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In this Article, the following words have the meanings indicated:
ASTM means the American Society for Testing and Materials.
B20 means a biodiesel blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuels.
Biodiesel means any biomass-based diesel fuel certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Biodiesel blend means a blend of biodiesel fuel, designated BXX, where XX represents the volume percentage of biodiesel fuel in the blend.
Car share program means a program that allows County employees to conduct County business using motor vehicles which:
(1) are owned or leased by the County; and
(2) County residents and businesses can lease when they are not being used for County business.
County fleet means all passenger vehicles and light trucks owned or leased by the County.
County vehicle means any motor vehicle owned or leased by the County.
Department means the Department of General Services.
Diesel fuel means a distillate fuel for use in diesel engines.
Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.
Fuel economy means the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s combined (city and highway) fuel economy estimate for a vehicle.
Light truck means a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of less than 8,500 pounds which is:
(1) designed primarily for transporting property;
(2) designed primarily for transporting persons and has a capacity of more than 12 persons; or
(3) available with special features that enable off-road operation or use.
Miles per gallon means the distance traveled in a vehicle powered by one gallon of fuel.
Office of Energy and Sustainability or Office means the Office of Energy and Sustainability in the Department of General Services created in Section 18A-14.
Passenger vehicle means a motor vehicle, except a light truck or motorcycle, designed to carry no more than 12 persons.
Public safety vehicle means a motor vehicle whose primary purpose is patrol, transport, emergency response, or another purpose that requires specialized equipment or capabilities, which is used by:
(1) the Department of Police;
(2) the Fire and Rescue Service;
(3) the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation; or
(a) Standard. A County vehicle with a diesel engine must use a biodiesel blend of B20 or higher unless the Director finds that there is a compelling reason to use:
(1) a different biodiesel or other biofuel blend; or
(2) another fuel that achieves greater greenhouse gas reductions.
(b) Applicability. This Section does not apply to any County vehicle for which mechanical failure due to use of biodiesel fuel would void the manufacturer’s warranty for that vehicle.
(c) The Director may waive the requirements of this subsection for up to 1 year if the Director finds that compliance is not feasible for a certain type of vehicle. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2.)
(a) The Office of Energy and Sustainability must conduct an annual inventory of the County’s sport utility vehicles and:
(1) identify the function that each sport utility vehicle performs;
(2) identify the most fuel-efficient type of vehicle that could reasonably and satisfactorily perform the function that each sport utility vehicle performs; and
(3) eliminate or replace any sport utility vehicle for which a more fuel-efficient vehicle could reasonably and satisfactorily perform the identified function.
(b) The Office must develop criteria to identify which positions in County government should be assigned a sport utility vehicle from the County fleet. The Director must follow this criteria when assigning vehicles from the County fleet. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)
(a) The Office must develop a strategy to achieve a significant improvement in average County fleet fuel economy standards.
(b) This Section does not apply to public safety vehicles. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)
By January 15, 2009, the Fire and Rescue Service, consulting with the Department of Transportation, must:
(a) inventory the use of its public safety vehicles; and
(b) develop a strategy to assure that it uses appropriate public safety vehicles when responding to an emergency, including ways the Fire and Rescue Service can increase the use of fuel efficient vehicles. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2.)
(a) Costs and benefits. The Sustainability Working Group must evaluate the costs and benefits of creating a car share program for the purpose of reducing the:
(1) number of motor vehicles in the County fleet; and
(2) dependence of County residents and businesses on motor vehicle ownership.
(b) Factors to consider. The Sustainability Working Group must consider whether:
(1) a car share program will help:
(A) reduce traffic;
(B) increase transit use;
(C) promote walking and biking;
(D) reduce carbon emissions;
(E) improve air quality; and
(F) reduce demand for parking; and
(2) the County should partner with a private entity to develop a car share program.
(c) Report. The Sustainability Working Group must submit a report to the County Executive and County Council by January 15, 2009 that includes:
(1) findings regarding the costs and benefits of a car share program; and
(2) recommendations as to:
(A) whether the County should create, or provide incentives for the private sector to create, a car share program; and
(B) the type of car share program that best suits the County’s needs. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2.)
