Building tune-up

Efficiency of all kinds benefits Southern Maryland and the businesses that call it home. When energy is used efficiently, those savings can be reinvested back into the community.

SMECO’s Building Tune-up Program, offered through EmPOWER Maryland, functions as an energy efficiency check up for commercial buildings. A specialist reviews key electrical, mechanical, and control systems (the infrastructure that supports daily operations) and spots any areas where performance may be lagging. From there, they make small adjustments, guide facility staff through simple ways to keep things efficient, and share improvements that can be implemented when you’re ready.

Although a Building Tune-up can be an investment, many commercial buildings recover the cost within eight to nine months* through reduced energy use.

It’s a lot like getting an oil change in your car: skip the regular upkeep long enough, and things start to run rough, leading to pricey repairs.

To make a Building Tune-up even easier, incentives through SMECO help members cover the cost—up to 75 percent of the project, with caps of $25,000 for small buildings and $50,000 for larger ones. Businesses can also receive up to $5,000 per project for equipment meters that help you track your fuel savings.

And when buildings run more efficiently, those savings don’t just stay within their walls—they ripple across Southern Maryland. Lower energy use means businesses can reinvest more into the communities throughout the region.

Learn more at smeco.coop/buildingtuneup.

*ACEEE Report