The Midwest Peer-to-Peer Municipal Energy Managers Workgroup is a space for city and county energy leaders across the Midwest to exchange resources, share ideas and discuss challenges and opportunities associated with building policy. MEEA has hosted the workgroup since 2014, providing members with educational webinars and facilitated discussions covering relevant building policy topics.
As of December 2025, the workgroup’s members represent 25 cities and counties in 10 of MEEA’s 13 states. The group offers networking and partnership opportunities that support communities in adopting benchmarking ordinances and building performance standards, advancing new energy codes and creating resources to help their buildings save energy and money. During the final workgroup meeting of 2025, members were invited to share updates on projects, trends and success stories in building policy in their jurisdictions from the past year. Updates from Ann Arbor, MI, Columbia, MO and Evanston, IL highlight progress in energy codes, benchmarking and building performance standards.
Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor saw 80% compliance with its Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance last year, an increase of 3% from 2024. City staff have attributed this improvement to updated compliance tracking software, which has streamlined outreach and follow-up with building owners.
Enforcement has also become more targeted and supportive. The city issued three tickets this year, using enforcement not as a punitive tool but as a pathway to compliance. In each case, the city has worked with owners to meet ordinance requirements and get the tickets waived, reinforcing the city’s focus on education and collaboration.
Another important development was the city’s collaboration with the Ann Arbor 2030 District to provide compliance support. This partnership has allowed city staff to refer building owners directly to expert assistance, reducing administrative burden while improving compliance.
Ann Arbor’s City Council passed the Green Rental Housing Ordinance in June, allowing the city to launch its Green Rental Housing program on January 6 of this year. This was a significant step toward improving building performance in rental housing. The program sets minimum standards for energy efficiency in rental units and will offer financial and technical assistance to landlords to support compliance.
Columbia, MO
Columbia is currently reviewing the 2024 I-Codes suite, including the International Energy Conservation Code. A public information session on December 17 offered stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about what the proposed codes mean in practice.
According to city staff, this review process has been more collaborative and intentional than in previous cycles. Rather than moving quickly to adoption, the city is prioritizing shared understanding by creating space for questions, discussion and collaboration by builders, designers and the broader community. The city expects the review process to conclude in the Spring of 2026, setting the stage for clearer expectations and smoother implementation.
Evanston, IL
Evanston established itself as a leader in energy efficient building policy early last year, becoming the first city in Illinois to adopt the Illinois Stretch Energy Code, and the second city in the Midwest to adopt a Building Performance Standard. This was an important step for Evanston towards achieving the decarbonization goals outlined in its Climate Action and Resilience Plan.
To support implementation, Evanston has brought on a new staff member dedicated to benchmarking and BPS efforts, strengthening the city’s capacity for data management, outreach and compliance support.
What’s to Come in 2026
MEEA will continue to follow the progress of Midwest Peer-to-Peer Workgroup member cities, and we look forward to creating more opportunities for municipal energy staff to connect with and learn from their peers across the region. The workgroup meets quarterly and is open to city- and county-level staff working in climate, energy and buildings. For more information about the workgroup or municipal building policy in MEEA’s region, please contact Zoya Ehsan.