Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provides several programs to increase energy efficiency of multifamily homes of low and moderate income households. These affordable multifamily rental properties are limited to rental housing with existing income or rent restrictions, or housing units that serve tenants with low to moderate income as determined by DHCD. These properties may include apartment buildings, townhouses, single-family homes, single room occupancy, and shared housing facilities with five or more units. 

MEEHA-EmPOWER program

MEEHA-EmPOWER is part of the statewide EmPOWER energy efficiency program. The program is regulated by the Public Service Commission and is funded by the utility ratepayers. Only individually and mixed metered projects located in the service territories of BGE, Delmarva, Potomac Edison, PEPCO, and SEMCO are eligible for funding. 

Multifamily projects involving new construction, properties not currently in service, or a change in use are eligible for funding for the incremental cost of qualified measure that exceed the energy code. Projects that involve rehabilitation qualify for larger funding amounts. 

Loans can be used to fund the costs of energy conservation measures that result in electrical (kWh) usage. Oil or water savings are not eligible, natural gas savings are only eligible in the BGE service territory.

Customer Investment Fund (CIF)

CIF funding is allocated as a part of the merger between Exelon Corporation and the Constellation Energy group. DHDC has a total funding of $7.4 million for the program, which is available for fund incentives for multifamily properties over a three year period. Master metered properties in the BGE territory may apply for the program. The funds can be used for energy conservation projects that result in electrical, fossil fuel, and water savings. New construction projects are not eligible. 

Portfolio Energy Retrofits 

DHCD provides low cost loans to fund energy retrofits in affordable multifamily projects that result in greater than 30% energy reduction. 

Please contact DHCD for more information about these programs.