Lawrence board weighs utility‑cost disclosure, aggregate utility data and outreach to address renters’ energy burden

Board members discussed a range of policy options to address a prioritized greenhouse‑gas KPI that focuses on rental housing energy efficiency and renters’ energy burden.

The board opened with a description of the problem—more than half of Lawrence residents rent, and many residential buildings predate modern energy efficiency standards—then moved into possible policy responses including mandatory utility‑cost disclosure in rental listings or leases, voluntary portals or “glass‑door” style tools for renters to upload meter data, green leasing and incentives packages that combine city actions with utility and nonprofit programs.

Members raised practical concerns about a disclosure ordinance, including whether utilities can provide historical data at the unit level, privacy and consent limits, enforcement and how to avoid unequal uptake.…