[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6250962,"mediaKeyId","3197342-069837e47f4ba733696e681ea0013bfc","parentId",3197342,"title","Lawrence board weighs utility‑cost disclosure, aggregate utility data and outreach to address renters’ energy burden","audioSeconds",3511,"startMs",1265000,"endMs",4776000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3197342-069837e47f4ba733696e681ea0013bfc&start=1265&end=4776","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3197342-069837e47f4ba733696e681ea0013bfc/thumbnail_1265000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6250962/Lawrence/Douglas-County/Kansas/Lawrence-board-weighs-utilitycost-disclosure-aggregate-utility-data-and-outreach-to-address-renters-energy-burden","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250962-4910a340533eb5f72692b09700f4e291/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139172&Signature=Ep4Y-DBJZy~-uAQQ6flXCON5BtpBWl~VHLNFG6kSHKUQkO7ju8f9NzL84c9rPl~3z7in6tg3DIs8BX4h9OQj-zHqm9iVXgBLO6oxwnSXK2cbOGzq6jOCTOAto7YU4ZqcCZ~PJRH-Yh4PdMb899VsckF48mGNAIXgGzac4uMMLGB8ZuLl16SJKapHhzkt5z-wiKweH4sMnV-ZFtaA46NMbk0P-ltnzVq-jE5ik16mUlmaQyuvjWA29n9hXovcmHxBrtczYkk-F9gIsoPhkyJxVRIjYPf9fU9mNebSdSRq9asuGJZcvLM1Z4ZlqMTh5XO9jHNnA9Py8VFJIx5~knGT9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lawrence, KS","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","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. Board members suggested several approaches to collection and use of utility data: ask Evergy and Black Hills for anonymized aggregate data at a fine geographic scale (census block or block group) to target investments; require landlords to provide averages supported by utility documentation at lease time; or create a city‑run portal where renters upload usage data voluntarily. Participants noted tradeoffs: aggregate utility data could guide targeted programs without disclosing individual tenant data, while unit‑level disclosure could better inform renters but trigger privacy and enforcement complexity.

Board members explored incentives that might make improvements feasible for owners: streamlined rental licensing, low‑cost improvements (weather stripping, insulation), PACE financing, utility rebate programs and partnerships with nonprofits. Several board members said that mandatory disclosure alone might not be sufficient in a tight rental market where lower‑income renters have limited alternatives. Others argued disclosure is a low‑cost, politically feasible first step that signals market demand for efficiency and can be paired with outreach to renters and landlord education.

Legal and administrative constraints were central to the discussion. Staff told the board that green leasing could be recommended but might be preempted from being required by the city; the city’s legal staff would need to review any ordinance. Board members asked staff to research comparator cities that have adopted similar disclosure or benchmarking policies and to provide examples and enforcement models.

Next steps and staff directions: staff will attempt to secure comparative research on other cities’ approaches, ask utilities about the granularity of anonymized aggregate data they can provide (staff reported receiving some Evergy data by ZIP code/SIP code), and arrange a discussion with Ashok Gupta (Natural Resources Defense Council), an energy policy expert who has advised the city and regional partners on utility dockets. Staff plans to share findings with the board and, if feasible, coordinate targeted outreach to renters and landlords before proposing formal recommendations to city commission.

