The Healthy Buildings Ordinance is a proposed building performance standard (BPS) that would regulate, educate, and provide a clear path for Evanston’s largest (over 20,000 square feet) buildings to comply with goals set out in our Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP). The proposed policy would efficiently reduce building emissions while ensuring equitable decision-making, affordability preservation, workforce development opportunities, and cost savings.  Learn more about the proposed Healthy Buildings Ordinance here.

This proposed ordinance would build off the existing Benchmarking Ordinance,  which currently requires large buildings in Evanston to track and report their annual energy and water usage. 

To better visualize what the Healthy Buildings Ordinance entails, view IMT's graphic. 

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an essential goal of climate action in Evanston. The Climate Action and Resilience Plan aims for the city to 

• Be carbon neutral by 2050
• Reduce building energy consumption by 50% community wide from 2005 baseline
• Have 100% renewable electricity supply for all Evanston accounts by 2030

According to the 2022 greenhouse gas emissions report,  approximately half of emissions in and from Evanston come from the ~500 largest buildings. View Evanston's Benchmarking visualization. Implementing building performance standards is one of the single most effective ways to reduce urban emissions.

Learn more about Evanston's building stock.  

You can stay informed about building performance standards by:  

• Completing a short survey for our team to collect your email
• Signing up for the Sustainability Newsletter
• Reaching out to Benchmarking@cityofevanston.org
• Attending Building Electrification Working Group meetings

My building currently submits Benchmarking data, would this affect me? 

 Is your building over 20,000 square feet? Yes, you would be affected by this. 

Is your building under 20,000 square feet? Our team is still determining how to regulate smaller buildings, but your buildings would not currently be regulated by the Healthy Buildings Ordinance. 

Has this ordinance been passed? 

No, as of August 2024, this is a proposed ordinance that has not been adopted by the City. 

How do I stay up to date on this ordinance? 

You can complete a short survey, which allows our team to send you updates on the Healthy Building Ordinance. 

How is this different from the Benchmarking Ordinance?

Benchmarking requires reporting energy and water usage through Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The Healthy Building Ordinance is a proposed ordinance which would provide a pathway to reduce emissions and increase efficiency in Evanston's largest buildings. 

What would be the desired outcome of the Healthy Buildings Ordinance?

 In regulated buildings you could expect:

• Improved indoor air quality
• Reduced utility cost
• Improved efficiency
• Increased use of renewable energy
• Higher comfort

Community wide one can expect:

• Improved air quality
• Economic stimulation
• Reduced emissions

Why does this warrant government intervention?

Evanston needs to rapidly decarbonize its building stock, in order to be compliant with the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, as well as international climate goals. 

• Future of Benchmarking and Healthy Buildings Ordinance webinar recording
• Slide deck for benchmarked buildings 
• Map of benchmarked buildings by ward