City Council Minutes 2022 09 27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes September 27, 2022 Page 2 of 6 option among those three pathways. Second, Council will be asked for direction on potential exemptions by building/industry types and if those will be full exemptions or by exemptions by process loads. Third, if the codes will be applicable to new construction only or will additions and renovations will also be included. Finally, feedback on an all - electric new construction requirement and any consideration of exemptions. Kim Schlaepfer, Senior Associate with Lotus Engineering and Sustainability, presented the results of the report which were oriented around the City's sustainability goals of meeting electrical needs with carbon free sources and reducing annual greenhouse gas emission from the baseline set in 2016. Tonight's presentation will focus on new construction of multi -family and commercial code options that will encourage higher efficiency, net zero and/or all -electric. There is currently a regional code effort to collectively adopt the 2021 IECC and supporting amendments as well as developing a regional roadmap to reach net zero for new construction by 2030. The consultants looked at building codes and policies around the state and the US. They modeled four different building types that are typical of new construction in the city to see the upfront costs of building to the 2021 code, the operational cost to run the buildings, and the greenhouse gas emissions of those options. Policy options are net zero with renewable energy, enhanced energy efficiency, and all - electric. It is important to remember that all of these would be in addition to the 2021 code and the amendments that Louisville already has in place. Policy option 1 is an energy performance standard and policy option 2 is a net zero standard. Policy option 2 has two parts, net zero standard and net zero plus all -electric standard. Public feedback was obtained through two community meetings and one survey, as well as meetings with the Sustainability Advisory Board and the Building Code Board of Appeals. Ms. Schlaepfer reviewed the public feedback. Balancing the climate emergency with economic development came out on top. Write in comments trended toward a less favorable view of new energy codes. The community does not feel ready for an aggressive approve to energy code updates citing financial concerns, rising home costs, costs to builders and tenants and the potential to drive away businesses. Survey responses indicated there was support for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and curiosity around a regional code. Reponses also favored taking time with the building code, considering impacts in existing buildings, concerns with procuring offsite solar, feasibility of meeting code standards and the ability of the grid to handle all -electric new construction. The policy considerations for tonight were reviewed: