State and Local Policy Database

Wichita

City Scorecard Rank

n/a

Wichita, KS

Scored out of 250Updated 05/2024
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 0 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All

Climate Mitigation Goal

The city does not have a community-wide climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.

Energy Reduction Goal

We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.

Renewable Energy Goal

We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.

Last updated: September 2021

Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All

Equity-Driven Community Engagement

We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.

Equity-Driven Decision-Making

We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.

Equity Accountability Measures

We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups. 

Last updated: September 2021

Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All

We could not verify if the city has adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.

Last updated: September 2021

Adaptive Mitigation List All

UHI Mitigation Goal

We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.

UHI Policies and Programs

We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect. 

Last updated: September 2021

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All

We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.

Last updated: June 2021

Buildings Policies
Score: 0 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All

Overview

The State of Kansas is a home-ruled state, and there are no statewide building energy codes. No jurisdiction is required to adopt building codes, but they may adopt the applicable 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards. To learn more about Kansas’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.

Commercial

The City of Wichita has adopted the 2018 International Building Code with local amendments that eliminate the energy code requirements. NBI was unable to calculate a zEPI score because the city does not enforce any energy code requirements. 

Residential

The City of Wichita has adopted the 2018 International Building Code with local amendments that eliminate the energy code requirements. NBI was unable to calculate a zEPI score because the city does not enforce any energy code requirements. 

Solar-readiness policies

We could not find information on whether the city has adopted solar ordinances.

EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies

We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies requiring buildings to include EV-charging infrastructure or be EV-ready.

Low-energy use requirements

We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.

Last updated: June 2021

Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All

The city has not adopted an energy code and therefore has no enforcement policies. 

Last updated: June 2021

Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All

We were unable to identify any policies targeting energy efficiency and renewable energy in existing buildings. 

Last updated: August 2021

Transportation
Score: 1 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All

Sustainable Transportation Plan

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

VMT/GHG Target and Stringency

The City of Wichita does not yet have a codified VMT reduction target.

Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets

The City of Wichita is not yet tracking community GHG or VMT levels

Last Updated: December 2021

Location Efficiency List All

Location Efficient Zoning 

The Community Unit Plan (“CUP”) Overlay District is intended to provide well-planned and well-organized Developments for residential Uses of varying densities and for office, commercial, industrial, and/or mixed uses.

Residential Parking Requirements

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosures

No data or the city is not pursuing. 

Last Updated: December 2021

Mode Shift List All

Mode Shift Target 

No data or city is not pursuing 

Progress Toward Mode Shift Target

No progress has been achieved, as there are no targets in place.

Complete Streets

No data or city is not pursuing 

Last Updated: December 2021

Public Transit List All

Transportation Funding

The transportation entities that serve the City of Wichita have received $6,609,285.80 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $16.70 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the Authority's service area. 

Access to Transit Services

The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Wichita Transit Connectivity Index value is 2.8, scoring 0 points in the City Scorecard.

Last Updated: December 2021

Efficient VehiclesList All

Vehicle Purchase Incentives

Neither the City of Wichita nor any of the utilities that serve its residents are providing incentives towards the lease or purchase of EVs at this time. 

Incentives for EV Charging Stations

Neither the City of Wichita or any of the utilities that service its resident are providing incentives towards the installation of EV charging infrastructure at this time. 

EV Infrastructure

The City has 36 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 9.2 ports per 100,000 people.

Electric School Bus Goal

Wichita does not have an electric school bus goal.

EV Transit Bus Goal

Wichita does not have an EV transit bus goal.

Last Updated: December 2021

Freight System EfficiencyList All

Wichita does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.

Last Updated: December 2021

Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All

Affordable New TOD Housing Policy 

Wichita does not have any policies in place to address or help encourage affordable TOD housing development. 

Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options

Neither the City of Wichita nor the transit authority that services the city's residents provide rebates or incentives that better connect low-income residents to efficient transportation options. 

Last Updated: December 2021

Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 1.5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All

Evergy, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility for the City of Wichita. The primary natural gas supplier for Wichita is Kansas Gas Service, an IOU. The Kansas Corporation Commission encourages and collaborates with individual utilities on a case-by-case basis to provide customer programs. Most of the state’s utilities do offer some customer energy efficiency programs. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Kansas page of the State Database

The City of Wichita Public Works and Utilities is the municipal utility that provides the City of Wichita with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management. 

Last Updated: July 2021

Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All

In 2019, we were unable to verify energy efficiency program spending and savings for  Evergy. In 2019, Kansas Gas Service either did not spend or did not report spending or savings on natural gas efficiency programs. These savings and spending figures cover the entire service jurisdiction of both utilities, not just the City of Wichita. 

Evergy offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and business customers. 

At this time, the City of Wichita does not have a formal partnership with Evergy or Kansas Gas Service in the form of a jointly-developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement. 

Last Updated: July 2021

Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All

Low-Income Programs 

Westar Energy (Evergy) offers the Income Eligible Weatherization Program. Through this program, eligible customers may receive free in-home upgrades, financial assistance for weatherization services, and staff support. Westar Energy’s savings, number of customers served, and spending value for its 2019 low-income programs were not available. 

At this time, Kansas Gas Service does not offer any energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers. 

Multifamily Programs 

Westar Energy offers the Income Eligible Multi-Family (IEMF) to help customers replace aging, inefficient equipment and systems with energy-efficiency technologies. The program provides a walk-through assessment by a program manager and offers a selection of energy-saving measures that may be installed by an energy efficiency professional in the property at the time of the visit. Westar Energy’s savings, number of customers served, and spending value for its 2019 multifamily programs were not available. 

At this time, Kansas Gas Service does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily customers. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All

Neither Evergy nor Kansas Gas Service provides building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings.  

The city of Wichita does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning and evaluation purposes. 

The City of Wichita does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities. 

Last Updated: July 2021  

Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All

Utility Climate Mitigation Goal  

In 2020, Evergy set a goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels. To achieve this goal, Eversource Energy will need to reduce emissions by 1.72% annually from 2019 levels.  

City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid 

At this time, we cannot confirm whether or not the city of Wichita participates in activities or strategies to help spur or encourage more utility-scale or distributed renewable energy generation from its local electric utility, such as testifying in public utility commission proceedings related to renewable energy, creating a formal partnership with the electric utility on renewable generation, or participating in utility planning efforts to increase renewable generation. 

Last Updated: June 2021  

Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All

Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals 

The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. However, the water utility does offer rebates for water and energy-efficient products. At this point, the City of Wichita has not established a water savings target or goal. 

Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation 

The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy. 

Last Updated: July 2021

Local Government Score:
1.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All

Climate Mitigation Goal

Wichita does not have a climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.

Energy Reduction Goal

We were unable to find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal.

Renewable Energy Goal

We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal. However, Wichita currently offsets 70-80% of the City's annual consumption through the purchase of wind energy.

Last updated: June 2021

Procurement and Construction Policies List All

Fleet procurement and composition

We were unable to find information on Wichita’s fleet procurement policies or fuel efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.

Public lighting 

We did not find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. There are currently over 28,400 lights currently occupying public street right-of-way. Evergy, the local utility, owns and maintains approximately 92%, while the City owns and maintains the remaining 8%. In collaboration with Evergy, 100% of streetlights have been converted to LED.

Onsite and offsite renewable systems

We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite renewable energy systems in Wichita.

Inclusive procurement

The city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes through its Emerging & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program which were applied to a recent renewable energy contract.

Last updated: June 2021

Asset Management List All

Building Benchmarking

We were unable to find information regarding Wichita's benchmarking practices.

Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy

We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Wichita.

Last updated: June 2021