Frequently Asked Questions: Prospective Tenants/Renters

Q: How do renters benefit from this policy?

The proposed ordinance seeks to inform prospective renters of potential utility bill expectations and health risks for apartments.

Q: What information would be shared with prospective renters through this ordinance?

At time of application to lease an apartment (duplexes and larger), prospective renters would receive the following information to help their decision-making beginning January 1, 2026:

• Instructions on how to access potential average and peak monthly energy costs;
• Resources to help low-income renters pay utility bills;
• The health risks associated with natural gas and electric stoves and the importance of ventilation; and
• The type of air-conditioning and passive cooling measures.

For apartment buildings 20,000 square feet and larger (approximately 30 units or more), the City would also disclose energy use and carbon emissions data through an online map, similar to the existing Commercial Building Energy Performance Map.

Q: Will City resources be available for current renters to ask questions?

The City of Portland currently maintains an Energy Reporting Help Desk for commercial building energy reporting and disclosure. This resource would be available to renters to answer questions about utility bill information, resources to reduce energy bills, and health risks.

Q: What other benefits does this policy deliver?

The proposed ordinance would help establish a baseline for carbon emissions targets in multifamily residential buildings. This policy is a foundational piece in our communitywide strategy to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment. Single-family residential homes and large commercial buildings already report energy performance to the City and most cities include multifamily in their commercial programs. This policy helps catch Portland up to where our peer cities like Denver, Minneapolis, and Seattle already are.

Q: Have tenant advocates been consulted in the development of this policy?

Per the City’s commitments to racial equity in climate policy, BPS started engaging communities of color early in the building decarbonization policy process by taking plenty of time for building capacity, knowledge, and relationships to identify key goals and priorities to guide our work and focus on benefits to renters. These notification requirements are intended to protect human health and prevent displacement, concerns expressed by BIPOC community members through Build/Shift.

Q: What is Build/Shift?

Build/Shift stands for “Building Community, Shifting Power.” It is a group of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) community leaders who are united by shared values, organizing principles, and a reparative-oriented approach to environmental justice. Notifying prospective renters of key climate and health information comes directly from this community team and their collaboration with BPS.

Q: How was Build/Shift created?

In 2018, the City of Portland joined the Zero Cities Project, a national network of 11 cities leading on climate justice with two key goals: 1) advance racial equity; and 2) transition all buildings to zero carbon by 2050.

In 2019, the team held its first event, a Community Forum on Buildings and Energy. The Zero Cities Project wrapped up in 2020, but the community team continues as Build/Shift: Building Community, Shifting Power.

Q: Who is involved in Build/Shift?

Built/Shift is a group of community leaders and advocates associated with organizations such as Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC), Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN), Community Energy Project (CEP), Leaders Become Legends, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility (OPSR) and Verde.

Q: Isn’t building decarbonization and racial equity already covered by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund?

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) is an ongoing investment in climate action, environmental justice, and clean energy jobs. The program funds grants and strategic programs to broaden access to these opportunities for communities of color and low-income Portlanders, who bear inequitable burdens of climate change. Some of PCEF’s funding areas include projects for home energy efficiency, solar generation, and weatherization. PCEF’s Community Responsive Grant program is set up to respond to project proposals and workforce development programs led by non-profit community organizations. Strategic programs are being launched by PCEF to address energy upgrades in single family and multifamily properties as part of the 2023 Climate Investment Plan.