illinois-green-alliance-140170

Illinois Green Policy Update: April 2025

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 15:31:50 GMT

Is there a more fitting time to think about green building policy than Earth Month?

In April's Policy Update, we take a look at the progress made towards advancing energy efficiency legislation in Springfield , get you caught up on some sustainability policy developments in Chicago , share some events where you can learn how to use your voice, and more !

Energy Bills Move Forward in Springfield

Last month , we talked about a few of the green building and energy related bills moving through Springfield, and we're happy to report that several have taken the next step to becoming laws.

The  State Navigator Program Act , Geothermal Homes & Business Act , and Utility Data Access Act all passed the State House and are moving to the Senate.

While these bills mark progress for the session, other bills, like the Clean and Reliable Grid Act , Thermal Energy Network Act , and Automated Solar Permitting Act haven't moved forward yet. Even so, discussion by legislators and advocates continue in hopes that key details can be hashed out before the end of the session.

You can help all of these efforts advance by messaging your legislators to tell them you support action on clean buildings! You can find your representatives and their information here and please feel free to reach out to us for any guidance or questions.

Join the Illinois Green Auxiliary Board’s ��Ĵ�ý Policy 101 event dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices and policies. This two-part event brings together industry leaders, policymakers, architects, engineers, and sustainability advocates to discuss the current state of green building policy in Illinois and how you can leverage your positions to shape the future of green building in Chicago and beyond.

Speakers :

Jack Jordan — Executive Director, Climate Action Evanston
Jonathan Nieuwsma — Council Member, City of Evanston
Paula Scholl — Evanston Environment Board Member
Iyana Simba — City Programs Director, Illinois Environmental Council

Event Structure:

Lunch Time Virtual Webinar, 12 PM to 1 PM : A free virtual lecture on current green policy initiatives in Chicago, where you will learn why green building voices are important, what building professionals can accomplish in green building policy, and how you can get involved.
In-Person Happy Hour, 5:30 to 7:30 PM: Join us for a happy hour to facilitate a discussion-based collaborative workshop. This session will provide a relaxed environment for attendees to network, share ideas, and collaborate on innovative solutions. Happy hour admission is $10.

Chicago's Spring Sustainability Aspirations

Throughout Earth Month, a range of green initiatives sprouted up in Chicago.

City Council held serious discussions over the proposed Green Social Housing Ordinance which would create a permanent revolving fund for mixed-income, multi-family housing construction. This fund would be managed by a city-run nonprofit, which would also determine sustainability targets for funded projects. After a series of debates, the ordinance was held to rewrite some labor and ethics provisions.
Clean energy job training and building energy efficiency upgrades will be coming to Chicago Public Schools following the district’s new labor agreement.
Prior to earth day, the Hazel M Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance was introduced to City Council by Mayor Johnson. The ordinance hopes to reduce industrial air pollution in overburdened communities by requiring them to undergo a permitting process to consider their environmental impacts.
The Johnson Administration also launched the City’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Framework Plan , which examines how the city can spur EV growth and the infrastructure needed to support it. The plan is now open for comment .
The administration also announced the Build Better Together Initiative , which combines housing and economic development initiatives (like the Green Social Housing ordinance) with good governance initiatives.

We’ll keep an eye on these initiatives as Chicago continues to consider environmental action throughout the rest of the year.

J oin ��Ĵ�ý, RMI, and AIA Chicago to learn how strong codes make homes and buildings more resilient, comfortable, affordable to operate, and climate-aligned. In Illinois, over 46% of carbon emissions come from buildings. Industry professionals currently have the opportunity to take practical action to “raise the floor” for building efficiency across the state.

In this webinar, you will learn about building energy codes and their role in decarbonization and efficiency, how other states have approached building codes, and discuss how you can take action to push for strong, resilient codes.

Speakers:

Lauren Reeg, Manager – Carbon Free Buildings, RMI

Erin Sherman, Senior Associate – Carbon Free Buildings, RMI

Five Years of Illinois Solar for All

The Solar for All program , a major initiative from the 2017 Future Energy Jobs Act to grow access to clean energy, hit it’s five- year anniversary. Here are some of it’s major accomplishments:

Last year alone, the program provided $29.5 million for 261 projects across the state adding a total of 17.5 megawatts to the grid.
Those who have added solar to their homes or businesses have saved an average of $47-$95 per month on their electric bills while Community Solar participants save an average of $72 per month.
Notably, the program’s cost per kW has become cheaper over the last 3 years, meaning Solar for All is becoming more cost-effective for participants and also cheaper to administrate.

In Other Sustainability News

Earth Week: How community solar is bringing clean energy to more Chicagoans 

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The new Illinois Green Policy Newsletter will bring this monthly update, feature stories and timely advocacy action alerts directly to your inbox. Sign up to stay up to date on the latest local sustainability policy news and the ways you as a building professional can use your expertise make a difference.

Net Zero Case Study: Heartland Community College Agriculture Complex

mwatson@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Matt Watson) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 18:00:35 GMT

Project Overview

Location: Normal, Ill.

Owner: Heartland Community College

Completion Date: 2024

Construction Type: New Construction

Building Type: Higher Education

Certification (being pursued): ILFI Zero Energy

Project Cost: $22 million

Project Team

Architect of Record: Legat Architects

Design Architect: Legat Architects

Engineering Lead: dbHMS

Civil/Landscape Engineer: TERRA Engineering

Structural Engineer: Nayyar and Nayyar

Commissioning Engineer: Baumann Consulting

General Contractor: River City Construction

Net Zero Rater: Living Building Challenge

Performance Data

Modeled Energy Use: Building 24.3 (Building + Greenhouse = 30.6)
Measured Energy Use: Verifying through Monitoring

Window to Wall Ratio: 25%

Gross Floor Area: 29,325 sq ft

Energy Modeling Software: Energy Plus – Open Studio
Energy Production: 19,215-square-foot solar panel array

Background

Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill. sought a new facility to anchor its agriculture education program and respond to central Illinois’ increasing demand for jobs in the industry. The administration wanted a facility that would not only enable the college to expand the program from 40 to 200 students, but also support new programming in precision agriculture, animal science, agronomy, regenerative agriculture, and more.

From the beginning, net zero certification was part of the discussions on planning the facility. For years before this process began, Heartland had been championing sustainability efforts across its campus. The college has a goal of achieving a net zero carbon footprint by 2050.

In its 2020 Master Plan, led by Legat Architects, the college affirmed its desire to develop a comprehensive energy reduction strategy, vowing to use it to further reduce its energy consumption and progress toward the development of more on-campus renewable energy systems.

At the project’s onset, the college expressed interest in net zero certification and asked the design team critical questions about funding and potential costs. After conducting research, Legat created budget ranges even before developing schematic design.

The team developed an OPR (Owner’s Project Requirements) document to identify key net zero goals for tracking the project’s progress. The building’s energy use target of 15 to 25 kBTU per square foot per year was set before design began.

“If you want to go net zero, do your research, ask a lot of questions to others that have already built them, and consider the effort needed to maintain and monitor the systems,” Litwiller says. “The added material cost to achieve the proper envelope is something to consider, along with the additional costs in systems, monitoring, and maintenance.”

Sustainable

Strategies and Features

The design of the building stems from intensive energy modeling, passive solar principles, and solar compartmentalization, while the site design highlights stormwater management and flexible outdoor education.

One of the drivers behind this design was to create a teaching tool for students on net zero buildings. The team incorporated displays with real-time monitoring of the building’s energy generation and usage, informational signage about various aspects of the building, a floor cutout displaying what the radiant system looks like, and a display of the various layers used in the creation of the exterior walls of the building.

Renewable Power

The facility produces its own onsite renewable solar power. A nearly 20,000-square-foot rooftop array of south-facing solar panels is designed to produce over 354,700 kWh of power annually. Since the building was designed to only use 241,000 kWh annually, this means it is designed to produce more energy than it uses.

“Building the Agriculture Complex has given us the opportunity to familiarize our facilities staff with the operation of a solar array,” says Andy Litwiller, Executive Director of Facilities at Heartland Community College. “This will benefit us as we move towards the creation of a solar field north of campus.”

The campus itself features a wind turbine that began operating in 2012 and produced 64% of the total campus energy used in fiscal year 2024. A new ground-based solar array is currently in the design phase and is intended to pick up the remaining electrical demand on campus that is not covered by the wind turbine.

High Solid-to-Glazing Ratio

The percentage of solid (walls) to glazing (windows) is usually around 15-20% in most buildings’ facades. More than 25% of the Heartland Agriculture Complex’s facade is glazing, with optimized placement at strategic locations to give users both daylight and outdoor views.

Envelope Insulation

The building has a super-insulated envelope. In most buildings, walls are traditionally between eight and 14 inches thick from inside to out. In this building, however, the average wall thickness is over 26 inches. This extra density was achieved by layering more insulation into the building enclosure. The walls achieve an R40 rating, the roof has an R60 rating, the concrete floor has an R20 rating, and the windows are triple-pane glass with two layers of low-E coating.

High-Efficiency Mechanical System

The complex’s high-efficiency mechanical system features a ground source heat pump installed in the field northwest of the building to provide earth-cooled/warmed water to the building’s mechanical systems.

Lighting Systems

The team designed super-efficient lighting systems to further reduce energy use. High-efficiency programmable LED fixtures were selected to emit more light per watt than traditional fixtures, maintaining light levels while meeting a lower LPD (light power density) goal and saving energy and money without sacrificing performance.

Financing
and Incentives

To help fund the work and materials related to the pursuit of net zero certification, Heartland applied for and received a $2 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. The grant supported the cost of the solar array, extensive energy modeling, superinsulation of the walls and roof, and the energy efficient geothermal radiant floor heating/cooling system.

Several donors also contributed to the cost of the building, with the rest of the project financed through bonds.

Given that the building is designed to supply all of its own energy needs, the college expects significant operating cost reductions to help offset the initial construction costs. In particular, the superinsulation and triple-glazed windows, as well as the geothermal system, should vastly reduce HVAC costs.

Heartland opted to go with the geothermal system at a higher initial investment because the equipment will have a longer overall lifespan, and because the administration and facilities team already has familiarity with geothermal since two of the college’s buildings are already powered by such systems.

Overcoming Challenges

Net zero projects require extensive testing, post-construction paperwork, and fine tuning to ensure that all building systems are functioning as designed and modeled. The Agriculture Complex officially opened in January 2024 but as of April 2025, has still not received net zero certification as the owners work through a series of issues related to the building systems.

One of the issues for the administration has been finding the right balance of heat pump HW/CW flow to dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units.

“The heat pump would trip out and fault out if it was too restricted on flow and finding the right speed to operate the valves and pumps throughout the system to meet demand in all areas proved to be a major hurdle,” Litwiller says.

Another challenge has been the underperformance of the solar array that is supposed to supply the building’s energy and a higher than anticipated energy demand from the greenhouse.

And given the complexities and more stringent requirements for net zero design and construction, there was more on-site education required for some members of the project team. Executing some of the finer details, mock-up, and testing was a challenge. To work around this, “we continually held meetings and reinforced the project requirements,” says Monique Taylor, Senior Interior Designer and Sustainability Coordinator at Legat Architects.

Lessons Learned

Simplify the Design

Based on their experience, the Heartland administration recommends keeping the design of a net zero project as simple as possible. “Overly complicated systems and controls add another layer to an already challenging building process and operation of the system,” Litwiller says.

Use an Integrated Approach

Legat notes that an integrated design approach is key to successfully completing a net zero project. Early collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders ensures that all aspects of the building work together to achieve sustainability goals.

Ensure Energy Modeling Accuracy

Another takeaway from this project is to ensure energy modeling accuracy. Accurate energy modeling is essential for predicting and optimizing a building’s performance. Real-world energy consumption can vary from initial models, so ongoing monitoring and adjustments are necessary for optimal results.

“The team should not rely on just one energy model for accuracy,” Taylor says. “The commissioning agent and the mechanical engineer should both build energy models, and they should verify the alignment of the models during the design process.”

Educate Occupants on Energy Use

Occupant behavior can have a significant influence on a building’s energy use. Educating occupants about energy-efficient practices and providing user-friendly control systems can improve the building’s overall performance. At the Heartland Agriculture Complex, the team showed the users of their greenhouse how to operate temperature and light controls.

The architecture/engineering team designed a building user manual intended to be distributed to occupants to provide simplified usage and maintenance information for regular building users/occupants. It includes room set points, cheat sheets for maintenance personnel, and pictures of controls in each section of the building with explanations of how to use them.

Prioritize Operations and Maintenance

Regular maintenance and proper operation are critical for sustaining net zero performance. Building operators should be well-trained, and maintenance plans should be in place to address any issues promptly.

Energy Moves in Springfield, Illinois’ Record Year in Solar, and Changing Building Emission Trends | Illinois Green Policy Update: March 2025

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 19:33:19 GMT

We have good news to share out of Evanston, from around the state, and even across the globe! In the March Policy Update, we'll be celebrating Evanston's big green building policy win, spotlighting building efficiency proposals in Springfield , looking at Illinois' record year for solar , and more!

First in the State – Twice!

Congratulations to the City of Evanston on being the first Illinois community to pass two major green building policies—the Stretch Energy Codes and Healthy Buildings Ordinance ! Around 80% of Evanston’s emissions come from the building sector, making this a key step in the effort to address climate change and we hope that communities across the state follow your lead (more on this below)!

I also want to thank the many Illinois Green members who were an incredible help getting these ordinances passed by sharing their expertise with council members.

And that's not all to celebrate! Evanston's Green Homes Pilot Program , which provides free, income-qualified weatherization and electrification upgrades, is starting to deliver these projects to residents!

Interested in helping Evanston create the rules to put the Healthy Buildings Ordinance into action? Contact Ryan Wilmington to learn how you can lend your expertise. Also, learn about one of the pathways to comply with the Stretch Code at our upcoming Phius 101 webinar .

Springfield Sessions

Over 6,000(!) bills have been introduced to the Illinois State Legislature this year – we’re tracking a few of these focused on green buildings.

Here are some key proposals that building professionals should be aware of:

Legislators and advocates are looking to follow up Illinois’ nation-leading climate legislation, the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) , with a major effort to support transmission and efficiency. The Clean and Reliable Grid Act would expand utility efficiency incentive programs and cut the red tape that slows or stops new clean energy projects. Read more here .
There’s a lot of buzz around thermal energy this session, too! Now that early adopters like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Blacks in Green are demonstrating its potential, policymakers are looking to support this technology. The Thermal Energy Network Act would require public utilities in the state to develop geothermal pilot projects and the Geothermal Homes and Business Act would make geothermal renewable energy credits available.
A push to make building energy data and incentives easier to access is also in the works. The Utility Data Access Act would allow multi-unit building owners to access whole-building data to make it easier to understand how their building is performing, and the State Navigator Program Act would create a permanent program to help Illinois residents easily plan and access incentives and financing for home upgrades that can help lower energy costs.

As this year’s legislative session continues, we’ll keep track of these bills and inform green professionals of any opportunities to weigh in and share why these efforts will help meet our climate goals and benefit the building industry in Illinois.

