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Staff to conduct technical review of Chapter 6 energy standards for city‑funded projects
Summary
City staff will review Chapter 6 of Portland’s Green New Deal ordinance to align local compliance pathways with updated state codes and to consider clearer pathways for renovations; consultants will assist and the work is budgeted at under $5,000.
City staff told the Transportation & Sustainability Committee they will conduct a technical review of Chapter 6 energy performance standards that apply to buildings receiving more than $50,000 in city funding, with the goal of clarifying compliance pathways and aligning the ordinance where appropriate with current state energy codes.
Troy Moon, director of sustainability and staff liaison to the committee, said the ordinance emerged from a 2020 Green New Deal referendum and that the state energy code has since advanced. "The point would not be to weaken performance standards, but to clarify the requirements and better explain the pathways," Moon said. Staff proposed working with consultants Mike Plaski and Gunnar Hubbard to compare city and state requirements, explore different compliance tracks for major renovations versus new construction and consider benchmarking Chapter 6 to the state stretch code. Moon said the review is budgeted at less than $5,000 and that funds are available in the city’s accounts.
Committee members asked whether the review covers vehicles (staff confirmed it covers buildings only) and whether consultants and funding were in place (staff said consultants are identified and funds are available). Staff expect to return later this fall with recommendations for any ordinance amendments or clarified compliance procedures.
The committee adjourned following the presentation.
