Kansas City
City Scorecard Rank
36
Kansas City, MO
36.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 3.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Resolution 200005 set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2025, 50% by 2030, and climate neutral by 2040. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will meet its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
The city has released multiple greenhouse gas inventories.
Energy Reduction Goal
The Climate Protection Plan includes a goal to reduce community-wide energy use 50% by 2050.
Renewable Energy Goal
Resolution 200005 includes a goal to achieve carbon-free electricity consumption by 2030.
Last updated: August 2023
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
During the development of the CPRP, Kansas City hired a local equity consultant to ensure that the city was reaching its historically disadvantaged communities. The city also brought two local climate justice workers on board to facilitate meeting communities where they live, work, and play to gather feedback on the plan.
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: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The city entered into an intent agreement with the electric utility, Evergy, to site community solar systems on city property.
Last updated: August 2023
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
Urban Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
In 2023, the Kansas City adopted a private tree protection ordinance. The city adopted the Stream Buffer Ordinance to promote land conservation.
Resilience Hubs
We were unable to determine if the city has supported the creation of resilience hubs that incorporate clean energy resources and are sited in disadvantaged communities.
Last updated: August 2023
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 9 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Missouri is home-ruled and allows local jurisdictions to set their own building codes. The State of Missouri has not adopted statewide building or energy codes. Kansas City has adopted the 2021 IECC with amendments. To learn more about Missouri’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Kansas City has the authority to set its own building codes. The city council adopted the 2021 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 46.50.
Residential
Kansas City has the authority to set its own building codes. The city council adopted the 2021 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 49.50.
Solar-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies requiring new construction to be solar-ready.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies requiring buildings to be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
New municipal buildings must achieve LEED Gold standards.
Electrification policies
The city is prohibited from adopting electrification policies by the state.
Last Update: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Kansas City employs the equivalent of 2 full-time employees dedicated to energy code compliance. The city requires plan reviews and performance testing to verify energy code compliance. The city does not currently offer upfront support to developers or owners.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Building performance standards
Kansas City is part of the Whitehouse Building Performance Standards Coalition and has a goal of having a completed BPS policy by Earth Day of 2024.
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Kansas City passed an energy benchmarking/rating and transparency policy for commercial, public, and multifamily residential buildings through the Energy Empowerment Program. The program requires public buildings greater than 10,000 square feet and commercial and multifamily buildings greater than 50,000 square feet to benchmark energy data. The policy covers 70% of commercial buildings and 83% of multifamily buildings in the city.
Incentives
Homeowners may apply for property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy-efficient and water-saving home through the HERO Program.
Kansas City is currently funding Bridging the Gap to do energy efficiency upgrades through the Energy and Water Savers program. Through this program, they complete energy and water efficiency upgrades in low income homes and small apartments.
Voluntary programs
Kansas City promotes voluntary benchmarking for buildings less than 50,000 square feet. In 2021, 76 properties benchmarked voluntarily with a square footage of 4,329,495 square feet.
Last Update: September 2023
Transportation
Score: 12.5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan was released in 2023 and includes sustainable transportation strategies. It also includes strategies specifically benefiting disadvantaged communities.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
According to the Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan, the city has a goal of reducing GHG emissions from transportation 787,300 MTCO2 by 2025, 1.49 million MTCO2 by 2030, and 2.67 million MTCO2 by 2040, from business-as-usual levels.
The city’s target requires a 2.86% average per-capita annual decrease from its target baseline. Therefore, Kansas City earned 1 point for the stringency of its target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
Based on the data provided, Kansas City is projected to increase its emissions by 1.97% per year. Therefore, the city is not on track to meet its GHG targets.
Last Updated: September 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that Kansas City has made changes to its zoning code in the past 10 years to facilitate more residential density, mixed-use development, or transit-oriented development.
