MARYLAND’S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE BUILDING DECARBONIZATION LEGISLATION AND A CALL TO ACTION!
By Jennifer Verbeke, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
2021 President – AIA Maryland
Past-President – AIA Potomac Valley
AIAPV was honored to attend the press announcement for the introduction of a Comprehensive Building Decarbonization bill to issue all-electric building standards for new construction, major renovations and additions by 2024. This is an important step towards a zero-greenhouse gas emissions future. “We need big, bold actions for our County to achieve zero-GHG emissions by 2035,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The path to reaching our goals depends on the electrification of buildings and the shift toward a renewable grid.” (Specific introduction on this bill is available here: https://apps.montgomerycountymd.gov/ccllims/BillDetailsPage?RecordId=2754&fullTextSearch=13-22)
As you may be aware, Montgomery County recently adopted Building Energy Performance Standards which set a minimum energy performance threshold for buildings, was signed into law on May 2nd, 2022 and will take effect at the end of next month. (Read more about that here: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/green/energy/beps.html)
The press announcement took place on a particularly brutally hot June day, at the site of the future Hillandale Gateway development, near the intersection of I-495 and New Hampshire Avenue. This complex is planned to be an all-electric, mixed-use, mixed-income community targeting several sustainability certifications including Passive House standards and LEED Platinum. They are also planning to use a large solar array system to completely power one of the buildings on the complex—making it among the largest Zero-Net-Energy projects in the country. Torti Gallas + Partners, along with Nicholson Kovalchick Architects, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County and The Duffie Companies are working together to transform this area of eastern Montgomery County. This development will have both affordable and market rate dwelling units with ground level retail and amenities. According to the speakers, this is on track to be the first multifamily passive house development in Montgomery County.
We hope that this initiative for sustainable development will trickle down to more projects in our area and look forward to seeing more of a large-scale passive house project in Montgomery County. If you have an interest in finding out more about this planned building or the legislation that was introduced on June 14th, please reach out to the advocacy committee of AIA Potomac Valley via [email protected].
The public hearing for the legislation is scheduled for Tuesday, July 26th at 1:30 pm. The council is accepting speakers to testify both in person and through written testimony.
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Verbeke: L-R: Shane Pollin, Duffie Companies; Thomas Deyo, CEO MoCo Green Bank; Mike Tidwell, Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Marc Elrich, County Executive; Hans Reimer, Councilmember.
