The Honeydew Blog
Key Energy News from the DMV and Beyond
Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) and Benchmarking in Montgomery County and Maryland
Following in the footsteps of Washington, D.C. and many other Jurisdictions, Montgomery County and the State of Maryland are implementing Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) aimed at reducing energy use and carbon emissions in buildings. Here, we will examine...
Smart Thermostat Systems Now Available for No Cost in Maryland
Maryland Heatwave Highlights Urgent Need for Efficient Cooling in Multifamily Buildings Maryland has been experiencing an intense heatwave throughout the summer season, with temperatures consistently soaring above seasonal averages. This extreme heat has highlighted...
How Heat Pumps Create Energy Out of Thin Air
Background The blog post we published back in March entitled “How Ditching Natural Gas Service” generated quite a bit of buzz and we received a good deal of feedback, both supportive and critical. While we stand by the calculations as a way to better understand the...
How Condominium Association and Cooperatives can use the Solar ITC
The 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) transformed solar projects in DC, reducing costs and speeding up the shift to renewable energy. Additionally, this tax credit has shortened payback periods for condos owning solar systems and increased the prevalence and ability of...
Condo and Co-op Homeowners Step Up Advocacy for Fair BEPS Policy in DC
CAI: Community Association Institute BEPS: Building Energy Performance Standards Condominium and Coop homeowners, representing nearly one-third of DC property owners, have been largely excluded from the development of the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS)...
City of Miami Benchmarking Requirements
As Miami continues to address the impacts of climate change, the city has implemented a robust initiative to improve energy and water efficiency in large buildings through the Building Efficiency 305 (BE305) program. At Honeydew Energy Advisors, we are here to help...
Mayor Bowser’s Proposed Budget Will Kill Solar in DC: Your Voice Matters!
As Washington, DC strives toward its ambitious clean energy goals, Mayor Bowser’s recent budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 proposes policy changes that could do serious damage to the local solar landscape by causing DC’s Solar Renewable Energy Credits...
2024-25 DC PEPCO Rates Submission
PEPCO typically files its rate proposals in early March prior to the summer rate change on June 1st. However, navigating through these byzantine tariffs can be challenging. This post details PEPCO’s anticipated electric rates for Washington DC customers from the 2024...
DC Maryland Virginia Natural Gas Market Report
As the weather breaks and the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, this time of the year marks the conclusion of one the warmest winters in the DMV’s history. Gradually increasing carbon emissions and a warm El-Nino event contributed to a 2023-24 DC winter that saw the 5th...
How Ditching Natural Gas Service Can Wreck An Energy Star Score
Washington D.C.'s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) set a threshold for building energy efficiency, measured by the Energy Star Score. Surprisingly, using natural gas on-site can boost this score more than using an equivalent amount of electrical energy....
CAI Expo Happy Hour Recap!
On the delightful evening of Saturday, March 2nd, following the culmination of this year's very successful CAI Expo, we had the pleasure of hosting an unforgettable Happy Hour event. This gathering was our way of expressing heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed...
Solar Renewable Energy Credits: A DMV Deep Dive
One of the most potent drivers of the current solar boom in the DMV are Solar Renewable Energy Credits, or SRECs. Currently, only 8 states nationwide have SREC marketplaces, and our local markets are among the most robust. For those unfamiliar with SRECs, please...
Funding Your Energy Efficient Projects with DC Incentives
In the District of Columbia, three essential programs are making a significant impact on energy efficiency and sustainability: Income Qualified Efficiency Fund (IQEF); Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator (AHRA); And Commercial Direct Install (CDI). IQEF and...
Verifications for DC’s Benchmarking and Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Requirements
Introduction As the urgency to address climate change grows, cities across the globe are taking significant steps to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. One such city at the forefront of this movement is Washington DC and Montgomery County,...
The DC PEPCO Feeder Line Exception for Maryland Residents May Be Going to the Wayside
For many years, many Maryland residents have been able to take advantage of the sky high value of DC SRECs as they are connected to the DC PEPCO feeder line, even though they live on the other side of the District Border. This party appears to be coming to an end...
DC Multifamily Buildings Face 22% Surge in Pepco SOS Supply Rates
Whether you own a small business, condo, or co-op, if you are currently receiving your electric supply from Pepco, it's time to start preparing your budget for a price increase this month or consider exploring alternative options with third-party electric suppliers....
Timeline of a Solar Project
The timeline for a commercial solar project in DC and MD can vary depending on the size and complexity of the project, but here is a general example of a typical timeline: Development and Permitting (3-5 months): The development phase involves a structural analysis of...
Current state of the DC, Virginia, and Maryland Energy Supply Markets
The DC and Maryland energy market is currently taking ratepayers on a wild ride and it is important for property owners and managers to stay informed. The warm winter has had a major impact on natural gas wholesale prices, with prices dropping to their lowest point...