Evanston aldermen are scheduled to vote March 13 on adopting energy conservation rules for new construction in town.
The 2003 International Engergy Conservation Code would close a gap in existing regulations, Assistant Community Development Director Carolyn Brezinski told the Planning and Development Committee Monday.
Evanston aldermen are scheduled to vote March 13 on adopting energy conservation rules for new construction in town.
The 2003 International Engergy Conservation Code would close a gap in existing regulations, Assistant Community Development Director Carolyn Brezinski told the Planning and Development Committee Monday.
She said the city already has rules applying to one- and two-family homes. And new state rules going into effect next month will cover commercial buildings and multi-family residential buildings more that three stories tall.
But mid-size residential buildings aren’t covered by either of those documents.
The new code would eliminate that gap and also cover electrical power and lighting standards for all types of construction.
Alderman Edmund Moran, 6th Ward, said he wanted more information on the cost of the new rules before he could vote on the measure, and city staff promised to deliver that data before Monday’s meeting, as well as seek comments on the proposal from local builders.
The Evanston Environment Board and the Evanston Energy Commission recommended adopting the new code.
Leonard Sciarra, co-chair of the Environment Board, said the new rules would slightly increase construction costs, but the costs would be recovered through savings on utility costs within a few years.
Alderman Elizabeth Tisdahl, 7th Ward, said, “There’s nothing about this that is impossible. I think it’s time we started demanding energy conservation as part of our policy.â€
Ald. Moran cast the only vote against introducing the proposal at the Feb. 27 meeting.
Related links
Evanston Review – Board seeks energy conservation code
Evanston Review – Energy conservation in brief