Effort underway to exclude residential buildings from benchmarking

18-Oct-13 – Ten Chicago aldermen, including 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, are trying to modify the energy use benchmarking ordinance – passed last month by the Chicago city council – to exclude residential buildings.

On September 11, the council voted in favor of requiring residential, commercial, and municipal buildings bigger than 50,000 square feet to monitor their energy use starting next year. Energy consumption data posted on a city website would allow prospective owners and renters to compare energy use of buildings, although some say it would be unfair to older buildings and harm property values.

The aldermen have submitted proposed changes to the wording of the ordinance that make clear that “residential dwelling units” are exempt.

The new version started out in the city council’s finance committee and was re-assigned on Wednesday to the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards on which Reilly serves.

The other aldermen supporting the changes are John Arena (45th), James Cappleman (46th), Pat Dowell (3rd), Bob Fioretti (2nd), Leslie Hairston (5th), Harry Osterman (48th), Michelle Smith (43rd), Thomas Tunney (44th), and Scott Waguespack (32nd).

• Read the original ordinance: SO2013-5384
• And the proposed changes: 02013-6196
• Related story: ‘Energy use benchmarking’ ordinance passes

Photo: Lakefront condominium at 400 East Randolph Street in August.