Healthy Buildings board weighs equity priority status for District 65, District 202 buildings

The city’s Healthy Buildings Accountability Board was divided over which nonresidential buildings, potentially including those owned by Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Evanston Township High School District 202, should receive equity prioritization. Buildings deemed equity priorities would have more access to resources, potentially including technical or direct financial support. This support would help them meet the Healthy Buildings Ordinance’s interim targets and its 2050 final targets for emissions, energy use intensity and renewable energy. The board discussed the issue, along with potential fines or payments in lieu of compliance, at its meeting Friday morning at City Hall. The board lacked a quorum to vote Friday, but Paula Scholl, the board’s acting chair, said the board is “going to next time vote on what it means to be a non-residential equity prioritized building.” The board, along with its counterpart, the Healthy Buildings Technical Committee, will vote