Building energy-code options
The committee examined construction-cost and energy-use tradeoffs and favored phased consideration of local options.
Policy direction, not adopted codeStretch-code study separated from building-code update
discussionStaff distinguished the routine move to the 2024 building-code family from a separate assessment of the Illinois stretch energy code. The presentation said the city had obtained a grant to evaluate whether adopting the stretch code made sense and how it related to the net-zero goal. Staff expressly said the stretch-code decision did not have to precede or accompany the general building-code update.
Four approaches considered
Discussion and directionStaff described current-code, stretch-code and local-appendix options; closing discussion favored a modular approach.
Packet details and supporting record
Document context, not a separate decisionThe packet makes the modular approach more concrete: it would keep the 2024 Illinois Energy Conservation Code as the base and add selected requirements by building type or project size. Thornton Tomasetti proposed starting with voluntary EV-, solar-, storage- and electric-ready infrastructure, potentially paired with preferential permitting, then adding lower-cost lighting and ventilation measures before deeper building-envelope and mechanical-system upgrades.
Related coverage
Energy-code discussion favors a phased approach over an immediate full stretch code →