By February 1 each year, the Office of Energy and Sustainability must submit to the County Executive and County Council a report on the:
(a) use of biodiesel in County vehicles, including the quantity, blend, price per gallon, and average fuel consumption;
(c) average fuel economy for passenger vehicles and light trucks in the County fleet. (2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 2; 2014 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1.)
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*Editor’s note—2009 L.M.C., ch. 8, § 2, states in part: (a) Unless the Council grants an extension, the County Executive must adopt and submit to the County Council, not later than (date 6 months after enactment of bill [October 14, 2009]), regulations to implement Article 4 of Chapter 18A, as added by Section 1 of this Act.
In this Article, except as provided in Section 18A-30, the following words have the meanings indicated:
Certified energy auditor means any individual who:
(a) is a participating contractor/auditor with the Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program; or
(b) meets other equivalent requirements approved by the Director.
Cost effective means the maximum estimated amount of time it takes for an energy efficiency improvement to pay for itself through reduced energy costs (the “payback” period), as determined by the Department.
Department means the Department of Environmental Protection.
Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee.
Eligible cost means the net cost of buying or installing an energy efficiency improvement or renewable energy device, including any part, component, or accessory necessary to operate the improvement or device, less any amount received from a public or private program because the improvement or device is or will be made or installed.
Energy efficiency improvement means a permanent improvement made to an existing single-family home that:
(a) reduces the consumption of energy in the home, including:
(1) caulking and weatherstripping doors and windows;
(2) heating and cooling system efficiency modifications, including:
(A) replacing a burner, furnace, heat pump, or boiler, or air conditioner with a high efficiency model;
(B) a device to modify flue openings that increases the energy efficience or the heating system;
(C) any electrical or mechanical furnace ignition system which replaces a standing gas pilot; and
(D) any tune-up that increases the operating efficiency;
(3) a programmable thermostat;
(4) ceiling, attic, wall, or floor insulation;
(5) whole house air sealing;
(6) water heater tune-up, water heater insulation, pipe insulation, or change out to ENERGY STAR qualified water heater;
(7) storm windows or doors or ENERGY STAR qualified window or door replacement;
(8) air distribution system improvements, including duct insulation and air sealing;
(9) any device which controls demand of appliances and aids load management; and
(10) any other conservation device, renewable energy technology, and specific home improvement that the Director finds reduces the consumption of energy in the home; and
(b) meets safety and performance standards set by a nationally recognized testing laboratory for that kind of device, if these standards are available.
Energy efficiency improvement does not include a standard household appliance, such as a washing machine or clothes dryer.
ENERGY STAR rating means the ENERGY STAR rating developed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency which rates a product’s energy efficiency.
Home energy audit means an evaluation of the energy efficiency of a home which includes any test or diagnostic measurement that the Department finds necessary to:
(a) assure that a home’s energy efficiency is accurately measured; and
(b) identify cost effective steps that can be taken to improve a home’s energy efficiency.
Home Energy Loan Fund or Fund means the revolving loan fund established under Section 18A-30 to provide funding for the Home Energy Loan Program.
Home Energy Loan Program or Program means the program that provides zero or low interest loans to install an energy efficiency improvement or renewable energy device.
Home Energy Rating System or HERS means the energy efficiency rating system for residential buildings developed by the Residential Energy Services Network.
Low interest loan means a loan with an interest rate below prevailing rates for residential home improvement loans, and which reflects:
(a) the County’s current cost of borrowing funds or the cost, if any, of federal funds made available to the County for this purpose; and
(b) the cost of administering the Program.
Renewable energy means the following energy sources or technology:
(a) solar;
(b) wind;
(c) geothermal; and
(d) any other energy source or technology which the Director finds is derived from natural processes that do not involve the consumption of exhaustible resources.
Renewable energy device means a device that:
(a) creates, converts, or actively uses renewable energy;
(b) is permanently installed on the home or property; and
(c) meets safety and performance standards set by a nationally recognized testing laboratory for that kind of device, if these standards are available.
Single-family home means a single-family detached or attached residential building. A single-family home includes a condominium. (2009 L.M.C., ch. 8, § 1.)
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