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A Ray of Sunshine – Illinois Breaks Solar Record

In 2024, Illinois installed 2.5 GIGAWATTS of solar power—the most by the state in a single year!

To put this in perspective:

The new installation almost DOUBLES our solar capacity
Solar now generates enough energy to power 930,000 homes
Illinois now maintains 5% of all solar installed NATIONWIDE
Only sunny states like California, Florida, and Texas installed more

This growth is more evidence that Illinois’ nation-leading climate legislation, the 2017 Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and CEJA, are working. In the years since FEJA was passed, Illinois added over 3,500 MegaWatts of solar to the grid (not including this year’s 2.5 GW). Before 2017, we only had 80 MW of solar in the entire state .

Key initiatives like incentives and credits, community solar efforts, and the Illinois Solar for All program contributed to this record-breaking year.

Now, with Governor Pritzker recently announcing over $57 million more in CEJA grant awards for green energy and efficiency projects, more solar will be added to the gird soon. And if the legislature passes the Clean and Reliable Grid Act (mentioned earlier), this energy transition could get even faster.

Zooming Out – Global Building Sector Emissions Stop Rising

In 2023, the building industry grew, but the sector’s emissions didn’t—showing that green technologies and policies are making a difference, according to a UN report.

Why is this a big deal?

The building sector is the source of 34% of global emissions and this number has been trending upwards in recent years.

How is this happening?

According to the report, key policies like advanced energy codes, performance standards, and efficiency investments are driving the progress. These policies, combined with private sector sustainability initiatives, have reduced the building sector’s energy intensity by 10%!

And the most important question for us—what does this mean for Illinois?

Illinois’ buildings contribute to 30% of our state’s greenhouse gas emissions , which means that addressing this sector will be key to meeting climate goals—and this report demonstrates a proven policy pathway for accomplishing that. Now that Evanston has adopted the Illinois Stretch Energy Codes and Healthy Buildings Ordinance (Building Performance Standards), we now also have a local model for taking on building emissions. If other cities replicate Evanston’s actions, Illinois would make incredible progress and do our part in addressing climate change.

Read more here - UN Environment Programme

In Other Sustainability News

A Business Guide for Navigating IRA Clean-Energy Tax Credits

Evanston Passes First Building Performance Standard in Illinois

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:38:06 GMT

Building Professionals Key to Passing Healthy Buildings Ordinance

Evanston – On March 10, following weeks of input from residents, environmental advocates, and building industry professionals, Evanston City Council passed the Healthy Buildings Ordinance , a major initiative to green and modernize large buildings in the city. Green building professionals in particular were instrumental in lending their unique voices to the discussion with policymakers to help pass the initiative.

The Healthy Buildings Ordinance directs the city to develop Building Performance Standards, a policy that sets energy reduction targets for large buildings. Greening the built environment is a key climate goal for Evanston — over 80% of the city’s emissions stem from the building sector and 50% come from large buildings.

To help educate council members on the policy, ��Ĵ�ý members weighed in to share their experience and support for the Healthy Buildings Ordinance. The ordinance takes aim at emissions from Evanston’s large buildings specifically. Beginning in 2031 and continuing every 5 years until, commercial buildings over 20,000 sq. ft. and residential buildings over 50,000 sq. ft. will meet new performance standards. Around 500 buildings in the city will be covered by this policy.

Moving forward, a committee of expert stakeholders will develop these standards and alternative compliance paths to ensure that the policy is flexible. A separate committee will explore how to equitably implement it. Last year, Evanston received a $10 million Department of Energy grant to support this policy’s development and implementation. Building owners in the city can also draw on free resources like the Building Energy Resource Hub and ComEd Energy Programs to support efficiency projects.

“The Healthy Buildings Ordinance is not only a first for Illinois, it is an important step towards our vision to decarbonize every building in Illinois. Forward-thinking policies like this help ensure the health and resiliency of our communities and help scale the building technologies and design practices our members are helping advance every day.”

Brian Imus, Executive Director, ��Ĵ�ý

Evanston joins Boston, Seattle, Denver, Washington D.C., and others who have adopted similar policies and is the second in the Midwest after St. Louis to do so. Last month, the city also passed another first-of-its-kind in Illinois clean building initiative— adopting the Stretch Energy codes.

��Ĵ�ý congratulates the City of Evanston, Mayor Biss, city council members, city staff, and all others responsible for this incredible achievement. We look forward to offering our support in implementing the ordinance and hope other cities across the state and region follow your leadership by passing similar policies.

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A Win for Energy: Evanston Becomes First City to Adopt Stretch Codes | Policy Update: February 2025

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:47:57 GMT

W ith a first-of-its-kind sustainable building policy passed in Evanston, a green affordable housing proposal floated in Chicago, a new budget proposal in Springfield, a major new Illinois Climate Bank Program , and more , there hasn't been a dull moment so far in 2025.

In our latest February's Policy Update, we've been tracking these stories to keep building professionals in the loop.

Evanston Passes Stretch Codes, Continues Healthy Buildings Ordinance Discussion

Evanston – On February 24, Evanston became the first community in the state to adopt the Model Stretch Energy Codes after a unanimous vote from city council.

“I’m proud of Evanston’s decision to adopt the Illinois Stretch Code. This will result in more energy efficient buildings, improved public health, and lower utility costs for Evanston residents,” said Evanston’s Mayor Daniel Biss. “It’s the right thing to do for climate action and for energy conservation, and I urge my colleagues in other municipalities to join us in taking this important step.”

Here are 5 reasons why this is a green building win:

New residential buildings will be 50% more efficient and new commercial facilities will be 40% more efficient than the baseline and every three years these codes will be updated to meet even greater energy standards.
By being the first community in Illinois to adopt the stretch codes, Evanston is bringing one of the major initiatives from the nation-leading 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) from concept to reality.
New homes built to the stretch code are projected to save $250 a year in utility costs and pay back their investment in 10-11 years.
If other cities follow Evanston’s lead, Illinois could see a green domino effect. If the stretch code was to be adopted across the state, Illinoisans would save a cumulative $1.97 billion and eliminate 14.5 million metric tons of CO2.
It demonstrates that, despite whatever is happening at the federal level, local leaders can take meaningful green action in their communities.

These Stretch Codes will now apply for all Evanston new construction or major renovation projects permitted after October 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, Evanston continued to work toward passing the Healthy Buildings Ordinance , which would target emissions in the city’s largest buildings.

The proposal would set performance targets for commercial buildings larger than 20,000 sq.ft. and residential buildings larger than 50,000 sq.ft., the source of over 53% of Evanston’s greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, these buildings would have to reach a maximum efficiency target, eliminate onsite greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve 100% renewable energy use, with 5-year performance targets leading to the final goals.

Green building advocates, and other stakeholders showed up in numbers to continue the discussions from previous meetings and ensure that council members have the resources and input necessary.

With the discussion running late into the night, Council members decided to table the vote to give time to work through small amendments that would clarify language and definitions as well as allow more members of the community to be educated on the proposal. The ordinance is set to be revisited in two weeks, on March 10th.

Now, we need the green community’s support to help get this passed.

If you’ve worked on an energy efficiency retrofit project, you can help us demonstrate the benefits by sharing case studies or articles about your work! We' re also looking for statements of support from building industry professionals who are eager to lend their voice. Reach out to Ryan Wilmington , Illinois Green's Policy Associate, with any questions, resources, or words of support we can sha re.

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Green Policy Highlights

Green Social Housing Ordinance introduced to Chicago City Council

Last week, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced an ordinance to build sustainable, mixed-income housing. The initiative, funded by a bond passed last year, would create a self-replenishing revolving loan fund to distribute construction loans to build city-owned, mixed-income, mid rise housing. To satisfy the ‘green’ requirements, these projects would have to meet the Chicago Sustainable Development Policy , Department of Housing Architecture Technical Standards , and any other rules to be developed later by the fund’s oversight board.

In Other Sustainability News

Chicago and Illinois Remain Committed to Achieving Climate Goals Despite Threats to Federal Funding.
Read more - Inside Climate News

State regulators clamp down on Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program.
Read more – Chicago Sun Times

How EPA rollbacks will cost us dollars and lives.

A Letter from our 2025 Board Chair

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 16:40:12 GMT

In 2021, Illinois Green embarked on a bold five-year strategic plan with an aspirational, future-forward mission: to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois is net zero by 2050.

Since then, we’ve seen remarkable progress in the conversation around green buildings, and Illinois Green has been at the forefront of driving this transformation. Through our collaborative initiatives, innovative programming, and advocacy efforts, we’ve amplified the voice of the green building community and positioned Illinois as a leader in sustainable building practices.

As the 2025 Chair of the Board of Directors, I am honored to guide Illinois Green as we embark on the final year of our 2021-2025 strategic plan . The Board of Directors and staff are focused on ensuring the organization remains a catalyst for innovation, action, and progress.

Over the past four years, Illinois Green has expanded its reach and impact significantly . This growth has empowered us to introduce innovative new formats for our education programming, strengthen our role and voice in the policy and advocacy space, and deliver transformative projects like the Building Energy Resource Hub , which has demonstrated that high-performance buildings are achievable in every corner of Illinois.

At its core, Illinois Green’s work is about people—our community of architects, engineers, building owners, operators, builders, product manufacturers, policymakers, and sustainability advocates. By convening these diverse voices and perspectives, we’ve created a collaborate space that has sparked new ideas and driven meaningful change.

Looking ahead, we will continue building on these successes in a few key areas: providing programming that equips the green building community with knowledge and resources, deepening engagement with policymakers and industry leaders to promote clean and healthy buildings, and reinforcing Illinois Green’s leadership in advancing building decarbonization throughout the state.

Of course, this work would not be possible without the dedication, support, and engagement of our community of volunteers, advocates, donors, and industry professionals . Thank you for being an integral part of our mission. Together, we will build on these strong foundations to ensure a future with healthier and greener communities across Illinois.

Deana A. Haynes

2025 Board Chair | ��Ĵ�ý

Evanston Debates Healthy Buildings Ordinance & The New Administration's Energy Freeze | Policy Update: January 2025

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 21:40:57 GMT

In this month’s edition of the Illinois Green Policy Update , we're covering the ups and downs on a number of developing local and national sustainability stories and outlining ways you can take action right now, including: the status of Evanston’s proposed Healthy Buildings Ordinance; the Trump administration’s moves on climate policy ; Chicago’s 2025 budget ; and more !

Evanston Debates Healthy Buildings Ordinance

On Monday, January 27, Evanston City Council debated the Healthy Buildings Ordinance , a proposal that would set efficiency performance targets for buildings over 20,000 square feet.

“This is a pivotal part of our climate action and resilience plan. It allows us to have the 500 largest buildings in Evanston comply with that goal of no carbon by 2050,” said Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. “The research that we have done shows that 53% of our emissions come from our large buildings.”

Dozens of members of the public showed up to share their thoughts, with the majority being supportive of the initiative. Our Policy Associate Ryan Wilmington joined to share the perspectives of the green building community.

“We know [the Healthy Buildings Ordinance] is viable because our members—the experts in the industry—are already adopting the technologies and building practices that this ordinance encourages,” Wilmington said. “Clean buildings are simply more healthy, more affordable, and more resilient. There’s a reason why leaders in the industry are already doing this.”

Evanston-based architect and owner of Kipnis Architecture + Planning, Nate Kipnis, added “Reaching [the goals of the Healthy Buildings Ordinance] should not be difficult. These buildings will need to do periodic equipment updates and those are opportunities to improve the buildings systems.”

Affordable housing developer T. Manning spoke about the benefits of retrofitting buildings, saying, “While there has been a modest cost associated [with retrofits] it is possible to dramatically reduce utility costs for tenets. The buildings that my company rehabbed are between 25 and 45 percent more energy efficient than before... now that they’re more energy efficient [they] have saved the tenants approximately $40,000 to 45,000.”

After a long conversation running until 10:30 PM, Evanston City Council decided to delay the vote by two weeks to give community stakeholders more time to provide their thoughts. Those who live, work, or have a connection to Evanston or Northwestern University can learn how to get involved here !

The New Administration's Energy Freeze

President Trump’s return to office has been accompanied by executive orders pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, reaffirming his commitment to fossil fuels, expressing his love for gas appliances, and attempts to halt all federal assistance programs.

While all of these actions are harmful to sustainability goals, most worrying was the attempt to halt federal assistance designed to increase investment in clean energy, energy efficiency, and support the adoption of new energy codes .

The funding halt was immediately challenged in court and many nonprofits and states, including Illinois, are planning lawsuits. As of 5 PM on January 28, it appears that this effort will be blocked by a federal judge , at least until February 3.

While green programs like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are safe for now, it is clear that they are on the chopping block for this administration. Illinois Green strongly supports the IRA and its goal to spur investment in building decarbonization projects and the adoption of new clean energy technologies. This legislation has already brought hundreds of millions in funding to our state for decarbonization efforts, workforce development, solar programs, and code adoption and more programs are under way. The IRA needs to stay, without any cuts or tampering.

Now, we want to show that the industry is fully behind the Inflation Reduction Act. The voice of building sector businesses and professionals will be crucial to protecting the IRA and it’s decarbonization initiatives. Use this 1-click tool to tell your Representatives to support the IRA .

Policy Spotlight

There has been enormous success in the green policy space over the last few years, with multiple landmark bills coming from all levels of government. These pieces of legislation have the potential to change the building industry and elevate the role that sustainable buildings will play in reducing carbon emissions. But, as the news this month shows, we'll face new challenges to ensuring the green movement continues forward.

In this letter, our Policy Associate Ryan Wilmington shared his thoughts on the state of clean building policy and took a look at how building professionals can make a difference in 2025.

Chicago's New Budget & ��Ĵ�ýs

At the end of 2024, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council came to an agreement on Chicago’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, which outlined how each department in Illinois’ largest city will be furthering building decarbonization goals. Here are some highlights.

The recently reinstated Department of Environment received a modest boost to $2.4 million in annual funding from $1.8 million previously.
This funding will help the new department start to take on more responsibilities and develop plans to transition environmental functions from other departments.
One of these new responsibilities will be managing the city’s energy benchmarking program.
The Department of Housing will be continuing one building decarbonization program while rolling out a major new initiative.
The former is the Green Homes Chicago pilot program, which provided no-cost home electrification and weatherization to low-income households and will be returning later in the year.
The Green Social Housing Revolving Fund, a major component of Mayor Johnson’s $ 1.25 Billion bond initiative from last year, will provide low-cost seed loans for affordable housing, a new funding method that has been piloted in other cities. However, the ‘green’ aspects of the program are still unclear.
The Department of Planning and development will be investing $25 million into their Missing Middle Housing Initiative , a program that will make city-owned lots across the south and west sides available for one to six-unit market rate developments.
The Department of Buildings won’t be seeing any major funding changes and will be rolling out an updated permitting system this year.

For more on these initiatives and Chicago’s other environmental plans, check out Illinois Environmental Council’s Budget Analysis .

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Green Policy Highlights

The deadliest building in Chicago for birds dramatically slashed bird deaths with a small fix—polka dot stickers. Aiming to reduce the number of bird collisions, the owners and operators of McCormick Place installed window film with thousands of polka dots and the results have been shockingly effective. Bird collisions dropped 95% since the film was installed!

