Our Energy Use: Disrupting the Climate

Overview of the Problem

Fossil fuel use has driven carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to levels in the atmosphere that disrupt the climate and threaten human health, civilization, and ecological systems.

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The Scope of the Problem in Montgomery County

In Montgomery County we emit more than 11 million metric tons of GHG annually. This does not include the emissions “embedded” in producing the goods we purchase, including the food we eat. The 11 million metric tons translates to approximately 10 metric tons of GHG per resident. 

These emissions are roughly split between buildings (50%), transportation (41%), solid waste (2%) and refrigerants (5%).

How to Reduce Emissions

The key to reducing emissions from energy is to (1) reduce energy use (e.g., improving energy efficiency); (2) expand electrification of energy (because natural gas and oil are not clean renewable sources); and (3) expand clean renewable sources of electricity.

[Source: stock.tookapic.com]

Policy Approaches of Our Group

1. Reduce Energy Use
   1. We supported the successful enactment of mandatory benchmarking of non-residential buildings, which requires building owners to report publicly on the energy efficiency of their buildings, so as to encourage energy conservation. We are exploring expansion of the benchmarking laws to cover multifamily buildings and possible ways to expand awareness of which buildings are most energy efficient for tenants.
   2. We supported the successful enactment of new ways of financing energy conservation (including a local Green Bank) that allow owners to preserve equity and save on utility costs from day one.
   3. We are participating in meetings to develop tax incentives for building energy efficiency.
   4. We supported enactment of more stringent building codes to increase energy efficiency.
2. Expand Electrification of Energy
   1. We support the development and expansion of clean transportation including electrification of public transit and school buses in the County.
3. Expand Clean Renewable Energy Sources for Electricity
   1. We supported successful removal of legislative restrictions on community solar installations (a way of allowing people to “subscribe” for solar energy when they cannot install solar panels on their property, such as for people who live in apartments or houses shaded by trees).
   2. We have supported legislation (not yet enacted) to mandate solar rooftop energy on commercial buildings and options for solar rooftop on residential buildings.
   3. We are participating in discussions supporting county level tax incentives for solar and the expansion of geothermal energy for heating.

How Can you Help?

You can join the Montgomery County Group, which focuses on our County’s clean energy policies and programs. Some of us also volunteer with the State (Chapter) Energy Committee and advocate for transforming the Maryland energy system to 100% clean energy.  There are many ways to help. We need people who can do research, write letters to the editor, lobby legislators, comment at public hearings, hand out literature at public events, organize events and more. If you are interested, please contact Shruti Bhatnagar at shruti.bhatnagar@mdsierra.org.