BEPS progress are documented and defensible in front of regulators and lenders.
• Use the BEPS Benchmark report as a brief you can share with internal teams and external HVAC or controls vendors when scoping projects.
• Re‑run the BEPS Benchmark tool periodically to track progress, update the risk score, and refine the capital plan as performance standards tighten.

Avoiding Common BEPS Compliance Pitfalls

Many building owners run into the same challenges, but with the right tools and partners, they’re easy to avoid.

Pitfall 1: Inaccurate or Incomplete Benchmarking

DIY benchmarking often leads to data errors (wrong square footage, missing meters, incorrect exclusions) that can invalidate reports and trigger warnings or fines.

Solution: Use BEPS Benchmark to validate inputs and ensure accuracy before submitting to MDE.

Pitfall 2: One‑Time Retro‑Commissioning That Drifts

One‑time retro‑commissioning fixes often erode by 50 percent within two years as schedules change, occupancy fluctuates, and equipment degrades.

Solution: Pair retro‑commissioning with continuous HVAC optimization that automatically re‑tunes the system as conditions change, locking in savings over time.

Pitfall 3: Upfront Capital Fears

Owners often delay action because they assume BEPS requires expensive retrofits or new equipment.

Solution: Focus first on operational and control‑level savings (LEDs, envelope, BAS tuning), which typically require minimal capital and deliver fast payback.

Pitfall 4: Comfort Disruptions

Aggressive energy cuts can increase tenant complaints and turnover if comfort is compromised.

Solution: Use optimization platforms that prioritize occupant comfort in every adjustment, ensuring that energy savings don’t come at the cost of tenant satisfaction.

Pitfall 5: Electrification and Future-Proofing

As BEPS evolves toward electrification mandates, buildings with inefficient HVAC systems will face higher costs and grid strain when adding heat pumps or other electric loads.

Solution: Use BEPS Benchmark to model the impact of HVAC optimization on peak demand, then plan electrification upgrades from a position of lower load and higher efficiency.

The Financial Upside: From Fines to NOI Growth

BEPS non‑compliance carries real costs, potentially $0.50 to $2 per square foot annually in fines, eroding net operating income and asset valuation.

Flip that risk into reward by using BEPS Benchmark to:

• Quantify your current BEPS risk and modeled fine range.
• Estimate HVAC and whole‑building savings from optimization.
• Translate those savings into cash flow and asset value impact.

For a building with $200,000 monthly energy spend, 15 percent savings translate to $360,000 in year‑one cash flow. At a 6 percent cap rate, that’s over $6 million in added property value.

Typical ROI Timeline for 200k+ sq ft Buildings

Month	Milestone	Savings Achieved	Cumulative Impact
1	BAS Integration & Baseline	5–10% Initial	Cash Flow Positive
3	Full Optimization	15–25% HVAC	$50k+ Saved
12	BEPS Report Filed	12–20% Sustained	$300k+ & Compliant

Use the BEPS Benchmark report as a brief you can share with internal teams and external HVAC or controls vendors when scoping projects.

Quick BEPS Compliance Checklist

Use this checklist to stay on track and avoid last‑minute scrambles:

•  Confirm whether your building is covered (≥35,000 sq. ft., commercial/multifamily, not exempt).
•  Find your building’s UBID in the BEPS Portal and verify address, size, and use type.
•  Set up ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and benchmark your building with 12 months of utility data.
•  Connect and share your property with MDE’s BEPS account by the annual deadline.
•  Run the free BEPS Benchmark risk calculator for your Maryland building to see your estimated risk score, fine range, and HVAC savings signal.
•  Download the Maryland BEPS Checklist from BEPSBenchmark.com for your 10 essential next actions.
•  Use the BEPS Benchmark report as a brief you can share with internal teams and external HVAC or controls vendors when scoping projects.
•  Plan for third‑party verification of benchmarking data every five years, starting with 2025 data.

Next Steps: Turn BEPS from Risk into Opportunity

BEPS exposes operational inefficiencies that your BAS data and rising bills already highlight. The solution lies in action, not analysis paralysis.

Take these immediate steps to secure your compliance and savings:

1. Run the free BEPS Benchmark risk calculator for your Maryland building to see your estimated risk score, fine range, and HVAC savings signal.
2. Download the Maryland BEPS Checklist from BEPSBenchmark.com for your 10 essential next actions.
3. Use the BEPS Benchmark report as a brief you can share with internal teams and external HVAC or controls vendors when scoping projects.

Don’t let fines diminish your returns. Launch your BEPS Benchmark assessment today and watch your energy costs drop while compliance locks in.