Still, Chicago remains the most dangerous city in the U.S. for birds as the migratory path for more than 250 species puts them at conflict with the city’s many large, brightly lit glass buildings. Policymakers have also been working to reduce these risks by through programs like Chicago’s Sustainable Development Policy , Lights Out Chicago , and Illinois’s Bird Safe Buildings Act .

In Other Sustainability News

Illinois affordable housing receive $1.3 million from HUD for energy efficiency and climate resilience improvements. Read more – Yield Pro

State lawmakers give small boost to renewable developments with further action planned for later this year. Read more – Capital News Illinois

New Report Outlines the Path to a Net Zero Future in Illinois

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:30:38 GMT

The annual Getting to Zero Illinois Report examines policy and financial strategies for a fully decarbonized built environment.

January 29, 2025

Chicago – ��Ĵ�ý has released the 2024 Getting to Zero Illinois Report , a comprehensive overview of building decarbonization in Illinois that examines the actions necessary to decarbonize all buildings by 2050. The report, produced together with Telesto Strategy, examines the current state of sustainable building practices and finds that Illinois must decarbonize 440 million square feet of building space each year—more than the total over the past 20 years—to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Throughout the report, Illinois Green and Telesto synthesized a broad set of research literature as well as survey data from building industry leaders to address the complex challenges of building net zero and outline solutions for both policymakers and industry leaders to set the state on a path to a fully decarbonized built environment.

“While there has been progress in making Illinois a national leader in green buildings, it’s clear there is still more work ahead to mainstream the technologies and building strategies that make net zero possible so that every building in the state is net zero by 2050,” said Brian Imus, Executive Director of ��Ĵ�ý. “By surveying the industry and mapping current trends, the Getting to Zero Illinois Report is a key resource to help make this ambitious goal a reality. It provides lawmakers and building professionals with an ambitious roadmap for decarbonization, informed by data-driven insights and industry stakeholder feedback.”

This analysis on the challenges and opportunities of building net zero focuses on four areas: policy development and implementation; financing and funding opportunities; technology solutions; and workforce development and skills training. Each chapter takes a deeper dive into one of these topics and outlines the barriers to full decarbonization as well as the opportunities to accelerate toward a net zero future.

Some of the key findings and takeaways include :

Illinois has mobilized approximately $1 billion in green building funding and financing since 2022. Despite these advances, 83% of our survey respondents cite financial constraints as a primary obstacle.
Stringent energy codes drive significant progress, but the fragmented nature of local regulations and protracted permitting processes slow down implementation, with 38% of stakeholders identifying delays as a key issue.
Smart building technologies offer immense potential. Smart building management systems, for example, can reduce energy consumption by 10-60% depending on location.
The rapid expansion of green technologies has outpaced the capacity of current workforce development programs, with 31% of survey respondents citing the lack of a skilled workforce as a major barrier. Skills training must be targeted at the jobs with the highest demand.

“Our research finds that Illinois has significantly more low-emissions building space per-capita than most states” said Ben Vatterott, Partner at Telesto Strategy. “Significant and sustained efforts by policymakers, owners and operators, developers, NGOs, and our friends in the energy sector have positioned Illinois as a leader of sustainability in the built environment. Going forward, even more innovation and collaboration—in software, hardware, policy, design, energy, and ways of deploying capital—will be required to build on this momentum and achieve decarbonization of the sector by 2050.”

To inform this report, the team leveraged secondary research as well as surveyed nearly 100 leaders in building sustainability across the state to understand the key challenges and solutions leveraged in their own low-carbon projects. They also analyzed LEED-certified building data for more than 348 million square feet in Illinois, as well as analyzed project data from hundreds of thousands of square feet of net zero projects in the state.

About ��Ĵ�ý

��Ĵ�ý (Illinois Green) is a membership driven, mission-based, community centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the state of Illinois. Established in 2002 by a coalition of visionary professionals from the built environment sector and passionate sustainability advocates, Illinois Green has been at the vanguard of Illinois’ green building movement for two decades.

About Telesto Strategy

Telesto Strategy, a Chicago-based certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), is an ESG-focused management consulting firm founded with a bold vision to support businesses and governments in the regeneration of the planet’s health, resources, and well-being. Telesto aims to achieve this ambition through dual missions: (i) reframing how businesses, organizations, and countries can achieve enduring and inclusive growth, and (ii) redirecting corporate strategy to solve the biggest challenges of our time while delivering a positive return on investment (ROI).

###

Contact  :

Matt Watson
Communications Manager, ��Ĵ�ý
mwatson@illinoisgreenalliance.org
(630) 562-6903

Meet Illinois Green’s 2024 Outstanding Volunteers

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 20:12:52 GMT

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Volunteer Awards ! These five volunteers have gone above and beyond in their work with Illinois Green. They will be receiving their awards in-person at our 2025 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Celebration on February 6th. Click here to register!

We asked each recipient to tell us a little bit about why they volunteer with Illinois Green, what they enjoy about participating in the community, and to share a volunteer highlight from 2024. Here's what they had to say:

Amy Amaon

Sustainability Manager

Health Care Service Corporation

Amy has graciously volunteered her time and expertise over the years as a Green Schools Mentor. In June, she hosted Illinois Green staff for a tour of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building’s district cooling facility. She was strategic in securing sponsorship for the 2024 Getting to Zero Summit + Emerald Awards & Limelight Celebration. In 2025, she takes the lead as the Auxiliary Board’s Policy Committee Chair. We look forward to great things in the new year!

Question: Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

Answer: When I first heard about Illinois Green in 2022, I was a few months into my first full-time sustainability role and very much in over my head. A kind consultant (now friend) invited me to a Member Breakfast and for the first time I started to feel connected to the Chicago sustainability community. The organization has helped me to build my confidence, knowledge, and network much more than I could have on my own. It is a privilege to be able to give back and support an organization that has poured into me. 

Q: What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

A: Volunteering with Illinois Green gives me the opportunity to be creative and use skills that I wouldn’t necessarily get to do day-to-day in my current role. The projects I’ve supported with Illinois Green allow me to call upon my experiences in event planning, program development, and mentoring in a supportive and inclusive environment. The Illinois Green staff and Auxiliary Board leadership in particular have really pushed me to grow and saw potential in me where I didn’t, which made volunteering even more rewarding.

Q: What is your volunteer highlight from 2024?

 A: We accomplished so much as an Auxiliary Board in 2024 that it’s hard to pin one specific thing down! Our “Every Job is a Green Job” program is definitely a top moment for me—from sitting down as a committee to brainstorm in the first meeting to filling every seat in the SmithGroup common space with folks eager to learn from us, it was a whirlwind that was so incredibly rewarding. 

Mayur Bandekar

Power Markets Consultant – Energy and Climate Practice 3Degrees Group, Inc

Mayur has been a member of Illinois Green’s Auxiliary Board since 2023. He led a phenomenal and well-organized team of Auxiliary Board Members as the 2024 Networking Committee Chair and was pivotal in securing sponsorship to help underwrite the highly successful Greener Together: Speed Networking in Sustainability event at the Haworth Showroom. He has excellent leadership, fundraising, and networking skills, and is very dedicated to Illinois Green and our mission!

Question: Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

Answer: I volunteer with Illinois Green to be a part of the local effort to lead decarbonization initiatives across the state of Illinois. I want to better understand and overcome the complexities of achieving these initiatives using my skillset gained through my current and past sustainability experiences and do my part, however big or small, to fight climate change.

Q: What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

A: I enjoy being able to share my knowledge of professional development, networking, and sustainability across the Illinois community. I also love interacting with other Illinois Green members and volunteers— the organization is filled with like-minded, passionate individuals always looking for opportunities to grow.

Q: What is your volunteer highlight from 2024?

 A: My volunteer highlight from 2024 was hosting the "Greener Together: Speed Networking in Sustainability" event in early November. Not only was it well-received by event attendees, but it was an important milestone in my career, where I was able to see my own professional growth by successfully leading a team of 4 other volunteers to host this sold-out event.

Wayne Beals

Realtor and Managing Broker

The Beals Group at EXIT Strategy Realty

Wayne is a one-of-a-kind educator, advocate, and champion for green buildings who has demonstrated an inspiring commitment to Illinois Green. You’ll be hard pressed to find an aspect of our mission that Wayne is not actively contributing towards. He lends his expertise to help broaden the scope of our education programming and hosts tours of his sustainable projects. He lends his voice at Chicago City Council hearings and meets with lawmakers to advocate for green policy. Above all else, Wayne’s passion, dedication, and positivity are truly infectious. We are so proud to honor Wayne this year!

Question: Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

Answer: I volunteer at Illinois Green because it gives me a strong connection to the local sustainability community. We know that we have a lot of work to do in educating consumers and professionals about the positive impact they can make to advance sustainability for the next generation. I've found that the Illinois Green membership is filled with people who want to do the work of advancing sustainability in their fields.

From architects to engineers, urban planners to public policy advocates, there is a diverse professional workforce engaged at Illinois Green. What better place is there for a realtor like me to put my efforts toward centering sustainability in my work? Volunteering at Illinois Green advances my business, my knowledge base, and fulfills my need to actively promote sustainability.

Q: What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

A: I truly enjoy volunteering at the Illinois Green. Two highlights for me are the intellectual stimulation I gain from Programs Committee meetings, where I deepen my technical understanding in the course of our work. Furthermore, the networking opportunities at meetings and events are invaluable. These interactions provide me with positive connections and enhance my professional performance. Engaging with the membership at events is always an energizing experience.

Q: What is your volunteer highlight from 2024?

 A: In January 2024, I had the privilege of working with a group of Programs Committee volunteers to produce and showcase a three-unit, all-electric building that a client built in Woodlawn. This cutting-edge project, located in an often overlooked but wonderful neighborhood, boasts solar panels, a highly insulated and airtight building envelope and sophisticated mechanical systems that ensure resiliency, comfort, and excellent indoor air quality. I consulted on the building's development, successfully marketed and sold it, and then had the pleasure of guiding over 50 Illinois Green program attendees through a two-hour open house. Witnessing the neighbors' amazement as the attendees descended on this high-performance home was truly rewarding. It was a joy to demonstrate how we can create healthier, happier living spaces.

Jamie Johnson

CEO

Verde Energy Efficiency Experts

Jamie is a longtime friend of Illinois Green and is an active volunteer on the Building Energy Resource Hub Advisory Board. He is committed to growing the Hub’s connections with the broader contractor community to ensure both new and existing buildings are energy efficient through mentorship and resource sharing. Thank you, Jamie, for all of your help getting the Hub off the ground! 

Question: Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

Answer: It's funny—I had not even considered my involvement with Illinois Green and [the Building Energy Resource] Hub Advisory Board as volunteerism. I thought of it more as an opportunity to be at the table where decisions and policy are discussed, with much smarter and more experienced folks around me.  Illinois Green always has very high-quality folks, both on staff and boards.  So, the chance to be around those folks more consistently really attracted me, and it has not disappointed. I get far more out of my time with the board than I receive, no doubt.  

Q: What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

A: I like the conversation around a very collectively smart and passionate group of engineers, entrepreneurs, and building managers. There is not the question of, should we decarbonize; the question is how we help buildings decarbonize. It is a refreshing group of individuals to be around, and one of those obvious situations where a group is stronger than an individual.  On a personal level, it is a place I feel very much with my people —not just on aligned values, but on industry knowledge and strategic thinking.  

Q: What is your volunteer highlight from 2024?

 A: I definitely enjoyed watching the Solar Eclipse on a break at a board meeting for the Hub.  It was a great experience, humbling to be experiencing something so rare and consequential.  I love how we discussed the impact on solar PV production, HVAC impact, and how nature responds to the event.  It was very bonding and meaningful to me.

Matt Johnson

Director of Energy Engineering

Cushman & Wakefield

Matt has been an active and valuable volunteer since 2022, sharing his expertise as both a sustainable facilities mentor and a three-time green schools mentor. This year, Matt assisted with resource development for our updated Illinois Green Schools Project (IGSP) by helping us create the new Building Walkthrough Guides and engaged his company to support the IGSP. Thank you, Matt!

Question: Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

Answer: I volunteer with Illinois Green because it is a great opportunity to share my passion for sustainability and green building with the broader Illinois community and help advance Net Zero buildings in Illinois. There are also varied opportunities to volunteer so members can contribute where and when they can.  

Q: What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

A: There are so many amazing people who are a part of the Illinois Green community across many industries and phases of their careers. Getting to meet and work with all these passionate individuals has made volunteering both fun and meaningful. Additionally, there are always opportunities to learn when getting involved and I find that everyone leaves the experience with something extra.

Q: What is your volunteer highlight from 2024?

 A: My volunteer highlight from 2024 was working with the students at Urbana High School through the Illinois Green Schools Project. It was great to see the student’s excitement and interest as they formulated and then executed their solar panel and energy audit project. After a fun and challenging project, they were able to showcase their hard work by discussing engineering and renewable energy with fellow students as they charged their devices from newly purchased solar panels! It was great to see the students recognized with Illinois Green’s Path to Zero Energy Award!

Why We're Attending the 2025 Green Schools Conference

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:26:33 GMT

As the coordinator of ��Ĵ�ý’s school sustainability program, the Illinois Green Schools Project, I spend much of my time considering the intersections between school sustainability, health and wellness, and environmental education.

Our program supports schools across Illinois as they design and implement low-barrier, high-impact sustainability initiatives with the goal of reducing resource use while fostering student and community learning. I attended the USGBC Green Schools Conference for the first time last year in Santa Fe with a long list of learning objectives. My program was in a redesign phase, and I was searching for guidance on the connections between student participation and sustainability progress at the institutional level, effective ways to bake EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) goals into sustainability work, and more than anything, I wanted to connect with folks working on similar projects.

By attending the Green Schools Conference, I was able to accomplish all of my predetermined goals and I came away with more insight than I had even expected. I attended sessions focused on student leadership driving school sustainability goals, sustainability and environmental justice efforts at the school, district, and government levels, and how schools are using benchmarking tools to drive sustainability efforts.

The sessions were highly-relevant to my goals and interests, and many of them provided new and helpful takeaways that directly impacted the outcomes of our program. The connections I made at the conference were somehow even more helpful and valuable! I was able to connect with another green schools program leader who has since become a professional collaborator and ally. I arrived home with pages of notes and some clear pathways forward.

This year, I’m so excited to attend the Green Schools Conference for my second year. As I write this, I’m working to study the conference agenda and chart my course. As I work to guide this year’s Illinois Green Schools Project cohort through our updated program, I’m excited to focus my energy more towards developing outreach and support strategies for diverse audiences and social justice communities, learning how to better connect our schools with data tracking platforms, and how to better communicate the value of sustainability to a variety of school stakeholders.

I’m especially excited to attend the session, “Plug into resources and funding to electrify and decarbonize schools” to learn more about connecting Illinois Green’s net zero mission to the schools of Illinois. More than anything, I’m so excited to reconnect with folks I met at last year’s conference, and meet even more sustainability professionals in school education spaces.

If you’re attending this year’s conference, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn to connect!

"I Didn't Know this was Possible": How building industry voices can drive sustainable policy action

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 15:55:51 GMT

"I didn't know this was possible"

That is a direct quote I heard from a state legislator that we invited on a tour of the Fifth City Commons project in Chicago, an all-electric, “near-zero” building. They didn’t know that the technologies to support projects like these existed, that high-performance buildings have a market, and that even affordable housing developers are embracing it. This comment is one of the most common sentiments that I have heard when engaging lawmakers, even environmentally conscious ones, on behalf of the green building community.

Most policymakers want to support changes that lower costs for constituents, create jobs, and makes their communities cleaner and more sustainable. However, they often don’t know that green buildings present an incredible opportunity to do those things until we show them.

Our progress to date

Over the last few years, advocates have been incredibly successful at passing climate legislation at all levels of government, like the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding Act, state Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and Future Energy Jobs Act, and Oak Park’s first-in-the-Midwest new construction electrification ordinance.

Even though most of these laws were passed in previous years, we have only just begun to see their transformative effects. Illinois has received hundreds of millions of federal funds for solar, clean buildings, and more. The state has also begun to roll out its own initiatives, like the Illinois Climate Bank, Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund, green job training centers, and more. Further, these initiatives have spurred billions more in private investment in sustainability.

Unfortunately, the new Trump administration has made it clear they will be attempting to reverse recent progress with and policy that would stop or even roll back funding and rules that reduce carbon pollution in buildings.

Moving forward

Regardless of what happens in Washington D.C., We have been building a movement that is strong enough to continue to make a difference.

Take this fact – since 2005, Illinois has reduced its climate emissions by over 25% . In that time, we’ve seen different administrations come and go in Washington D.C. while Illinois has made steady progress. By taking bold, swift action on the state and local level, we can create major change. There is plenty to do, but plenty that can get done.

Though Illinois has made progress on the climate broadly, we know that 70% of the state’s emissions are directly tied to the building industry, a number that has grown in recent years. No matter how we approach tackling this problem, there is one group that is key to making a difference – building professionals.

People in this industry are already imagining, testing, and building climate solutions every day. Still, we need to move beyond this one-at-a-time approach and think about how we can create systematic change. I believe green industry professionals are uniquely suited to do this.

Being able to share that you’ve worked on a high-performance project you worked on, hired new workers in green roles, or how you’ve saved clients’ money with energy efficiency upgrades is an incredibly strong argument in favor of climate action, especially when our opponents argue that clean buildings aren’t feasible, will kill jobs, and hurt consumers. Building professionals have a voice and credibility that is incredibly powerful, but unfortunately, like I described earlier, policymakers simply don’t know all of the incredible things you’re up to.

Over the last year, Illinois Green has been hard at work to change that. To keep people informed, we launched the monthly Illinois Green Policy Update series. We facilitated meetings with policymakers that allowed our members to share their work and advocate for legislation that supports it. Our Auxiliary Board even hosted their first-ever advocacy training night, which helped our members learn about ongoing campaigns and build skills to support them. In total, we helped over 325 people take action in Chicago, Springfield, Evanston, and beyond.

Twenty twenty-five will be a crucial year in the fight for clean buildings and Illinois Green is going to be working harder than ever to push green policy forward. We’re only a few weeks into the year and we’ve already seen progress made in Evanston and Springfield and have had to defend the Inflation Reduction Act from attacks. These campaigns will continue well into the year and beyond. I strongly urge everyone who cares about clean buildings to make their voice heard.

Here are some ways you can get involved in 2025:

Sign up for our brand-new Illinois Green Policy Update Newsletter , which will bring the latest policy news and action alerts right to your inbox:
If you live, work, or have done projects in Evanston, ask City Council to support the proposed Healthy Buildings Ordinance . Submit comment here .
Keep a look out for our calls to action throughout the year!

Ryan Wilmington

Policy and Communications Associate

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The New Administration and Pushing Local Clean Building Policy Forward: ��Ĵ�ý November Policy Update

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:09:51 GMT

With a new federal administration comes significant changes to the landscape for clean energy, environment, and building policy over the next four years. Key Trump department nominees help provide a sense of the direction we can expect. Lee Zeldin for EPA Administrator, Chris Wright for Energy Secretary, and Doug Burgum for Department of the Interior have set an agenda of broad deregulation and sweeping cuts to government agencies that would significantly reduce the federal government’s ability to set policy, enforce regulation, and administer programs. Building-specific targets include rollbacks on appliance efficiency standards, weatherization programs, and code adoption assistance . Also on the chopping block is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which still has billions yet to be spent on clean energy grants, energy efficiency rebates, and other sustainability programs.

With the table set, a complete rollback of climate legislation is not a foregone conclusion. In August, 18 Republican house members signed onto a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson to oppose any repeal of the IRA, describing the law as beneficial for their districts. Still, government agencies are hedging their bets by distributing as much funding as they can before the new government takes shape. Though President Trump has more direct control over government agencies and administrative rules, there are still challenges that will limit anti-climate action.

No matter what happens at the federal level, state and local action has become even more important in the fight against climate change and Illinois is a national leader on that front. Illinois reduced overall emissions by 225.29 million metric tons of CO2 from 2005 to 2022 , which amounts to a 25% reduction and our progress on greenhouse gas reduction far exceeds the United States as a whole (15%).

From this, it is clear that strong statewide climate policies like the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and Future Energy Jobs Act offer a clear path forward in the face of national uncertainty. These landmark pieces of legislation have created opportunities to push building decarbonization forward by funding clean job trainings, energy efficiency programs, and renewable energy grants. These initiatives are key as building-related emissions accounting for over 70% of the state’s GHG impact and action in our industry is the key towards meeting climate goals.

With a foundation of ambitious environmental laws and the support of key policymakers in the state, there is optimism about Illinois’ progress towards its climate goals. Consider that there is still a magnitude of climate initiatives across the state still underway. Key CEJA programs like the stretch energy codes and clean workforce training centers are coming in the immediate future. The Illinois EPA will be rolling out its $430 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant over the next two years—with $172 million of that dedicated to building decarbonization. The newly formed Illinois Climate Bank has obtained over $395 million in various funding sources to support a range of programs ranging from Solar for All grants to clean building bridge loans .

Keep in mind that those are just some of the current plans across the state. However, there is still plenty left to do. The same report that showed Illinois’ overall climate progress also found that building sector emissions have risen. Organizations across the state, including Illinois Green, are committed to continuing to reach net zero and will fight against any federal measures that damage that effort. Over the next few years, it is up to industry professionals and advocates to take up the fight, build upon the progress that we’ve made in our state, and make Illinois a national leader in net-zero.

Why Improving Building Performance is Key to Standing Out in a Challenging Market

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:27:12 GMT

Hub Q&A: Kurt Anderson, Chief Engineer, 401 N. Michigan Ave.

In today’s challenging commercial real estate environment, owners and operators of large office buildings are looking for innovative ways to bolster the value of their properties. Many are turning to sustainability upgrades, retrofits, and green certifications that serve to improve overall building performance while reducing energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

And while owners and management teams have the final say on such decisions, building operations staff must be brought on board to successfully execute any large-scale sustainability project. Kurt Anderson, Chief Engineer at 401 N. Michigan Avenue and BOMA/Chicago’s 2021 Building Engineer of the Year, attributed the success of his team’s sustainability efforts to a collaborative approach and a focus on continuing education among staff.

“I lean heavily on my team’s expertise,” Anderson says. “The better they understand each building system and individual piece of equipment, the better prepared everyone is to employ sustainability measures.”

Anderson sat down with the Hub to discuss his role in helping 401 N. Michigan achieve LEED Platinum status as well as his strategies for bringing building staff on board with sustainability upgrades—including those who may be skeptical of messaging around climate change.

Question: Why is it important to improve building performance and sustainability in today’s market?

Answer : Obviously being cost competitive in today’s [commercial real estate] market is huge and garners support from all parties involved, but more importantly—it’s the right thing to do. Regardless of which side of the climate change debate you are on, sharing the earth’s resources should be driving everyone’s thought process.

I’ve spoken to building management, and they are finding more and more inquiries from lenders, investors, and owners as to how their assets fit into the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) equation and asking what the onsite teams are doing to get close to the finish line, even if it’s not crossing the finish line.  These folks seem to know what we’re doing to make these continual adjustments to stay current and on the cutting edge of sustainability.

What I understand from the leasing team is that green investments are probably more top of mind for larger space users. For smaller tenants, it’s more of a softer issue—a feel-good alignment with their core values.  They use the investment in these items as a marketing item and a testimonial of landlord’s continual investment.

Q: How do you stay up to date on emerging green technologies and trends?

A : Staying active with organizations like ��Ĵ�ý, BOMA/Chicago and BOMA committees, as well as pursuing all programs afforded to us via utility providers. Also, working closely with Local 399’s training administrator and facilitating outings for sustainability classes for both Local 399 and IIT [Illinois Institute of Technology]. The utility providers offer custom rebate programs, facility assessments, web-based training, and energy calculators. For me, to forward these tools to my team gives them a lot of information and helps explain things at their own level.

Q: How did you foster collaboration between the building owners, your operations team, and the building’s tenants during an energy efficiency project? How did you ensure everyone was working toward a common goal?

A: Being mindful to engage all levels of building staff is important. Top brass clearly needs to support our initiatives, but if we leave essential building staff and/or trades out, we will likely miss many opportunities. Town Hall Meetings go a long way as well. Tenants have great questions and concerns relating to not just sustainability but to the environment we provide while at work. Again, COVID provided many lessons in overlap in what we do and how sustainability goes hand in hand with a safe and healthy work environment.

Bringing building staff and trades to the table before these measures and features are decided on goes a long way in engaging everyone. If you know there is a pending edict coming down and you get on board early, you can help be a part of writing the plan and putting it together. I start a meeting [with building staff] by asking: do you have anything you want to talk about? If you let people speak up first, they have ownership.

Q: What were some of the sustainable retrofit strategies and features that helped 401 N. Michigan Ave. reduce its energy use and emissions?

A: We had an internal Energy Challenge at Zeller, an upgrade to wireless pneumatic thermostats, ongoing commissioning and retro-commissioning, a steam trap audit, and engaged with our utility providers every time they offered to do a facility assessment. The custom rebate incentive program from ComEd is beneficial regardless of if ideas ultimately get the green light.

Wireless pneumatic thermostats gave us control over 650 building thermostats we could previously not “see” but also gave us the ability to use new technology to assist in ongoing commissioning projects previously unavailable to a building this age. So now, I can see the temperature of all the perimeter thermostats and can adjust them if a tenant moves out or has an extended period of time when they won’t be in the office.

Ongoing commissioning affords us the ability to employ the latest technology in terms of programming and control strategies. Additionally, it exposes equipment out in the field that is not functioning correctly—a damper or valve that is stuck can go unnoticed for a long time, resulting in wasted energy and money.

We also upgraded light fixtures and put LED lights in the stairwells along with motion sensors, where the lights go down to 20% but turn on when you walk by them. LED lighting retrofits are very common these days and we retrofitted all mechanical and parking areas years ago, but one of the “last frontiers,” if you will, was when the City of Chicago finally approved an LED fixture that had dimming controls combined with motion sensors that would be allowed in an exit stairwell.

Q: What were the overall results of the LEED recertification? How did the building upgrades improve operations, energy efficiency, tenant satisfaction, and the overall value of the building?

A: During our internal Energy Challenge, we saved over $500,000 in energy costs over the course of three years. The results are clearly defined in utility spending, which is monitored closely. Also, many of the upgrades are closely tied to building automation and controllability of the building’s environment—which affords us the ability to stay flexible and provide a clean, safe environment regardless of the situation at hand.

19th Annual Illinois Emerald Awards for ��Ĵ�ý Announced

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:54:17 GMT

2024 Awardees Reflect Developer Leadership in Laying the Foundation for a Net Zero Future 

Chicago, IL — ��Ĵ�ý is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Emerald Awards for their exceptional work in putting Illinois on a path to 100% net zero buildings. Developer Chris Dillion is being honored for his individual leadership in the field of net zero construction while Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) is the recipient of this year’s Organizational Emerald Award.

The ��Ĵ�ý Emerald Awards were launched in 2008 and today reflect the focus on making Illinois a national leader in net zero actions that reduce carbon pollution. This year, our honorees represent the critical role that both the private sector as well as nonprofit affordable housing developers are playing in decarbonizing the state’s building stock. Each honoree demonstrates how outstanding leadership can raise the bar for the entire real estate development community in advancing high-performance, cutting-edge design and construction.

“This year’s honorees have not only taken bold action to deliver high-performance projects in Illinois, but have served as advocates to encourage their peers to take action as well,” said Brian Imus, Executive Director of Illinois Green. “This recognition is well deserved because they exemplify the two most important qualities necessary to deliver on the vision of making every building a net zero building by 2050—a commitment to collaboration and passion for community impact.”

Chris Dillion, President, Campbell Coyle; President & CEO, Vermilion Campbell

This year’s Path to Zero Hero honoree for individual leadership, Chris Dillion, has earned a well-deserved reputation as the go-to expert in the real estate community for building teams capable of delivering ambitious sustainability projects and advancing high-performance buildings. A true collaborator, he brings together nonprofits, city planners, community builders, and the private sector to catalyze meaningful change. His most recent project, the 124,000 sq. ft. Campus Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, became the first LEED Zero Energy certified project in Illinois.

Chris’s collaborative approach has established him as a leading voice in the green building movement. He uses his project experience to educate others in the industry and is generous with his time, advocating for the changes necessary to scale the adoption of innovative technologies and financing solutions to reduce our dependency on carbon. Notably, he founded the Illinois Green Chicago Sustainable Developers Roundtable in 2017, has served as an advisor to the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG), and was a member of the State of Illinois LEED Task Force. He is also an Advisory Board member of the Building Energy Resource Hub.

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)

POAH will be honored this year as the recipient of the Organizational Emerald Award. POAH is a national nonprofit developer, owner, and operator of affordable rental apartments with a commitment and track record of demonstrating the value and benefit in prioritizing carbon reduction strategies and technologies in affordable housing projects. Since 2008, POAH has built and renovated more than 3,000 mixed-income housing units in the Chicago area as they deliver on their mission to preserve and steward sustainable affordable rental housing for low-to-moderate income individuals and families.

POAH’s most recent project, The Fifth City Commons, exemplifies this commitment. The innovative new affordable housing center, made possible by significant investment from the City of Chicago, features 43 all-electric apartments built in accordance with Passive House, a leading standard in energy-efficient construction. They have worked to showcase the project as a way to educate others in the building industry, within the affordable housing community, and with local elected officials to help encourage others to build on the lessons they have learned.

The project is a reflection of POAH’s decades-long commitment to providing green and affordable housing, always working to build on past experience to go to the next level in sustainability. POAH’s Design + Building Performance Department, led by nationally recognized Vice President Julie Klump, is focused on health, durability, and resiliency for all POAH buildings and integrating energy and water efficiency into new projects and their owned portfolio, working closely with property management staff to maintain each building’s green upgrades and monitor the effectiveness of their conservation initiatives. For example, they were successfully able to achieve recognition from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge program for reducing the portfolio-wide energy and water consumption use intensity of their buildings by 20% by 2020 compared to a 2010 baseline—achieving this three years ahead of their commitment deadline.

