Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Eileen Horn, Sustainability Coordinator
CC:	Scott McCullough, Brian Jimenez, Treni Westcott
Date:	March 1, 2013
RE:	Energy efficiency education component of rental housing inspection.

Many of the proposed rental housing inspection items that inspectors would consider for health/safety violations also contribute to energy use and efficiency in a rental unit. Examples include: Exterior door that does provide weather tight fit, cracked window, dirty furnace and/or filter, etc.

Therefore, the rental housing inspection program provides a real opportunity to assist landlords and tenants to recognize energy savings measures for their rental units while we are conducting inspections.

To educate property owners and residents about potential energy-saving measures, we propose to create energy efficiency educational materials for City inspectors to leave behind post inspection.  These educational materials would include:

• Energy-saving tips (focused on low or no-cost items like lighting changes or thermostat settings).
• Westar Energy EfficiencyWorks program brochures (i.e. free programmable thermostat program)
• Westar Energy SmartStar program brochures (with details on how ratepayers can view their bills online and track energy usage)
• Black Hills Energy efficiency tips and program brochures.

(Both Black Hills and Westar have been invited to participate and have accepted).

These packets are currently under development, and staff will meet to determine the most efficient way to distribute these during inspections.