Parking Requirements
We were unable to find information indicating that Kansas City has at least one zone, neighborhood, or district with a parking maximum of 1 or fewer spaces per housing unit or no minimum parking requirement for residential uses.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
Kansas City does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
Kansas City incentivizes affordable housing near transit by providing tax exemptions for affordable housing in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) areas.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
Kansas City does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
Kansas City does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
Kansas City provides free public bus transit to all riders through its Zero Fare Transit Program. Kansas City also provides bike sharing for individuals who rely on needs-based services through its Bike Share for All program.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transit entities that serve Kansas City have received $90,675,214.60 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $106.05 per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. Kansas City’s AllTransit Performance Score is 4.8 scoring 0 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither Kansas City nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
Evergy, a utility serving Kansas City, offers a $500 rebate for installing a level 2 electric vehicle charger in single-family homes that already own or lease an electric vehicle.
EV Charging Requirements
Kansas City does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Locations
Kansas City has 174.8 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither Kansas City nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Neither Kansas City nor the local transit agency have set an electric transit bus goal.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
Kansas City does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portals
Kansas City does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 6.5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Evergy, previously known as Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility serving Kansas City. Spire Missouri, an IOU, is Kansas City’s primary natural gas utility. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Missouri page of the State Database.
Kansas City Water Services (KC Water) is the municipally-run utility responsible for providing drinking water, treating wastewater, and managing stormwater for Kansas City.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, according to EIA, Evergy reported 86,371 MWh in net electric incremental savings, representing 1.03% of retail sales. In 2019, Evergy spent $13,068,000 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 1.44% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, Spire Missouri reported 2.24 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.18% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, Spire Missouri spent $6,397,222 million on energy efficiency, which equates to $5.81 per residential customer. These savings and spending figures cover the entire jurisdiction of both utilities, not just Kansas City.
Evergy offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and business customers. Spire Missouri Energy similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential and commercial customers.
At this time, Kansas City does not have a formal partnership with Evergy or Spire Missouri 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
Evergy offers the Income Eligible Weatherization program for both single- and multifamily low-income residential customers. This program is intended to assist customers in reducing their energy usage by weatherizing their homes. In order to qualify, customers must meet income eligibility guidelines. Optional measures for the single-family program include attic, duct, floor, and wall insulation; furnace tune-ups; high-efficiency boilers and furnaces; heat pump replacement; lighting retrofits- heating system replacements; and water pipe insulation. Health measures include heating system safety testing, combustion appliance safety testing, repair and replacement of vent systems, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, moisture barriers, and others. Additional measures may be included on a case-by-case basis. The multifamily program includes direct install measures such as lighting, water efficiency measures, and smart power strips. Both programs include health and safety measures and target high energy users, elderly households, and customers enrolled in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Economic Relief Pilot Program (ERPP). The program is administered by the Salvation Army.
In 2019 according to Evergy, it achieved 576 MWh savings, whiles spending $838,829 on its low-income programs and served 2,510 low-income customers.
Spire Missouri's Low-Income Weatherization program offers weatherization measures including weather-stripping, caulking, HVAC filter replacement, HVAC repair/replace, and low-flow faucet aerators and showerheads. The program partners with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Community Action Agencies (CAA), Missouri Weatherization PAC, Committee to Keep Missourians Warm, Earthways Center, US Green Building Council, and Energy Efficiency for All.
In 2019 according to Spire Missouri, it spent $21,510,734 on its low-income programs and served 2,927 low-income customers. Savings data was not available.
Multifamily Programs
Evergy and Spire jointly-offer the Income-Eligible Multi-Family Program. This program offers no-cost in-unit direct install of energy-efficient equipment for properties with low-income residents. Property owners are also eligible for incentives for the installation of energy-efficient equipment in common areas.
In 2019, according to Evergy, it achieved 7,542 MWh savings, while spending $4,623,981 on its multifamily program. Evergy served 8,319 housing units in 91 multifamily properties. In 2019, Spire Missouri achieved 0.10 MMtherms while spending $382,030 and serving 2,570 housing units with this joint program.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Evergy provides whole-building data to customers. Kansas City provides community-wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through their City GHG inventories. Evergy and Spire Energy have each published annual reports addressing energy use. They have worked with the City to provide data for the annual GHG inventory updates and will be publishing their GHG inventory in 2021 to reflect 2019 data.
Kansas City and Evergy also partnered on the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative, Energy Data Accelerator, to facilitate better access to energy usage data.