POAH is also partnering with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to invest millions into electrification and energy savings in over 1,500 units of HUD-supported housing across 17 properties In addition, POAH has worked hard to expands its use of renewables throughout the state of Illinois, with planned developments to increase their solar generation capacity to a combined 734 kW DC across Illinois properties from an existing generation capacity of 45 kW DC. POAH has also expanded the benefits of third party-owned community solar by facilitating on site resident signups through offers from Illinois Solar For All developers. This effort supports access to electric cost savings from community solar farms for dozens of residents at five properties while supporting renewable power generation in Illinois.

"Healthy, high-performance buildings positively impact the communities in which they are built and operated,” said Annalise Dum, Illinois Green’s Board Chair. “This year’s Emerald Award honorees have demonstrated that developing these projects across any asset type is not only possible, but also critical to advancing broader decarbonization goals and positively impacting communities across the state of Illinois. This is in direct support of Illinois Green’s vision of making net zero feasible, affordable, and commonplace.”

This year, the Emerald Award Ceremony will also be an opportunity to share an update to ��Ĵ�ý’s Net Zero Honor Roll and Watch List , an initiative to raise awareness of the buildings achieving the highest level of green building certifications around net zero energy, carbon, water, and waste.   

The public is invited to celebrate these sustainability achievements at Illinois Green’s annual Emerald Awards and Limelight Celebration on October 17 at 333 N. Green Street in Chicago. Tickets to the event and presentation of the Emerald Awards are available online . For more information regarding Limelight, contact Matt Watson at mwatson@illinoisgreenalliance.org or visit www.illinoisgreenalliance.org.   

###  

About ��Ĵ�ý   

��Ĵ�ý is a membership directed nonprofit organization working to transform the region’s built environment to become ecologically sustainable, profitable, and healthy. To do so, we engage community leaders and utilize member expertise in education and community outreach through targeted programs and initiatives focused around green homes, communities, schools and existing buildings. With hundreds of passionate members and volunteers who lend their time and expertise, Illinois Green provides nearly 75 educational programs, community engagement events, tours and advocacy initiatives each year. 

Net Zero Building Case Study: Prairie Activity & Recreation Center

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:09:19 GMT

Project Overview

Location: Plainfield, Ill.

Owner: Plainfield Park District

Completion Date: 2018

Construction Type: New Construction

Building Type: Public/Government

Certification: Phius + Source Zero

Project Cost: $11,786,000

Project Team

Architect: Wight & Company

Engineering Lead: Wight & Company

General Contractor: Wight Construction Services

Civil Engineer: Wight & Company

Structural Engineer: Wight & Company

Construction Company: Wight Construction Services

PV System Design: Huen Electric

Phius On-Site Verification: EcoAchievers

Performance Data

Modeled Energy Use: 23.29; -2.33 w/ PV

Measured Energy Use: 23.59; -0.83 w/ PV

Window to Wall Ratio: 11.7%

Gross Floor Area: 37,500 sq ft

Energy Modeling Software: IES

Energy Production (size of solar array, etc.): Actual 268,247 kWh; designed 281,278 kWh

Background

For years, the Plainfield Park District held all of its indoor recreational activities within local schools and even leased a vacant bank to house its preschool and daycare programs. The need to consolidate its operations into a single, comprehensive space was clear. The district therefore commissioned Wight & Company to design and construct a new, state-of-the-art recreation center to accommodate all of its programming.

As the Park District was establishing its next master plan, its leadership and Board of Directors wanted to place a greater emphasis on sustainable practices across all areas of their operations, including facility management. They originally aimed to achieve LEED certification for the district’s new recreation center and introduce a slate of simpler sustainability measures like improved recycling practices.

Yet after engaging Wight & Company and exploring various green building measures, the district was made aware of a $1 million grant opportunity from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) that would fund features to help the building reach net zero energy certification. This would be achieved not only through extremely high energy efficiency across all aspects of the building’s operations, but also through the incorporation of 268,247 kWh of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on both the roof and the grounds of the building.

Completed in 2018, the Prairie Activity and Recreation Center (PARC) is located in the district’s Bott Community Park and holds the title of the first recreation center in the U.S. to achieve net zero energy certification. “We were the guinea pig in terms of net zero park district and recreation buildings,” says Carlo Capalbo, Executive Director of the Plainfield Park District. “Net zero wasn’t the first opportunity we looked at, but when it became available, we knew we could become a trail blazer in this space.”

Overcoming Challenges

"Be patient with the Challenges. Some folks are looking for that immediate return, but it takes work."

-Carlo Capalbo

Executive Director, Plainfield Park District

Though PARC successfully completed its energy monitoring and achieved Phius Source Zero certification in 2024, there were significant challenges along the way. In particular, the state of the PV industry at the time created significant difficulties as the market experienced growing pains and setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Solar inverters failed, solar companies were acquired and went out of business, and some equipment warranties were not honored, among other issues.

In addition, a considerable amount of time and energy was spent programming and fine tuning the HVAC system controls. For conventional projects, this level of detail is not required; but because the team was working toward zero energy certification, every bit of operational energy saved counted toward the goal of producing as much as the building consumed on an annual basis.

And even as these issues were resolved or worked around, the district encountered additional challenges during the monitoring period for net zero certification. After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the PV system on the roof did not generate the required power, jeopardizing the district’s eligibility for the remaining $400,000 in grant funds.

However, the project team remained committed to achieving net zero energy. Through ongoing monitoring and analysis, Wight & Company enhanced the mechanical system—yet the PV system continued to fall short of requirements. To address this, the team worked with the PV subcontractor to install a new ground array outside the building, boosting the site’s energy production to the required level.

The Wight team then took their case to ICECF to secure an extension of the net zero monitoring period until December 2023. During this time, modifications to the equipment and systems successfully met the net zero energy certification requirements.

“Wight is proud of being a different kind of firm, and this story exemplifies exactly what we mean by that,” says Craig Polte, Wight’s Director of Construction and the project executive for PARC. He emphasized that being both the designer and builder for this project was the critical ingredient to delivering on the promise of net zero energy.

In terms of lessons for those building owners and developers looking at the cost/benefit analysis of investing in net zero projects, “Be patient with the challenges,” Capalbo says. “Some folks are looking for that immediate return, but it takes work.” For the Plainfield Park District, that work has paid off—despite the roadblocks they’ve experienced, the savings on energy has made up for the up-front costs.

Energy Efficiency

Strategies and Features

The key to balancing the energy generated by a net zero energy building with the energy it consumes is to ensure that the structure is extremely efficient—one that uses a fraction of the energy that another building designed and built using conventional building characteristics in the same climate uses. The predicted energy use for the Prairie Activity and Recreation Center (PARC) is 65% less than for a similar building in the same climate.

So, what are the elements of PARC that contribute to its
energy efficiency?

SITE ORIENTATION

Every building is subject to heating and cooling loads. An energy efficient building must shield itself as much as possible from the elements that heat and cool it within the local climate. By orienting a building so that its narrower ends face east and west and limiting the windows on those facades, designers can reduce the cooling load and related energy use. PARC follows this principle by having its largest windows located on the north façade where heat gains from direct sunlight are limited and comfort from daylight most available.

Super Insulated Envelope

The walls, roofs, and slab at PARC are far more highly insulated than a conventional building of this type. Insulation ratings are measured by R values per inch of thickness. The R values of PARC’s walls are R-34 (high walls) and R-40 (low walls) due to the use of polyisocyanurate, which has a much higher R value than other types of insulation. The insulation of the roofs are R-54 and R-60, compared to a well-insulated roof in a conventional building, which averages about R-30.

The foundation of the building is insulated in two ways. First, the panels that create the walls of the building sit directly on the foundation footing and the insulation runs all the way to the foundation. Secondly, the project team incorporated R-20 rated insulation that extends four feet under the perimeter of the entire building’s slab.

High Performance Windows

PARC has a low window-to-wall ratio, which means that the total area of windows is low in proportion to the entire exterior surface wall—at only 11.7%. This is key to limiting heat loss or gain through the window surfaces, which are less insulated than the walls or roofs. Yet even the windows in PARC’s facade are very energy efficient with a high insulation value compared to conventional windows, featuring a U value of 0.22. On top of that, the building’s windows feature coatings that limit solar heat gain when direct sunlight hits the surface.

Infiltration

While each of the individual components of the building are high performing, a “leaky” building can negate those savings. PARC has been subjected to multiple blower door tests as a part of its Phius certification to prove the building is airtight. Infiltration losses are limited to 0.3 cfm/sf (cubic feet per minute per square foot), making it a very airtight building.

Energy Recover Ventilator

All commercial buildings that are mechanically ventilated have supply and return air. At PARC, all the returned air is passed through an energy recovery ventilator that is used to pre-heat or pre-cool the supply air. Pre-conditioning the supply air reduces the energy required to condition it to the desired indoor air temperature.

High Efficiency Mechanical System

There are two types of mechanical systems at PARC: two large rooftop units that serve the high-volume spaces of the gym and fitness center, and a VRF (variable refrigerant flow) system that is coupled with a dedicated outside air unit that heats and cools the areas in the one-story portion of the building. VRF systems, which move heat through a building using refrigerant instead of air or water, reduce energy waste by modulating the amount of refrigerant sent to each section of the building based on occupancy.

Lighting Systems

The PARC lighting system consists of LED fixtures throughout the building and site that are approximately 40% more energy efficient than the current energy code requires while also meeting the international illumination guidelines (IESNA) to provide the level of lumens recommended for varying types of spaces.

A whole building lighting control system was designed to deliver deeper energy savings by allowing building occupants to more efficiently manage lighting based on occupant use. Control of the system can be monitored and manipulated remotely by computer and it assists building managers in understanding how much power is being consumed by the lighting. The lighting control system also features an astronomical timer which automates the beginning and end of day operations.

Daylight and occupancy sensors have been installed throughout the building to deliver further energy savings. Occupancy sensors are programmed to turn the lights off in a space once a room has been empty for 20 minutes. The lights will automatically turn back on once the sensors detect a person entering the space.

Daylight harvesting, which is a system in which light fixtures are connected to photosensors that dim or turn off the lights when adequate daylight is available, was incorporated into the project as well. At PARC, the light fixtures are set to continuously dim depending on the level of available daylight—further reducing energy use.

Building Automation System (BAS)

PARC features a fully integrated BAS that controls all HVAC equipment. The system has programmed logic to control the space temperatures and operate the equipment as required to maintain programmed set points. In addition, the BAS also allows the user to monitor the pieces of equipment serving the building, diagnose any issues that may arise, and implement solutions for them. Apart from controlling the HVAC equipment, the BAS is integrated with the building’s lighting and power to monitor its daily energy usage and can generate reports to determine and adjust trends if required.

Energy Modeling

Monitoring energy use in the building is critical to achieving net zero energy. In this case, being equipped with the right information helps building managers reduce energy use. PARC has an energy monitoring system that provides data on the following sources of energy consumption: main power, elevator, plug loads, lighting, HVAC, and solar power. Gas use is also monitored across the entire building.

The monitoring system provides critical data about the power usage of the following individual systems: the entire building load, HVAC load, the lighting load, and plug loads. This granular information allows the Park District to make necessary changes, if any one of the systems is using more power than needed. For the first year, data produced from an energy model can be used to compare predicted energy usage to actual energy usage. Over time, the actual energy usage will be much more valuable to understanding the building’s power usage. If a damper gets stuck open, or the lights stay on too long, the building energy monitoring system will show spikes in usage that point to the need to reset the system.

Illinois Green Policy Update: September 2024

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 20:09:30 GMT

Illinois Finalizes Stretch Codes

This month, the Illinois Legislature moved to approve the Residential and Commercial Stretch Energy Codes available for adoption on January 1, 2025. This is the culmination of a years-long process spanning multiple government bodies and the tireless effort of green building professionals and advocates.

Stretch codes, a major initiative of the state Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, give cities and towns across Illinois an opportunity to slash building sector emissions. The stretch codes were developed by the state as a higher-efficiency alternative than the base code, with increasing performance targets over time. The 2024 Residential Stretch Code will provide a 50% reduction in energy use intensity (EUI) from the baseline and that target will grow to 75% by 2032. Now that the stretch codes have been approved, municipalities can realize the benefits of a more efficient building stock.

Research from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that Illinois’ residential stretch codes will lead to significant consumer savings and greenhouse gas reductions. These impacts include:

Almost  $250 in annual utility savings  for the average homeowner.
Projected  return on investment in 10-11 years .
Average  life cycle cost savings of $8,829  for newly constructed homes.
Statewide  CO2 emissions reductions of 14,150,000 metric tons  over a 30-year period.
$3 Billion in statewide energy savings  over 30 years.

Moving forward, Illinois Green is going to continue to work closely with our partners to help get the stretch code adopted across the state. This work will involve educating policymakers on the stretch code’s utility as a tool for building decarbonization as well as providing all stakeholders involved with the tools, education, and resources they’ll need to adopt the stretch codes.

More ��Ĵ�ý Highlights

Illinois ranks #5 in the country for clean energy jobs. According to the E2 Clean Jobs America report , nearly 129,000 workers across the state are employed in the green economy, with most of those employed in energy efficiency roles, with other jobs in renewable energy, manufacturing, and construction highlighted. Nationwide, the clean energy workforce grew three times faster than the market overall.

The green building industry and jobs in clean energy look particularly bright in Illinois thanks to state efforts to leverage the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and implementation of the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. These policies and their implementation have launched new career training opportunities, made billions of dollars accessible for clean energy funding opportunities, and spurred billions more in private investment for green projects.

Chicago City Council is considering new rules to increase green space in development projects and other areas across the city . An ordinance proposes raising the Open Space Impact Fee, which funds the purchase of new park space, capital upgrades, school playgrounds, other improvements in the city. The fee, previously set at $12 per sq. ft., hasn’t been raised since it was passed in 1998 and now will be incrementally increased to $24 per sq. ft. by 2027, with small annual adjustments tied to inflation. Developers are able to receive credits on this fee for including publicly accessible green space in their projects and the fee is charged as a flat $100 per unit rate for affordable housing projects.

Annually, the Open Space Impact Fee generates $2 million for open space projects. On September 4th, the ordinance was recommended for approval by the City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs, and Recreation with a 48-0 vote and can now be officially passed with a full city council vote.

In Other Sustainability News

New state incentives for 2025 will make rooftop solar an easier, more worthwhile investment.
Read more – Chicago Tribune
The IRA puts $4.5 billion into home energy rebates.
Here’s what to know – New York Times
Researchers from Argonne National Laboratory are researching the impact of skyscrapers, urban canyons on heat and local climates.
Read more – NBC Chicago
Impact of climate change on heating and cooling is severely under-estimated, according to new research.
Read more – University of Illinois
Households save an average of $107 on utility bills under Biden Administration standard.
Read more – RTO Insider
How water-intensive are data centers? A mid-sized facility uses the equivalent of 1000 homes’ water use.
Read more - The Joyce Foundation

Meet our Spring 2024 Graphic Design Intern: Tayyab Younas

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:46:24 GMT

Muhammad Tayyab Younas is an award-winning Fulbright Scholar pursuing his MFA in Graphic Design and Visual Experience from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, GA.

