Healthy Building Technical Committee 5-6-2026

The City of Evanston's Healthy Building Technical Committee convened on May 6, 2026, primarily to discuss the implementation and implications of the Illinois Stretch Energy Code, which the city adopted as a more stringent alternative to the base state energy code. The meeting included a detailed presentation on the stretch code's requirements for new construction and existing buildings, including energy efficiency targets, electric readiness, renewable energy mandates, and compliance pathways. Committee members discussed the challenges of integrating these codes with local building practices, the potential cost impacts, and the need for clear guidance on renewable energy procurement, including on-site and off-site options. They also considered the development of alternative compliance plans and the use of benchmarking data to set realistic energy use intensity (EUI) targets through 2050. No formal votes or contract awards were recorded during this session, but the committee planned to incorporate feedback from external consultants and continue refining local guidelines and compliance processes.