Energy Efficiency

Population and job growth in the region will continue to drive demand for housing, workplaces, and schools. The built environment consumes vast amounts of resources, from the materials produced for construction to the energy used in operations. The built environment is responsible for half of the region's greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency in the built environment can help save communities and taxpayers money through reduced energy and utility bills, and to stimulate markets for sustainable technologies and products.  

COG supports the common objective of its member governments in improving the efficiency and environmental performance of the region’s built environmental through technical assistance, training, and advocating for the adoption of more efficient standards and codes.

Featured Projects

Street Lights

COG is a partner on the Maryland and Virginia Program to Facilitate LED Streetlighting Conversion by Local Governments, a U.S. Department of Energy grant-funded project led by the Maryland Energy Administration. The project provides technical support for local jurisdictions converting existing streetlights to more efficient LED technology.

Mid-Atlantic PACE

The Mid-Atlantic PACE Alliance is a partnership between stakeholders in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to accelerate the implementation of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) programs and projects in the region. C-PACE is a financing mechanism for owners of commercial property to fund energy-related property improvements with no upfront costs.