He is wrapping up an exciting and productive summer internship as a graphic designer at ��Ĵ�ý. During his internship, he worked on various promotional graphics, website design, logo design, branding, and informational magazine designs. His diverse educational background and professional work experiences encourage him to extend beyond traditional design tools to push creative boundaries and devise unique out-of-the-box design solutions to businesses grow. He loves working on socially driven projects for different causes such as climate change, and other socio-political causes.

Q&A with Tayyab

Why did you want to intern with Illinois Green?

Having an undergrad in Electrical Engineering with a final year project focused on grid connected solar power plants, I was always curious to find better and more efficient ways to reduce carbon emissions and address the climate emergency. This curiosity allowed me to address climate issues and devise solutions through design. ��Ĵ�ý’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions in the state of Illinois was an opportunity for me to not just learn ways of reducing building emissions to zero but also design marketing material that promotes green buildings.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned so far?

For me, the Illinois Green Schools Project is absolutely the coolest thing I’ve learned about. I love that kids are being taught at a fundamental level to consciously make choices that are sustainable and have little to no carbon footprint.

What story are you most excited to share?

I am excited about the Summit and Limelight logo and rebranding project that I was able to execute this summer. The idea was to represent both events — the Getting to Zero Illinois Summit and Limelight Celebration — through an abstract shape symbolizing a renewable, cyclic process, solar and wind energy, and the gradual thinning of carbon footprints until they eventually disappear. After various design ideations and iterations, we were able to create a design that communicated the concept without being too obvious. I’m excited to see it come to life at the event in September.

Where does your passion for sustainability come from?

My interest in sustainable energy began during my undergraduate studies in Electrical Engineering, where I completed my final year thesis on a grid-connected solar power plant and its transmission efficiency. Coming from Pakistan, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, I’ve always been passionate about reducing carbon emissions and finding sustainable energy resources. IGA’s goal of achieving zero carbon emissions in Illinois aligned perfectly with my goal of creating graphic materials for nonprofit organizations working toward social causes.

Where does your passion for storytelling come from?

Storytelling is incredibly important. A single-sided story can create stereotypes, and while stereotypes aren’t necessarily untrue, they paint an incomplete picture of circumstances. My passion for storytelling stems from exploring the multifaceted stories that exist across different cultures. I believe in highlighting the shared human values that unite us, rather than focusing on what sets us apart. In my opinion, the climate emergency is a universal crisis that everyone in the world is facing, and I believe we can unite to combat it together, just as we did with the global pandemic.

What are your goals for your career?

My career goal is to contribute meaningfully to society through my artistic expression as a Graphic and Motion Designer. In the long run, I aspire to have my own design studio (manifestation). In the short term, I aim to learn as much as possible from professionals in my field and through work experiences, continually pushing my creative boundaries and improving myself as a designer with each project.

Illinois Green Policy Update: August 2024

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:47:32 GMT

Two Years of the IRA: Here’s how green building leaders are using it to change the industry

Even though the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is only two years old, it is reshaping entire industries. The Clean Energy Plan in the bill allocated over $361 billion in federal funding to slash carbon emissions. Illinois is uniquely positioned to take full advantage of the IRA in ways that will help accelerate the building decarbonization trend here. The state has been hard at work accessing various federal opportunities and so far has received over $2.3 billion in climate-related funding . Early believers across a variety of sectors have been demonstrating exactly how impactful the two-year-old law can be in Illinois. Here are some of their stories.

Solar For All

Over $156 million was awarded earlier this year to support Illinois Solar for All. This program overseen by the Illinois Climate Bank and administered by the Illinois Power Agency and Elevate, is contributing to the growing solar industry in Illinois by directly connecting low-income Illinoisans with clean energy. Illinois Solar for All helps fund solar projects for low-income homeowners, multi-family buildings, and nonprofits. For those who aren’t able to install solar panels on their homes, the program provides access to savings through the Community Solar projects.

Now, this program is set to get even larger as “a large portion of this funding will directly expand the budget,” says Sarah Duffy, Deputy Legal Counsel at the Illinois Power Agency. “The Illinois Climate Bank will use some of the funding to offer grants for site suitability issues, such as roof repairs, electrical upgrades, and battery storage attached to solar. The Climate Bank will also provide financing tools for small businesses serving income-eligible households through low-cost financing, bridge loans, and other mechanisms to ease the upfront capital requirements of providing affordable solar to income-eligible households.”

Since the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021, Illinois’ solar capacity has tripled.

The expansion of the Illinois Solar for All program ensures that this growth not only continues, but also brings savings, wealth, and resilience to vulnerable communities.

A Green School Model

Omni Energy Partners is leveraging a $15 million Department of Energy (DOE) grant to conduct energy efficiency projects in 20 schools across nine southern Illinois school districts, targeting disadvantaged rural communities.

“The grant objectives include reducing energy use and energy costs, generating sustainable savings for each district—providing healthy spaces to learn and grow,” says Mark Graves, CEO and Co-Founder of Omni Energy Partners. “The DOE funding of the 16 selected team portfolios will create cleaner, healthier spaces at 320 school facilities across 25 states, benefiting 123,500 students and 9,100 teachers.”

Beyond the benefits coming to these communities, Omni hopes to use these projects to create a model for other schools to follow. “We will be working with the trades [unions] and vendors to create awareness through marketing materials on the success of these initiatives. We are also working with community colleges and the trades to interest students in the trades for a career. So, there are some components besides just the improvements within the 9 school districts,” Graves says.

Clean Banking

Earlier this year the Illinois Finance Authority/Climate Bank received over $100 million from the National Clean Investment Fund as a subrecipient of the Coalition for Green Capital, a national network that has taken a new approach to green financing. “The Illinois Finance Authority/Climate Bank plans to deploy its National Clean Investment Fund award to accelerate fleet and building electrification, invest in carbon-free schools, and support community-driven community solar projects, among other initiatives,” says Chris Meister, Executive Director of IFA/Climate Bank.

After the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act refocused the organization, the Illinois Finance Authority/Climate Bank is developing programs to fund sustainability-related projects. So far, the organization has $340 million in federal funding to support its programs , which currently include Private Activity Bonds, C-Pace Bonds, Grid Resilience Grants, and others with more to be rolled out. “The State of Illinois looks forward to using this financing to invest in communities that need it most and further expand our clean energy economy,” Meister says

Revolutionizing the Green Economy

“We're at the advent of the biggest American economic revolution in generations,” says Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2 and Author of Clean Economy Now: Stories from the Frontlines of an American Business Revolution. “Two years ago, we passed the largest climate bill in the history of the world. Not just that, the IRA is the biggest economic policy in generations.”

E2 is a national organization of business leaders and investors who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. E2 has been tracking how the private sector has responded to the IRA. Their findings? Business leaders across all sectors are all-in. According to their analysis , Illinois has received over $2.6 billion in private sector investment from the IRA. Seven projects across the state will create 2,719 new jobs in battery manufacturing, wind turbine manufacturing, power generation, and more.

Connecting the Dots

“The Inflation Reduction Act has dramatically shifted the way that building professionals are thinking about sustainability. There is more interest in healthy, efficient buildings than ever before,” says Brian Imus, Executive Director of ��Ĵ�ý. “We know there’s a need to assist stakeholders in turning that interest to action. That's why we launched the Building Energy Resource Hub .”

The Hub aims to connect building owners, developers, contractors, and other professionals with the resources, education, and training they’ll need to take advantage of this seismic moment in the building industry. These stakeholders often lack the time, capital, or expertise to learn about these resources. The hub will address these challenges by providing technological primers, playbooks, financing pathways, webinars and other educational resources. “The hub will ‘connect the dots’ so that the marketplace can take advantage of these emerging programs,” Imus says.

Conclusion

Though the Inflation Reduction Act is only two years old, it has already had major impacts on the building industry and there is much more to come. The IRA will continue to dole out billions over the next eight years, barring any rollbacks. With this funding, combined with existing state programs like the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, Illinois is set to transform into a national leader in clean buildings.

Breaking down Illinois’ new Climate Pollution Reduction Grant

Last month, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency was awarded a $430 Million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant and we just found out what is in it. Here’s what it means for building decarbonization and professionals.

Of the seven initiatives to reduce Illinois’ building-sector emissions by 33% by 2050, there are three that will be most relevant for Illinois Green members and others in the building industry.

1. Gap Closing and Incentive Stacking Catalyst Fund

Set to receive $81 million over the next five years, this is the highest-funded initiative in the entire grant application and could have a proportionally large impact on decarbonizing buildings in Illinois. This initiative aims to make it easier for building owners to take on energy efficiency, electrification, energy storage, and other upgrades by expanding existing grant and loan programs and filling in the gaps remaining after federal and state incentives. The Illinois EPA estimates that this funding will spur over 10,000 home decarbonization projects.

2. Community Geothermal Planning and Pilots

With $17.6 million the CPRG, the state will develop and conduct a competitive grant and loan program for community geothermal projects. This funding is expected to help decarbonize 1,100 homes across the state but, more importantly, successful demonstrations of geothermal projects could spur a boom in this source of renewable energy.

3. Stretch Code Adoption

With the state nearing the final approval of stretch energy codes , the focus is now shifting towards convincing municipalities to adopt the higher-efficiency standards. This initiative aims to help out by providing over $19 million for community outreach efforts to advise and educate local officials about the stretch codes. Stretch codes are a vital tool for reducing a municipality’s climate impacts as research shows that adopting the stretch codes reduces statewide CO2 emissions by 14.5 million metric tons and save the state $3 billion in energy costs.

Other incentives funded include:

$32.9 million for a clean building navigator program.
$15.6 million to expand clean building contractor training.
$2.6 million for large building owner outreach and a clean building concierge.
$2.5 million to develop a clean building access portal.

We want to know what building industry professionals think about this plan! Your input could help the state roll out these clean building initiatives efficiently and effectively. Share your thoughts with our Policy Associate Ryan Wilmington – rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org .

More ��Ĵ�ý Highlights

The City of Evanston has been awarded a $10.7 million grant to create Building Performance Standards. This funding, allocated by the Department of Energy, will support the city as they develop, adopt, and implement this policy to reduce emissions in existing large buildings and save energy. Read more here .
The Federal Government has launched its first-ever National Heat Strategy. The document sets the goals to improve communication around extreme heat, improve scientific understanding,and develop science-based solutions, implement support strategies, and improve federal heat-related information sources. This work is vital as heat-related illnesses and deaths have risen over the last four years. Read more here .
The Illinois Capital Development Board has initiated proceedings to update the 2024 Illinois Energy Conservation Code. The Base Code is based on the 2024 IECC, but the Capital Development Board allows amendments to be made to the IECC. The Capital Development Board is currently accepting public proposals for amendments. Stay tuned for updates. Read more here .

In Other Sustainability News

Updated codes save money and protect residents and there are millions of federal dollars available to update them, but states (including Illinois) are hesitating to change.
Read more – NRDC
Climate events outside the DNC campus in Chicago highlight progress — and call for action
Read more – Chicago Tribune
Adding 8.5 GW of energy storage could save Illinois ratepayers $3B: Study
Read more – Utility Dive
Learn about Illinois state legislators record on environmental issues.
Read more – Illinois Environmental Council

Illinois Green Policy Update: July 2024

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 21:42:03 GMT

Illinois receives $430 million to fight climate change through buildings

Last week, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was awarded a massive $430 million grant from the U.S. EPA that has the potential to give the state a major boost towards reaching its climate goals by supporting building decarbonization. Estimates from the state claim that the investment could reduce the state’s CO2 emissions by 8.5 billion metric tons by 2030 and 57.4 billion over the following 20 years.

The award was received through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG), a major initiative of the Inflation Reduction Act. Phase I of the program provided state and local governments with funding to develop comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plans that pinpoint challenges to the clean economy and create solutions towards overcoming them. Phase II then encouraged states and municipalities to apply for funding to help implement their plans. In total, 45 states and over 200 local governments created sustainability plans and $4.3 billion was distributed to 25 projects across the country. 

Through this process, the Illinois EPA developed the Priority Climate Action Plan to complement the ambitious goals set in the Climate and Affordable Jobs Act (CEJA), while also building out moreexpansive plans and incentives for building decarbonization. This plan emphasizes the need to clean up the building sector as it is a major contributor to the state’s greenhouse gas output. Residential and commercial buildings contribute over 15% of the state’s emissions and industry makes up another 18%.

The Priority Climate Action Plan sets the goal to reduce building energy use by 33% by 2050 and lays out eight priority measures to achieve it:  

Establish a Clean Building Gap Closing and Incentive Stacking Catalyst Fund.
Create a Navigator program providing consumer outreach and clean building project support.
Establish a Clean Buildings Access Portal to support low-income communities in obtainingfunding opportunities for building decarbonization.
Accelerate clean buildings contractor training to include heat pump installation, electrical upgrades, and more.
Conduct large building owner outreach and set up a clean buildings concierge.
Conduct a public building decarbonization assessment and significantly reduce energy use in public buildings.
Support community geothermal planning and pilots.
Accelerate stretch building code adoption by local governments.

These programs are expected to receive $172 million in support to address emissions from residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Through this grant, the Illinois EPA aims to finance 12,000 home retrofits, 2.3 million sq. ft. of commercial decarbonization, 10 industrial decarbonization projects, and support more worker training programs. 

The state has also been allocated over $115 million for transportation electrification and $111 million for sustainable agriculture through the CPRG. This award adds to a growing list of green building grants for Illinois, including $156 million for Solar for All, $100 million+ from the National Clean Investment Fund, and over $45 million for other Climate Bank programs.

Going forward, the state has two years to develop an action plan and begin rolling out the new programs that will be supported by the CPRG funding. Stay tuned for more updates as this process develops.

Chicago releases updated Sustainable Development Policy

The City of Chicago has completed the 2024 update of its Sustainable Development Policy . This policy helps the city advance its sustainability, resilience, and environmental justice goals by pushing projects that receive city funding, a zoning change, or go through the planned development process, to achieve a higher standard of sustainability in exchange for the benefits they receive. This is the second update to the policy since its creation in 2004.

The 2024 changes to the policy reflect recent advances in building efficiency standards and new points of emphasis like public health and bird-safe design. With the adoption of the 2021 Chicago Energy Transformation Code, many of the strategies in the previous policy had been exceeded by the base code. Overall, 20 new strategies were added, 18 have been modified, and five have been eliminated.

Key changes include:

New energy strategies involving solar-ready construction, building electrification, 40% glass façade limits, and ComEd new construction best practices.
New green infrastructure strategies featuring industrial landscape buffers, naturalized river edges, exceeding river setback or naturalized space, and more.
New public health strategies for Fitwel Certification, air-quality monitoring, indoor air quality, clean industrial equipment, and more.
New waste diversion and reuse strategies.
Higher weights for bird-safe design.
A new sustainability excellence and innovation category.

The 2024 policy has also revised the way third-party certifications are handled. The updates now focus on higher-tier certifications and have added zero energy and carbon options to the menu. Projects seeking to comply through the certification pathway will have a more stringent choice of additional compliance strategies.