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
Kansas City typically intervenes in pending renewable energy cases, while not often providing written comments. While not a specific formal partnership, the City most recently passed Resolution 181000 regarding the City’s goal of procuring 100% carbon-free electricity. The city is working to facilitate and achieve parts of the resolution with renewable energy efforts. The Office of Environmental Quality has been involved in direct conversations with Evergy about the possibility of community solar siting in climate vulnerable communities. As part of Resolution No. 181000, Kansas City was asked to identify possible community solar sites through an on-going process. The City also plans to partner with the utility on Evergy's Sustainably Transformation Plan moving forward.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The city entered into an intent agreement with the electric utility, Evergy, to site community solar systems on city property.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Kansas City has installed approximately 1.5 MW of solar on municipal facilities.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
Homeowners may apply for property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy-efficient and water-saving home through the HERO Program. The city also expedites permits for solar energy systems.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
Although KC Water has funded water efficiency rebates in the past through WaterWorks, we could not confirm if the utility still funds programs to help customers save water. KC Water has established a non-revenue water (NRW) goal to reduce commercial and actual NRW, or water loss from leakage, metering inaccuracies, unseen line losses, and theft.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The Wastewater Treatment Division of Kansas City is currently working to reduce energy usage by 1% per year and assure all new equipment is as energy efficient as reasonably possible, within the context of the overall lifecycle cost of the asset, consistent with the Green and Sustainable Procurement Policy. However, there is no formal approach or dedicate funding source for comprehensive upgrades. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
4.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Kansas City’s Resolution No. 170586 established many of the city government’s municipal climate and energy goals, and Resolution No. 200005 updated the baseline year to 2005. The city’s 2008 Climate Action Plan also includes relevant municipal goals. Kansas City Resolution No. 080754 formally adopted the goals recommended by the 2008 Climate Action Plan.
Climate Mitigation Goal
The City has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations 70% below 2005 levels by 2025 with a goal of being climate neutral by 2030. To meet this goal, the city must reduce per capita emissions by 3.73% annually. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will come within 90% of its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.
Energy Reduction Goal
Kansas City aims to reduce local government energy use 50% by 2050. The Resolution includes a goal to achieve ENERGY STAR certification for 90% of municipal buildings over 25,000 square feet.
Renewable Energy Goal
The Resolution 181000 committed the city to procuring 100% of electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020. This goal was not met, and Resolution No. 200005 updated the goal to 100% renewable electricity by 2022.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
In Kansas City, an administrative regulation was approved to prioritize the purchase of Zero Emission Vehicles and Low Emission Vehicles when included in Municipal Fleet replacement. The policy states that all new municipal fleet vehicles shall be zero emission battery electric vehicles where available and if a suitable option exists. Kansas City's fleet is made up of 1.5% efficient vehicles.
Public Lighting
Kansas City has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. However, there are outdoor lighting standards in place intended to protect the public health and general welfare by controlling the adverse impacts of glare and light trespass associated with poorly shielded or inappropriately directed lighting fixtures. Kansas City has converted 100% of traffic signals to LED. The City is now working on street light conversion to LED, and approximately 45% of streetlights have currently been converted. Streetlights are scheduled, so they only operate when needed.
Inclusive procurement
Kansas City has city-wide goals for participation of MBE and WBE in city contracts. Kansas City has a disparity study focused on the construction workforce released in 2019. Kansas City participates in CBAs.
Last updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
Kansas City benchmarks 100% of buildings over 10,000 sq-ft annually according to the city's benchmarking ordinance.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
Although we could not confirm if Kanas City has adopted a comprehensive retrofit strategy for its municipal buildings, this City has implemented retrofits in several public buildings. Energy costs avoided is reported, based on benchmarking, at almost $1.5 million over a 3-year period. Overall, the city has reduced its electricity usage by 21%, including all uses, between 2000 and 2013. Per Resolution No. 181000 the City Manager is directed to achieve Energy Star certification for 90% of all eligible municipal buildings of 25,000 square feet or more by no later than December 31, 2023.
Last updated: June 2021