Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op is a cooperative: an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op is based on values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of the founders of the cooperative movement, Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Maryland Energy & Sustainability Co-op uses the following seven (7) principles from the International Cooperative Alliance as guidelines for putting its values into practice:

1st Principle: Voluntary and Open Membership
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.

2nd Principle: Democratic Member Control
Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions. Men and women serving as elected representatives are accountable to the membership.

3rd Principle: Member Economic Participation
Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperatives. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, by setting up reserves, part of which would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperatives; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

4th Principle: Autonomy and Independence
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.

5th Principle: Education, Training and Information
Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives.

6th Principle: Cooperation among Cooperatives
Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures.

7th Principle: Concern for Community
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.