As of July 1, the new policy has been fully approved with all new projects seeking approval on or after January 1, 2025 required to comply with the new policy. Find the full policy here .

More ��Ĵ�ý Highlights

A new report links rising energy costs to the fossil fuel industry and utility incentives , despite industry claims that renewables are to blame. Energy Innovation’s analysis finds that average U.S. energy bills have risen 24% since 2010, largely due to price spikes in natural gas and aging coal plants. The report also finds that the increases have been somewhat mitigated by increases in energy efficiency and lower costs of renewable energy. Read more here .
Governor Pritzker has signed the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act into law . The act aims to prevent greenhouse gasses stored underground from contaminating nearby land and water. Additionally, it sets a moratorium on new CO2 pipelines. Read more here .
McCormick Place has begun installing bird-safe window film , following a mass casualty event where over 1,000 birds were killed in a collision in a single day. Chicago remains the most dangerous city in the nation for migratory birds. Read more here .

In Other Sustainability News

A new Chicago program aims to boost active transportation, public health by giving away bikes to disadvantaged communities. Read more – Next City
Stellantis receives $334 million in federal funding to reopen Belvidere plant, build electric vehicles. Read more – CBS News

Illinois Green Policy Update: June 2024

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 21:47:22 GMT

Illinois Advances Sustainability Goals in Spring Legislative Session

Last month, the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its Spring 2024 legislative session. The big climate news from the session was the passage of the Safety and Aid for the Environment in Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) Act. While CCS can be used to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses entering the atmosphere from industrial sources and powerplants by transporting, treating, and then storing the pollution underground, there is a risk of contaminating nearby land and groundwater if these types of projects are improperly planned and implemented. The Act sets some of the strongest protections in the country, which will become increasingly relevant in the future as existing fossil fuel emitters will be required to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas impacts.

Enviromental groups fought for changes to the bill to protect the state’s health, land, and water from leeching carbon storage sites by adding safeguards and placing liability requirements on those who undertake these projects. Learn more about CSS and the new regulations here.

While this was the big climate headline from the 2024 legislative session in Springfield, there were wins that will have impacts on the growth of the business of decarbonizing the built environment.

Workforce Training : The legislature took a step to remove red tape and accelerate the rollout of new green workforce training hubs funded by the landmark Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Lawmakers removed a higher-education accreditation requirement that had halted the implementation of the hubs. They also allocated funding for an additional training hub in Waukegan, the 14th planned across the state. Officials hope that these hubs will begin to open by the end of the year. Read more here .
Leading by Example : Lawmakers allocated millions of dollars and passed a new law to do more to address energy efficiency in state-owned facilities. The state allocated $70 million for the Capital Development Board to fund energy efficiency renovations at government facilities and another $35 million for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as part of the Rebuild Illinois infrastructure initiative. Also, now waiting for Governor Pritzker’s signature is the Outdoor Lighting Control Act which will require state buildings to reduce light pollution and improve efficiency by incorporating timers, sensors, and downlighting systems. Read more here .

Other environmental action from 2024 Illinois General Assembly Session include:

Statewide environmental education for K-12 students. Read more here ;
$70 million for electric vehicle charging and other transportation electrification;
New rules to phase out florescent lighting sales by 2025 or 2026. Read more here .

Additionally, the new Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition platform—a follow up to the transformative Climate and Equitable Jobs Act—was introduced and will be debated further in the fall legislative session.

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The Illinois Residential and Commercial Stretch Code has reached its final hurdle. The stretch codes have been sent to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) for final approval. Currently, JCAR has opened a public comment period. These comments will be considered for any final edits and then JCAR will open a final comment period before voting on approval. Building professionals are highly encouraged to contact JCAR at jcar@ilga.gov to tell the committee to adopt the stretch codes without any weakening amendments.
"Here are the estimated health and financial burdens caused by exposure to pollution from gas stoves: 19,000 annual deaths, 200,000 cases of pediatric asthma and $1 billion in societal costs.” Dr. Juanita Mora, a local pediatric allergist and lung health expert, wrote an op-ed published in the Chicago Tribune where she discussed her experience treating Chicagoans suffering from poor indoor air quality. In the piece she discusses how known carcinogens emanate from gas appliances and devastate the health of the city’s most vulnerable and the necessity to pass the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance. Read the piece here .
A new report shows that electrification will create tens of thousands of new jobs in Illinois, far outweighing any possible job loss. The research from Advanced Energy United found that even pursuing moderate levels of electrification would create over 36,000 new jobs in the residential sector and over 27,000 in the commercial sector. Find the report here .
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has slashed another rate hike proposal from Peoples Gas. In this latest ask, Peoples appealed a previous ICC’s decision that halted an emergency pipeline replacement program. This program, alongside other spending and budget hikes, was put on hold due to significant cost overruns and lack of progress, all while the gas utility saw record profits in the previous year. More here .
Illinois has been granted nearly $15 million dollars in federal funding for an energy efficiency revolving fund program. These dollars will be given to the Illinois Finance Authority Climate Bank for commercial building owners in disadvantaged communities to fund energy efficiency projects. Read the announcement here .
The Chicago Teachers Union is pushing to replace the school system’s aging facilities with healthier, more sustainable schools. The union is hoping to secure heat pumps, solar panels, lead pipe removal, and more in their latest round of negotiations with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). They say that their goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 is vital to protecting their student’s health and the financial wellbeing of the district. However, CPS has expressed concern with the price tag behind these initiatives, especially with current concerns about funding gaps. This year’s contract negotiations are ongoing. Find their Green Schools Platform here .

In Other Sustainability News

Congress passes bill to remove costs, red tape for new nuclear power plants.
Read more – The Hill
Learn how buildings in New York are adapting to their Building Performance Standard policy.
Read more – Canary Media
Electric Vehicle manufacturer Rivian receives over $800 million to expand Illinois factory, manufacture new model in-state. Read more – Bloomberg

Net Zero Building Case Study: The Campus Instructional Facility at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 21:47:33 GMT

Heated and cooled by the largest geothermal energy system on campus

Project Overview

Completed in 2021, the Campus Instructional Facility (CIF) received LEED Zero Energy and LEED BD+C NC Platinum certifications. The project has also achieved net zero operational carbon.

Project Team

Developers: Vermilion Campbell
Architectural Design & Structural Engineering: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
MEP Engineering: dbHMS
Civil Engineering: David Mason & Associates
General Contractor: Pepper Construction Company.
Energy Modeler: DataBased+

The Campus Instructional Facility (CIF) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a 124,000-square-foot center for flexible learning. The building, completed in 2021, has received LEED Zero Energy and LEED B+D NC Platinum certifications, contributing to the University's Climate Action Plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across campus by 2050.

Complete with 23 classrooms, a 500-person auditorium, a cafe, and an open space with flexible partitions, the building serves as a hub for teaching, with a focus on collaboration and new technologies for hands-on learning.

Powered by UIUC’s Solar Farm, the building uses a radiant heating and cooling system, integrated with the largest geothermal energy system on campus. The University partnered with developer Vermilion Campbell in a public-private partnership (P3) project publicly funded through a bond transaction. The University’s Student Sustainability Committee also contributed $375,000 toward the project’s geothermal exchange system.

Public-Private Partnership

As a P3 project, the University hired private companies to deliver the public facility. The Illinois Finance Authority issued bonds to finance the building, while outside firms designed, developed, and constructed the CIF. The financial model allowed the private sector developer to implement ambitious sustainability goals in an innovative manner.

How did the University use geothermal energy to reach LEED Platinum?

Initially the University had sought to achieve LEED Gold certification, but the project’s geothermal exchange system allowed the team to push for LEED Platinum and beyond, all within budget. Prior to the CIF project, University faculty and students had explored the feasibility of incorporating an underground geothermal exchange beneath the Bardeen Quadrangle, which could reduce the overall usage of energy on campus. Upon learning of this research, the project team collaborated with the University faculty and students to implement their vision, developing an expandable geoexchange under one of the most significant campus public spaces.

Designed to illustrate sustainable engineering

As a living laboratory, CIF puts engineering on display. Components like the geothermal heating and cooling system, electrochromic windows, and low-VOC materials allow students and faculty members to experience its sustainable features. “Professors can actually look at the building in a class and point to different components of the building in their teaching methodology,” said Doug Reddington, Associate Director of Real Estate Services at UIUC.

Geothermal energy heats and cools building

The heating and cooling system, comprised of 40 geothermal wells at 450 feet deep each, allow the building to use the ground as an annual thermal battery. The geo-exchange wells, coupled with heat pumps, desiccant dehumidification systems and radiant ceiling panels, help reduce the building’s energy consumption by 65% compared to a traditional building system.

A new approach to on-campus energy production

The geothermal exchange created for CIF is a scalable source of energy, meaning it could potentially support other buildings on the Bardeen Quadrangle, said Chris Dillion, President & CEO of Vermilion Campbell. Currently, the geothermal well field encompasses about one-third of the quad, but as the university renovates more buildings in the future, this energy source could be expanded.

Student committee grant made project possible

UIUC’S Student Sustainability Committee consists of a group of undergraduate and graduate students who allocate $1.59 million annually toward the development and seed-funding of environmental projects. Their fund is financed through the collection of two student initiated fees, the Cleaner Energy Technologies Fee and the Sustainable Campus Environment Fee. The Campus Instructional Facility received $375,000 in support of the geothermal exchange.

Illinois Green Policy Update: May 2024

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Wed, 29 May 2024 21:36:13 GMT

Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Announces New Policy Platform

By Alejandra Rodriguez, Communications Intern

Earlier this month, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (ICJC) released a platform to further state policy in the energy, building, and transportation sectors and build on the progress of the nation-leading Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) .

CEJA was established to reduce carbon emissions from the energy and transportation sectors. It includes provisions to phase out fossil fuels by eliminating emissions from non-public Electric Generating Units and Greenhouse Gas Emitting Units by 2045.

ICJC , an organization of hundreds of environmental advocacy organizations, businesses, community leaders, consumer advocates, environmental justice groups, and faith-based and student organizations, played a significant role in passing CEJA in 2021. The group works toward improving the environment, public health, protecting consumers, and creating more equitable and clean jobs across Illinois.

Of the policies introduced, the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act would phase out the burning of methane gas in homes and businesses, reducing costs, health hazards, and environmental degradation.

The proposal lowers gas bills by updating efficiency standards, requiring gas utilities to steadily reduce their emissions to reach zero by 2050, and requiring the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to embed affordability in all ICC decision making for gas and electric utilities.

The Clean and Reliable Grid Act would accelerate the 100% clean renewable energy goal by reducing barriers to build transmission lines, updating energy efficiency policies, reducing consumer electricity demand, and requiring transparent energy planning from rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities.

The final piece of the proposal is the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act, which aims to reduce the greenhouse gas impact of transportation across the state.

“We must reduce pollution in our buildings, and we must begin to manage the transition from dirty, expensive gas to more affordable clean energy solutions,” said Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva. “We can do this right if we start doing this now.”

A New Federal Rule Could Bring a Renewable-Powered Electric Grid Closer to Reality.

While the cost of energy sources continues to drop and states like Illinois have committed to 100% carbon free power, connecting these new power sources to the grid continues to be a challenge.

Frequently, renewable energy projects are located in areas without infrastructure capable of transmitting energy to the electric grid or in areas without infrastructure at all. State and local governments and utilities frequently bicker about who covers the cost of transmission upgrades, which hinders work from moving forward. More factors in the complex grid equation are projections of growth in demand from more electric vehicles hitting the streets, intense summer heat driven by climate change, and trends toward building electrification.

Research suggests that nationwide the U.S. needs to add 4-7% in grid capacity annually; yet, only 1% is being added annually with the majority of these new projects focused on short-term reliability. In an attempt to narrow this gap, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which regulates energy transmission, has taken several major steps through a rule passed earlier this month.

Order no. 1920 aims to transform transmission planning, permitting, and financing processes by requiring transmissions to plan for future energy needs. The rule requires regional providers to create 20-year plans for future energy needs and the facilities required to meet them. In this process, utilities will be required to justify large transmission investments based on long-term economics and overall cost savings, expand existing infrastructure capacity by reconductoring , and consider grid enhancing technologies.

Additionally, it creates a process for determining what organizations are responsible for infrastructure costs based on the benefits that they will receive from said projects.

This rule continues the momentum from a Federal Department of Energy rule change made last month which reduced hurdles that energy storage, transmission, and solar projects have to jump through during the review process.

If implemented to its full potential, FERC Order 1920 could have a massive effect that amplifies the impacts of other sustainability work. While electric vehicles and appliances are already cleaner than their fossil fuel counterparts, getting new renewable projects connected to the grid quicker will make the energy transition more appealing and beneficial.

More ��Ĵ�ý Highlights

Federal agencies could raise energy efficiency standards nationwide. Energy codes vary significantly state by state with many standards over 15 years old. In a move to bolster efficiency across the country, the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHSA) have proposed raising their minimum standards from the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 to the much more efficient 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2019.

If these rules are adopted, buildings receiving HUD & USDA financing or new homes with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be required to be built to the latest energy standards, regardless of their local building codes. While Illinois and five other states have already adopted IECC 2021 and wouldn’t be affected by the new rule, the other 44 states could see up to a 25% or more improvement in energy efficiency and life-cycle cost savings of up to $41,775 per home with an average payback time of two years.

These federal rules are not a replacement for state and local building codes, yet are projected to impact around two thirds of new construction for both market rate and low-income development, a substantial boon for more sustainable development.

As HUD, USDA, and FHSA consider this change, industry professionals are encouraged to share their thoughts with their Senators . Contact Erin Sherman at for more information.

Gas utility spending could triple rate-payer's charges over the next decade, according to a new report from the Building Decarbonization Coalition. The report found that the state’s gas utility companies have been spending over $1 billion annually on gas infrastructure, which could lead to an $80 billion-dollar stranded asset risk. Unchecked infrastructure spending could lead to monthly gas bills rising by $74 and $651 by 2050.

Provide your input on access to whole-building energy use data. Access to consumption data can help buildings improve performance and unlock funding opportunities. However, many utilities do not provide access to this data creating a barrier to improving sustainability. In a first step towards addressing this problem, the U.S. EPA is collecting input from people in the industry. Provide your comments here!

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure. When it comes to building data, benchmarking is the first step of any energy efficient or retrofit measure.” Illinois Green’s own Katie Kaluzny talked Energy Benchmarking and the future of these initiatives with Calico Energy . Energy Benchmarking requires owners and managers of large buildings to report their energy use and has been adopted by Chicago, Oak Park, and Evanston. Anyone interested in supporting Evanston as they implement their benchmarking ordinance can sign up for our Energy Benchmarking Data Jam on June 13 .

