Evanston advisory board narrows criteria for equity-priority buildings, sets homework for February packet

Evanston’s Healthy Buildings Advisory Board spent its January meeting refining how the city will identify and assist “equity priority” buildings (EPBs) under the Healthy Buildings Ordinance and aligning next steps with the technical committee.

Board members agreed the EPB designation should minimize the compliance burden on owners least able to adopt efficiency measures while preserving health and environmental benefits for residents and users. "There’s always a tension between environmental sustainability and affordability," said Unidentified Speaker 3, summarizing the central trade-off the board must address. Members discussed options including targeted technical and financial assistance, fast-tracked alternative compliance pathways and narrowly tailored exemptions for a small number of buildings that cannot feasibly meet targets.

The discussion turned to process. The chair reviewed Denver’s application-based approach and proposed the city both identify candidate EPBs and allow an appeals or application pathway. Several members warned that an application-heavy process could exclude buildings most in need; Unidentified Speaker 6 said the bureaucratic burden could prevent lower-resourced owners from accessing support. In response, other members and staff proposed a top-down screening with an opt-in or appeal for owners who believe they meet the criteria.

Members worked through classification questions for EPBs, including whether to prioritize by ownership (for example, nonprofit-owned properties), by use (nonprofit tenants providing critical services) or by spatial equity indicators such as census tract or ward. The board asked staff to compile case studies—Denver, Fort Collins and other jurisdictions were suggested—and to expand the public map with Energy Star/Beam data to help identify priority neighborhoods and building performance outliers.

The technical committee reported it has met twice since December and recommended using Energy Star Portfolio Manager property types and the most recently verified year as each building’s baseline. The committee is evaluating ASHRAE-based 2050 targets and plans biweekly meetings (first and third Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m.). Staff flagged outreach ideas including office hours and noted ongoing work on renewable-energy options to help buildings meet targets.

The board set specific homework and deadlines: Paula and Kristen will draft a formal EPB goal for the Feb. 6 meeting; Bob and Jessica will compile case studies and criteria; Baxter will lead a short team on spatial analysis with staff support; and packet materials were requested by Jan. 30. The meeting also recorded a procedural motion: approval of the prior meeting’s minutes (Paula moved; Bob seconded; motion carried). The chair adjourned the meeting after the business was completed.

The board will reconvene in February to review the drafted EPB goal, case-study findings and proposed criteria; staff and volunteer teams are expected to deliver materials in the packet prior to that meeting.