Montgomery County, MD enacts energy benchmarking ordinance.

Press Release Summary:



On May 1, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett signed a building energy benchmarking and disclosure ordinance, originally introduced by Council member Roger Berliner. NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis congratulated Montgomery County for being the first county to pass such an ordinance, leading the way toward a cleaner, more efficient energy future. Ordinance will give building owners and occupants valuable insights about energy consumption as well as tools to manage energy use effectively.



Original Press Release:



NEMA Congratulates Montgomery County, Maryland for Enacting Energy Benchmarking Ordinance



ROSSLYN, Va., —On May 1, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett signed a building energy benchmarking and disclosure ordinance, originally introduced by Councilmember Roger Berliner, adding Montgomery County to the list of nine cities and two states with similar laws.



National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis congratulated Montgomery County for being the first county to pass such an ordinance, leading the way toward a cleaner, more efficient energy future. “It’s easy for an informed customer to compare the miles-per-gallon rating of different car models or the EnergyGuide Label scores of various home appliances,” he said, relating the concept behind benchmarking and disclosure to consumer purchases.



“This ordinance will give building owners and occupants in Montgomery County valuable insights about energy consumption as well as tools to manage their energy use effectively,” he added.



In a statement about the bill, Councilmember Roger Berliner said that he was proud that his council honored Earth Day in the best way possible. “We did not simply talk about or reaffirm our commitment to a greener planet in the abstract,” he said. “Instead, we unanimously approved nine bills that I introduced which will achieve meaningful results in positioning Montgomery County as a national leader in reducing our consumption of energy as well as promoting the use of more clean, renewable energy.”



Patrick Hughes, NEMA’s Policy Director for High-Performance Buildings, testified in favor of the ordinance at a hearing earlier this year. He noted that similar benchmarking and disclosure ordinances in New York City and San Francisco resulted in a 30 percent boost in business for local energy service companies. “By encouraging energy efficiency, this bill is helping to bolster Montgomery County's economy and the economy of the State of Maryland,” he said.



NEMA supports benchmarking and disclosure of energy use in buildings across the country, and is working to ensure that building owners and renters have the information they need to make informed decisions about how they use energy.



NEMA is the association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Rosslyn, Virginia. Its 400-plus member companies manufacture a diverse set of products including power transmission and distribution equipment, lighting systems, factory automation and control systems, and medical diagnostic imaging systems. Total U.S. shipments for electroindustry products exceeds $100 billion annually.



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