What Building Owners Over 35,000 Sq Ft Must Do by June 1, 2026
If your building in Maryland is over 35,000 square feet, benchmarking is no longer just a reporting exercise. It now comes with a formal third-party verification requirement under Maryland’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS).
This is where many owners get tripped up.
Let’s break this down simply.
First, What Is Maryland BEPS Trying to Do?
Maryland BEPS is designed to:
- Improve energy efficiency in large buildings
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector
- Hold buildings accountable to performance standards over time
The state is tracking performance through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) and tying data accuracy to compliance. By 2040, buildings are expected to show real performance improvements, not just paperwork.
Where Verifications Fit in the BEPS Process
For covered buildings (over 35,000 sq ft), the process looks like this:
- Annual Energy Benchmarking
You report energy use to Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) every year through ESPM. - **Periodic Data Verification (New Requirement)**
Your benchmarking data must be verified by a qualified third party every 5 years, starting in 2026. - Meeting Performance Standards (2030–2040)
Your building will be evaluated against efficiency targets based on its energy and emissions performance.
What Are Maryland BEPS Verifications?
Think of verification as a professional audit of your benchmarking inputs.
It is:
- A periodic data check
- Required every 5 years
- First due June 1, 2026
- Must be completed by an accredited third party
This is not optional. And it cannot be self-certified.
The Two Types of Verifications Required
Maryland requires two separate verification components.
1 – Data Verification
This focuses on whether your energy and building data are correct.
It includes:
- Review of total energy consumption
- Review of building occupancy inputs
- Ensuring correct building use type classification
If your occupancy or use type is wrong, your metrics are wrong. Period.
2 – Gross Floor Area (GFA) Verification
This is where many buildings get into trouble.
This verification ensures:
- The square footage in ESPM is accurate
- Plats, plans with scale, or site surveys are used
- Manual on-site measurement is only a last resort
A small GFA error can completely distort your Site EUI and emissions intensity. That can make a compliant building look like a non-compliant one.
Why Verifications Are a Big Deal
This is not just a paperwork requirement.
Verifications directly impact:
- Your Site Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
- Your greenhouse gas intensity
- Whether your building is flagged as noncompliant
Even minor square footage or occupancy mistakes can:
- Artificially inflate your energy intensity
- Trigger compliance risk
- Force unnecessary capital planning
Accurate data protects you from being wrongly flagged.
Who Is Qualified to Perform Maryland BEPS Verifications?
Not every consultant can legally do this work.
Accepted credential holders include:
- Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the U.S.
- Licensed Architect in the U.S.
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
- Building Energy Assessment Professional
These credentials ensure the verifier has real technical expertise in building systems, energy performance, and data integrity.
Why Honeydew Is Built for This
Maryland didn’t design this requirement for data-entry vendors. It requires technical professionals.
Honeydew’s verification team includes:
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM) credential
- In-house architect
- Experience benchmarking and verifying 1,000+ buildings
We don’t just upload data. We validate it so your numbers can stand up to scrutiny.
How Honeydew Pricing Works
We structure pricing to make compliance manageable.
Data Verification
- Fixed pricing
- Discounted for buildings already benchmarked by Honeydew
Gross Floor Area Verification
- Variable pricing based on:
- Availability of site survey
- Availability of plats or scaled plans
- Number of buildings on the property
Bundling benchmarking and verification reduces overall compliance cost.
Key Takeaways for Building Owners
- If your building is over 35,000 sq ft, verification is mandatory
- First deadline is June 1, 2026
- Two parts must be verified: data and gross floor area
- A credentialed third party must complete it
- Inaccurate data can create false compliance risk
The buildings that start early avoid last-minute chaos and measurement issues.
Need Help Getting Ahead of 2026?
Honeydew Energy Advisors specializes in Maryland BEPS benchmarking and third-party verification. We handle the technical work so your building stays compliant and defensible.
Better data. Lower risk. Smarter compliance.
Let’s talk.