Ending: board members emphasized the need to include tenant‑centered groups, property managers and landlords in future outreach and recommended a measured, research‑driven approach to drafting any ordinance or policy recommendation so that legal and privacy questions are resolved before the board brings a detailed proposal to the city commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence City Environmental Sustainability Advisory Board 04/24/2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Board members discussed disclosure of utility costs for rental housing, data options and potential incentive packages as a way to reduce renters’ energy burden and support the board’s greenhouse‑gas KPI work.","taxTitle","Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas","taxId",3971,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6250967,"Lawrence staff: $147,000 DOE technical assistance active; $200,000 state planning funds pending commission approval",2873,592000,3465000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3197342-069837e47f4ba733696e681ea0013bfc&start=592&end=3465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3197342-069837e47f4ba733696e681ea0013bfc/thumbnail_592000.jpg","/articles/6250967/Lawrence/Douglas-County/Kansas/Lawrence-staff-147000-DOE-technical-assistance-active-200000-state-planning-funds-pending-commission-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250967-59a956283030207cb8d8a799ab73571e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139172&Signature=KKzCy18bQ5nTd3sWj~rMo-2h4WFJjeZyMHAON1QMWGb1Jg4fL32MjkaDW5N~c~2x3dnox80NX95iAJ8hwDk-kLk7jBM9k5H3c8VsI7UMeroJwFICV5RmG2GyhG2Ju6tQhVPnDuaBQcOqIt5QJrtfvV-0MwvnZ9tsmtsO8eqEeA0K126sTFGQCfxGNyr4ZQomLY4JYiodA06XkelRtaabOX38YUGyq7sruoBbwl8F1canmx9XmYFbnJQVw6J-HRBYcPhsIxLH3Y91u8MvE9LdmKH2o5CdFRHAhKzv4QZ3szlgCpv9BSkMyfCcy9g5OPW-1VJNeaSyujZHZcFfpFslGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Lawrence sustainability staff reported progress on two external funding opportunities that could finance climate planning and greenhouse‑gas work for the city.

Kathy Richardson, the city’s sustainability director, told the board the DOE’s EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant) allocation for Lawrence—$147,000—was awarded to the city in the form of technical assistance rather than a direct grant to hire consultants. “We had… the City of Lawrence had a hundred and 47,000 for EECBG,” Richardson said, and staff have routed the paperwork that now requires the city manager’s signature to finalize DOE paperwork. Richardson said the DOE is still hiring an administrator for the technical‑assistance program; once the administrator is in place, the agency will assign a technical‑assistance provider to complete an energy plan, a solar feasibility study for city facilities and an electrification feasibility study.

Richardson also described a separate Kansas state planning award—roughly $200,000—from KDHE for climate‑action planning. Staff said the KDHE funds are aimed at planning (not implementation), can pay for a community and municipal greenhouse‑gas inventory, and do not require a local match. The funding window extends to roughly mid‑2027, Richardson said. Staff stressed the state award still requires a formal agreement and must be routed to the city commission for approval before work can start.

Why it matters: both funding sources are tied to the sustainability board’s prioritized KPI work on greenhouse‑gas emissions and could finance technical studies and data collection that the city’s small sustainability budget cannot cover on its own. Richardson said ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) is a likely partner for inventories and projections through the DOE technical assistance; the state planning funds could also pay for consultants or short‑term staff capacity to execute discrete tasks.

What’s next: staff have routed the DOE paperwork to the city manager and will notify the board if the DOE assigns a technical assistant. The KDHE agreement will go to city commission for approval before any city expenditure or contract action. Richardson told the board she will share updates as the city receives formal documents and assignments.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the February meeting minutes at the top of the session and later voted to adjourn. Those procedural motions passed by voice vote; the meeting record does not include a roll‑call tally or individual named votes.

Ending: staff described the two awards as complementary: the DOE technical assistance focused on producing an energy plan and feasibility studies, and the state planning funds could support greenhouse‑gas inventories and more detailed local planning. Richardson encouraged the board to consider how those deliverables could support the board’s greenhouse‑gas KPI work and said staff will return with updates when the DOE administrator is assigned or when the KDHE agreement is finalized.","City sustainability staff said the Department of Energy (DOE) has resumed steps on the city’s EECBG technical assistance award and the state has offered roughly $200,000 in planning funds that would not require a local match; both items require follow‑up approval or paperwork before work begins.","actionData","errors"]

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

Lawrence staff: $147,000 DOE technical assistance active; $200,000 state planning funds pending commission approval