Md. Code, Housing and Community Development § 4–222

(a) A project qualifies as a solar energy project if it:

(1) is an addition, alteration, or improvement to a residential building or a commercial building; and

(2) is designed to reduce the energy requirements of the building by using:

(i) wind energy;

(ii) energy from a wood-burning appliance; or

(iii) solar energy of:

1. the active type based on mechanically forced energy transfer;

2. the passive type based on convective, conductive, or radiant energy transfer; or

3. a combination of these types.

(b) A solar energy project may include:

(1) a solar process heat device;

(2) a solar electric device; and

(3) an earth–sheltered building in which the sheltering substantially reduces the consumption of energy by the building.

(c) A solar energy project may not include a fireplace, unless the fireplace is an integral part of a system designed to use passive solar energy.