HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse to Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 07/23/2024 - Letter from Mayor Arndt to Energy Board re: Support for Building Performance Standards
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
July 15, 2024
Energy Board
c/o Christie Fredrickson, Staff Liaison
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Vice-Chair Moore and Board Members:
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the memorandum dated July 15, 2024
regarding support for Building Performance Standards.
We acknowledge that the Board encourages City Council to adopt the Building Performance
Standards as they align with Our Climate Future goals. Thank you for elaborating on your
perspectives in the memo.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Board and share with City
Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Utilities – Energy Board
700 Wood St.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6702
970.416.2208 - fax
fcgov.com
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: July 15, 2024
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
FROM: Margaret Moore, Energy Board Vice Chairperson
RE: Support for Building Performance Standards
The Energy Board has considered the Building Performance Standards as proposed by staff at the April
23, 2024, Council meeting, in accordance with our chartered duties and functions, specifically:
(1) To advise the City Council and staff regarding the development and implementation of the Our
Climate Future Plan (OCF) including tracking of the staff developed Council Action Roadmap for
OCF;
(2) To advise the City Council and staff in developing City policies that encourage the
incorporation of energy conservation and efficiency, carbon emissions reduction and renewable
energy into the development and provision of City utility services, the design and construction of
City transportation projects, and the way in which the City impacts the overall built environment
within the community;
(3) To advise the City Council and staff regarding the alignment of energy programs and policies
with City, ratepayer and community values and service delivery expectations.
Based on our review and staff presentations, we strongly agree with Staff’s recommendation and
encourage City Council to adopt Building Performance Standards.
In making this recommendation, we note that the existing building stock in Fort Collins contributes more
than two thirds of the community’s carbon emissions. Implementing Building Performance Standards is
the most impactful direct action City Council can take to address the climate emergency and reduce
carbon emissions to meet the community’s 2030 carbon reduction goals.
Building Performance Standards align with the City’s Our Climate Future, under Big Move 6. The carbon
savings impact of implementing Building Performance Standards is projected to be just under that of all of
the City’s other efficiency programs combined.
Building Performance Standards are also linked to improved health, safety, comfort, resilience, reduced
energy burden, economic growth and increased competitiveness, higher building occupancy and tenant
retention, increased productivity of occupants, mitigation of utility impacts of rising temperatures for both
the Utility as well as the rate payer, and improved indoor and outdoor air quality. Additionally, because
improved energy efficiency reduces overall energy use, the community will be in a better position to
achieve its renewable energy goals by enriching the impact of new and existing solar, as well as new and
existing battery storage and other distributed resources.
Importantly, we understand that Building Performance Standards incorporate provisions intended to
reduce the burden on the regulated community and assist with compliance. Those provisions include
targets adjusted to building size and function and normalized to ensure fair application. Off-ramps are
incorporated to accommodate special circumstances that may make compliance impractical (for example,
a building slated for demolition). We also note and support the considerations for lower-income housing.
Docusign Envelope ID: 30F5A3C5-E3A6-429B-98D6-C09BD0C2D2B4
Staff also shared their concept of a partially or fully dedicated project facilitator. Among other duties, this
individual would assist building owners and associations in pursuing grants and implementing efficiency
projects. We view this as a high leverage position that would easily pay for itself in terms of financial
benefits to those affected by the Building Performance Standards and the City at large.
In summary, we find Building Performance Standards to be well thought out and drafted, with a high
likelihood of contributing to the City’s conservation, efficiency and carbon emissions reduction goals. We
are pleased to give them our support and strongly recommend their adoption.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Energy Board,
__________________________
Margaret Moore, Vice Chairperson
Energy Board
cc: Katherine Bailey, Project Manager
Brian Tholl, Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineer
Docusign Envelope ID: 30F5A3C5-E3A6-429B-98D6-C09BD0C2D2B4