The 2024 Montgomery County Energy Summit has released the education session schedule for its 11th Annual gathering for commercial building professionals, scheduled for April 15-16 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. To view and register for education sessions, visit Montgomery County Energy Summit. 

Attendees are encouraged to register for the Summit and plan their schedules as some sessions require advance registration. 

The Silver Spring Civic Building is located at 1 Veterans Place, near the Silver Spring Metro Station on the Red Line. 

Energy Summit attendees will have access to the latest information regarding energy benchmarking, building energy performance standards and emerging building codes through hands-on learning experiences and case studies from various commercial and multifamily buildings.  

"Montgomery County's commitment to sustainability is at the very heart of our annual Energy Summit," said Department of Environmental Protection Director Jon Monger. "This year's learning sessions will provide fresh insights into Montgomery County standards, demonstrating how compliance helps foster economic growth while also safeguarding our environment. Together, we will continue demonstrating how progress and sustainability go hand-in-hand in Montgomery County.” 

The Energy Summit features Innovation Alley, where exhibitors present the latest solutions for building energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, building decarbonization, healthy building practices and zero-emission vehicles. 

Energy Summit schedule highlights include:  

Day 1 (8 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Monday, April 15):  Day 1 sessions will provide fundamental insights into energy benchmarking and building energy performance standards. Attendees will learn about utility incentives, receive financing guidance from the Green Bank and explore the County’s permitting processes. Additional topics include electric vehicle charging, incentives and strategies for processing energy benchmarking results. Visit the Energy Summit website to see more details about the Day 1 sessions.  

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff will be available to provide hands-on benchmarking support.  

Day 2 (8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16): The schedule for Day 2 is tailored for building and energy professionals and consultants. Building owners, managers and facilities staff are encouraged to attend the in-depth discussions dedicated to County energy policies and effective strategies to meet these objectives. Visit the Energy Summit website to see more details about the Day 2 sessions. 

Educational sessions are organized into three tracks: 

Track 1: Building Improvements: A deep dive into energy efficiency and green building strategies. Topics include: 

• Two Birds, One Stone: Compliance Strategies for Meeting Building Performance Standards in Montgomery County and Maryland 
• LEED v5: Taking Action on Climate, Quality of Life and Ecology 
• Avoiding Benchmarking Pitfalls, What We’ve Learned from 10 Years of Benchmarking 

Track 2: Financing & Incentives: Learn about local, state and federal financing options and incentives for building improvements and renewable energy projects. Topics include: 

• Navigating Federal Incentives 
• State & Local Incentives 
• Equity Emphasis Areas: Serving Under-Resourced Buildings & Residents 

Track 3: Decarbonization: Explore electrification options for buildings and transportation through local case studies. Topics include:  

• The Future of County Building Codes 
• Practical Electrification of Existing Buildings 
• Microgrids Playing a Crucial Role in Building Resilience: How to Prepare for Extreme Events with Appropriate Systems  

In addition to the information and education sessions, WorkSource Montgomery's (WSM) Mobile Job Center will be on-site both days. WSM provides local job seekers with comprehensive employment and training services to promote economic sufficiency while assisting employers to meet the talent needs of today and tomorrow. 

WorkSource Montgomery's (WSM) Mobile Job Center will be on site to connect employers and job seekers to fill the employment needs of tomorrow.   

Registration for the two-day summit is $75 ($40 for single-day access) and includes keynote speakers, educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations and panel discussions. Registration check-in will open at 8 a.m. on both days. Advanced, online registration is strongly recommended, as day-of registration onsite will be very limited. To request free entry to the Energy Summit due to financial hardship, contact energy@montgomerycountymd.gov.  

For more information about Montgomery County DEP, visit MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/dep.