EQC Meeting Date: May 17, 2023
To: Members of the Environmental Quality Commission
From: Risi Karim, Assistant to the City Administrator
Title
Draft Revision of Sustainable Building Policy
Body
Action Requested:
EQC receives an update on the Sustainable Building Policy revision draft
Summary Report:
The City of Northfield adopted its Climate Action Plan (CAP) on November 5, 2019. One of the goals of the CAP is to be a 100% carbon-free community by 2040. The CAP also indicates that building energy use makes up approximately 85% of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions within our city. Cities may not require buildings to be built or renovated to standards that are more restrictive than the state building and energy code unless there is a financial incentive from the city, hence the development and implementation of the Sustainable Building Policy (SBP) in 2022.
Since the implementation of SBP the city has contracted with the Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) to help staff implement the policy and provide education and guidance to developers and staff. To date one development has triggered this policy. Enforcement of the current Sustainable Building Policy has brought to light inadequacies within the current version of the policy that the City must address before further challenges arise. Consultants from CEE have conducted an additional review of the policy and have provided a draft of a revised Sustainable Building Policy
Alternative Options:
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Financial Impacts:
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Tentative Timelines:
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