In Other Sustainability News

Illinois set to receive $240 million from Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act to identify, replace lead surface lines.
Read more - U.S. EPA
Learn how four Illinois cities are tackling climate change at the local level.
Watch here – NBC Chicago
President Biden announces high tariffs on Chinese solar panels, electric vehicles in push to bolster domestic production.
Read more - BBC
Over $1.6 Billion has been allocated for infrastructure, with a strong focus on sustainability, under the Biden Administration. What happens to this funding under a possible Trump presidency?
Read more – Politico
The Federal Department of Energy announces over 180,000 EV charging ports have been built nationwide since 2021.
Learn more – Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
House Republicans pass bill that would gut home appliance efficiency requirements.
Read more – MSNBC

Pushing Passive: Affordable Housing Forges the Way for High Performance

Mon, 20 May 2024 21:47:31 GMT

Highlighting many of the best practices at the intersection of green design and affordable housing, The Conservatory Apartments will be one of the largest high-performance, multi-unit residential buildings in the City of Chicago upon completion. While higher construction cost can be an impediment to building sustainable affordable housing, the development team was able to leverage financial incentives to achieve passive house certification through the Passive House Institute of the United States (Phius). By employing several innovative techniques, they maintained a balance between high energy performance and economic efficiency while also providing benefits to the broader community.

On January 25th, ��Ĵ�ý hosted Pushing Passive: Affordable Housing Forges the Way for High Performance . The webinar and tour featured a discussion with Susan King, Principal Architect of HED; Tom Boeman, owner of Boeman Design; and Perry Vietti, President of Interfaith Housing Development Corporation, about their experience building The Conservatory Apartments.

The apartments are located near Garfield Park Conservatory, in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. They will provide all single resident occupancies (SROs) through Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), with 34 of the units being reserved for individuals who were formerly homeless and the remaining nine units set aside for formerly institutionalized individuals.

“It is for people that have been institutionalized, in most cases inappropriately, and trying to bring them out of the state. The idea is for them to live in the community, not an institution,” Vietti said.

The Conservatory Apartments are blended with services through both Debra’s Place and Trilogy and offer one-year leases. They will be the first passive house certified affordable project and the largest Phius certified multi-family building in Chicago.

Meeting Phius Standards with Economic Trade-offs

Building sustainably can be difficult to achieve financially without the right mix of resources. It cost $13.3 million to build the Conservatory Apartments, but the team was able to achieve economic efficiency in many ways.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), PNC Bank, the City of Chicago, the Federal Home Loan Bank, and ComEd’s energy incentive program provided funding for the project. The site used to be a parking lot for a public school that closed in 2013, so the development team was able to purchase the land for free.

Most importantly, passive housing scores a larger amount of Permanent Supportive Housing “points” for the highly competitive IHDA funding, providing a financial incentive to pursue these standards.

King also explained how the updated 2019 Chicago Construction Code allowed them to build with a wood frame. Wood, as opposed to framing materials like steel and concrete, is readily available and cheaper to purchase, which allowed for a strategic economic trade off.

“The key thing about the new code for us was the fact that it allowed us to build the project in wood…because we’re building in wood frame, we’re [going to] save money, and we’re [going totake that money and get triple glazed windows, the highest efficient system we can get for heating and cooling, and extra installation. We can trade-off the structure for the envelope cost,” King said.

WUFI Model and Envelope Design

The Phius standards are target- and location-specific. They are reliant upon heating demand, cooling demand, and the source energy target—a reflection of how much total energy the building uses. The project team used WUFI software to model its compliance with different standards.

A major challenge the team faced was meeting the energy source target, which they were able to achieve by using on-site renewables like photovoltaics (PV) on the roof. Although they did not pursue them, new financial incentives such as government grants and Green Bonds for renewable energy make it more feasible for future projects to also adopt on-site renewables while maintaining their budget.

As the Conservatory Apartments are single resident occupancy, the development team had to be wary of being inherently energy dense, as SROs generally have greater ventilation per person and greater appliance density compared to traditional building types. While originally unattainable, Phius acknowledged the realistic energy use of SROs and adjusted their fixed energy targets to compensate for these expectations.

Shown through the WUFI model, the building performed quite well in heat loss and the heating demand balance, with a 52.4% reduction in heat loss because of the thoughtful insulation and energy recovery ventilator (ERV) uses in the envelope design. Compared to the ComEd baseline model, there was a 29.2% reduction in total site energy use, in which heating, cooling, and domestic hot water saw the greatest reductions.

Takeaways

The Conservatory Apartments set an important precedent in demonstrating how it is possible to build affordable housing that is compliant with the net zero Phius standards, while also being economically feasible. In fact, architects, builders, and engineers can be financially incentivized to do so with the right trade-offs.

The development team utilized many methods of efficiency to achieve their high energy performance while also staying within budget:

Simplifying elevations such as glass finishes aided them in achieving passive house standards.
Experience is important: For the framing, their subcontractor EDON had experience with passive housing, which was helpful when being tested for the pressurization and depressurization mode of the building.
The space for PV was maximized on the roof, which was absolutely needed to hit the source target.
The wall insulation was hybrid, with four inches of rigid foam insulation combined with Batt insulation. Batt was the most economical choice, and the outlet placement in the building allowed for optimal installation practices.
An exterior insulation finish system (EIFS), a non-load bearing system commonly used with wood frames, was not approved by the Chicago Department of Housing and Development (DPD). Despite being a larger building, the development team realized they did not have to use an EIFS to meet passive house. CUPACLAD, a slate cladding with a rainscreen, was instead used for insulation and weather protection.
They used the Knight Walls System, a continuous installation system that was also thermally broken—manufactured with an aluminum frame to inhibit conductive thermal energy loss—to save money with cladding.

Although the initial cost of construction may seem daunting, the efforts of King, Boeman, and Vietti have been more than rewarding.

“In conclusion, we can do this, it seems a little bit like we are building a Cadillac, but why shouldn’t we build better?” King said.

Meet our Spring 2024 Communications Intern: Alejandra Rodriguez

Mon, 06 May 2024 21:00:06 GMT

Our Spring 2024 intern, Alejandra will be wrapping up her internship with ��Ĵ�ý in May. During her time here, she wrote about the intersection of affordable housing and sustainability, covered a city council hearing on the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance, and developed a media master list.

She is a current junior at Loyola University Chicago studying Environmental Policy, with minors in Creative Writing and Political Science. Previously, Alejandra interned with the Lakota People’s Law Project, where she furthered her passion for environmental justice and an equitable, sustainable future.

In her free time, she likes to perform with her school’s percussion ensemble, go to concerts, work toward completing her goal of reading 50 books a year, and write creatively.

Q&A with Alejandra

Why did you want to intern with Illinois Green?

I wanted to positively contribute to meeting the goal of being emissions free by 2050. Illinois Green is a very important organization doing amazing work in the environmental sector.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned so far?

I’ve vastly furthered my knowledge of clean energy systems. I feel more informed about policy and technology surrounding the green building sector—and have especially enjoyed learning about how cool heat pumps are!

What story are you most excited to share?

I am most excited to share what I learned about green and affordable housing through writing about the Conservatory Apartments in Humboldt Park, which showed me that affordability and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.

Where does your passion for sustainability/buildings come from?

My passion for sustainability within the built environment stems from learning about how much of our carbon emissions come from buildings. Everyone needs energy, so it should be clean and accessible to all.

Where does your passion for storytelling come from?

As a kid, I was constantly exposed to the news by my parents and grandparents. Even at a young age, smart media usage educated, informed, and furthered my passions for social causes.

What are your goals for your career?

I’m still figuring out what exactly I want to pursue, but I want to continue working in the environmental sector with green urban initiatives. Once I graduate, I want to get my masters focused on sustainability.

Illinois Green Policy Update: April 2024

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:08:11 GMT

City Council Debates Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance

By Alejandra Rodriguez, Communications Intern

More than 100 clean building advocates showed up in support of the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO) at an April 3 Chicago City Council hearing.

Many supporters of CABO told council members why they believe this ordinance is vital for protecting the city’s health, environment, and well-being, including ��Ĵ�ý’s Policy and Communications Associate, Ryan Wilmington.

“It is clear that the demand is there, the technology is feasible, and these buildings are affordable. Chicago needs to take inspiration from cutting edge market leaders, and not those who want to stick residents with ineffective, outdated technology that makes our residents unhealthy and drains their pockets,” Wilmington said.

CABO was presented at the hearing by Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar, Buildings Department Managing Deputy Commissioner Grant Ulrich, and other city officials. They explained that meeting Chicago’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2050 is pressing, as the last decade has been the hottest on record.

The team faced criticism from Alderwoman Silvana Tabares, who echoed union concerns about job loss. Tovar countered that CABO presents pathways to jobs for women and people of color.

Later in the hearing, Council members questioned ComEd representatives Scott Vogt, Vice President of Strategy and Energy Policy, and Jim Ortega, Director of Grid Analytics, on grid reliability. The alders' main concern was on whether existing infrastructure had the power to sustain electrification through their existing grids. Vogt and Ortega claimed that their grids are built for the summer, when peak energy usage with heavy air conditioning demand occurs.

Less energy generation is needed now in comparison to peak heat in 2011 because of efficiency measures implemented over the last 15 years. They claimed that there is no doubt they can meet increased electricity demand from CABO.

AJ Patton, Sandra Henry, and Sarah Moskowitz then presented their support for CABO, providing perspectives from developers, nonprofits, and utility watchdogs.

Patton is the founder of 548 Development, an energy efficient and solar powered affordable housing company in Chicago.

His testimony centered around the positive market conditions for electric buildings, which are cheaper to build and maintain, as they have lower energy bills than fossil fuel buildings because of the efficiency of heat pumps.

“Our tenants have now received over a one-third reduction in their utility expenses, and I have delivered over double-digit returns to my investors. Just to state for the record, I am a for profit,” Patton said.

Afterwards, representatives of People's Gas voiced their opposition to CABO. Although they offered cleaner alternatives of hydrogen and renewable natural gas from a food decomposition project, these technologies have not been tested. Additionally, these sources will be incompatible with their framework until they complete their infrastructure replacement program, which is already behind schedule and over budget.

When questioned about implementing these sources, People’s Gas failed to find answers for their timelines of execution or how energy demands could be met with these sources.

Though no immediate movement has been made in going forward with CABO, advocates continue to push their support, and the campaign towards clean energy is ongoing.

Regulators to Decide 'Future of Gas'

How can the gas system be decarbonized? Is renewable gas or hydrogen a viable alternative? What should be done about stranded assets? How can we prevent low-income ratepayers from being left behind in the energy transition?

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has brought together utilities, consumer advocates, environmentalists, and unions to answer these pressing questions about the state’s energy systems.

With the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act putting Illinois on the path towards 100% carbon free power by 2050, the state's sustainability efforts have shifted focus to decarbonizing buildings, while also balancing the impact on infrastructure, jobs, and equity. With these key challenges in mind, state officials are working to inform policymakers on how to handle the transition through a series of collaborative workshops .

“We need to get this right. We get one really good shot at this,” ICC Chair Doug Scott said at the opening ‘Future of Gas’ hearing, highlight the importance of the decisions to be made about gas in the coming year.

These Future of Gas’ hearings were initiated after the ICC balked at the People’s Gas proposal for a record rate increase , slashing their request by 25%, halting their pipe replacement program, and requiring the utility to better support struggling ratepayers.

The Future of Gas proceedings will give all stakeholders in the industry a seat at the table—presenting an opportunity for sustainability and building professionals to make their voices heard. The next hearing will be held virtually on Monday, April 29th at 6 PM and will be focused on gathering input from community members on what they want to see in the coming energy transition.

More ��Ĵ�ý Highlights

The International Code Council votes to weaken 2024 Model Code, going against expert recommendations . The new code is still expected to increase energy efficiency in residential buildings by 6.5% and commercial buildings by 10%, according to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, but the Council went against their own rules to side with special interests and remove requirements for buildings to pre-install the infrastructure for solar, electric vehicle charging, and electric appliances. This decision will make decarbonizing buildings in the future more costly and labor intensive.

However, with the 2024 IECC challenges settled, one of the final road blocks for the Illinois Stretch Code development process has been settled. Earlier this month, the Capital Development Board voted to approve the Strech Codes without any major weakening changes. Now, the final step before the codes are ready for municipal adoption is approval from the Illinois Legislature Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Chicago releases draft Sustainable Development Policy Update . This policy would require specific projects in the city, such as ones receiving public funding, to meet new sustainability requirements. Now, the Department of Planning and Development has opened up a feedback period. Illinois Green members are highly encouraged to share their thoughts by the May 15th deadline.
The Illinois Climate Bank is set to receive hundreds of millions for green financing . The Climate Bank , a project under the Illinois Finance Authority, has been named as a recipient of two Federal EPA Grants. First, the Climate Bank was a joint recipient of a $5 billion EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant through a multi-organization partnership with the Coalition for Green Capital. While the Climate Bank’s exact share has not been announced, the funds will be spent on accelerating the investment of private capital on green energy projects in an equitable manner. Later in the month, it was announced that the Climate Bank will be receiving $156 million for the Solar for All program .
Skokie aims to address one of the most challenging issues in green building policy – making decarbonization accessible for renters . The village has partnered with the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy to help develop a program to maintain affordable, energy efficient housing for renters. They will engage relevant stakeholders to develop an incentive program for low- to moderate- income households to implement decarbonization and energy efficiency strategies. Read more here.
Marlene Hopkins confirmed as Chicago’s Commissioner of Buildings . She has been with the Department of Buildings for 18 years, most recently serving as First Deputy Commissioner. Find the city's press release here.

In Other Sustainability News

Block Club Chicago: Mayor Plans To Boost Housing, Business Development By Cutting Red Tape
ABC7 Chicago: Mayor Brandon Johnson moving forward with plan to convert downtown offices to housing
Bloomberg: Biden Rolls Out New Minimum Energy Standards for Affordable Housing
The New Republic: House Republicans Ridiculed into Dropping “Appliance Week”

Key Takeaways: 2024 Women in ��Ĵ�ý Leadership Luncheon

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 21:31:19 GMT

On April 10, Illinois Green convened nearly 200 leaders from the green building industry in Chicago to explore the theme of Fresh Perspectives and consider how we as a community can infuse new ideas and innovations into our workflow to set the groundwork for a greener future.

Our esteemed panelists led a discussion on the major hurdles of decarbonization, the importance of engaging local stakeholders and communities, and how women can inspire fresh perspectives in a male-dominated industry.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

The notion that companies must balance business and climate interests is a misnomer—in fact, sustainable design, construction, and operations offer tremendous opportunities for growth, especially in the workforce.

Globally and here in Illinois, the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect socially and economically marginalized people. Therefore, the fight against climate change can’t come solely from the ivory tower and the corporate C-suite, but must also include a bottom-up, community-driven process that engages the voices of those bearing the brunt of its impacts. Finding organizations within those communities to partner with is crucial.

Though progress has certainly been made, women still face disproportionate hurdles in the workforce—especially in the building industry. Women are also more likely to be advocates for sustainability and decarbonization within their organizations. That means women have to work even harder than their male counterparts to have their voices heard and affect meaningful change.

In most corporate cultures today, sustainability initiatives are viewed as a cost center rather than an opportunity for growth. This means that decarbonization programs are often the first to be cut when revenue dips, and there is less opportunity for advancement and promotion for careers in sustainability. It’s imperative that we within the green building community push for a cultural change at the top.

Unlock the Future of EV Charging for Your Urban, Multi-Tenant Properties

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 21:37:31 GMT

As electric vehicle (EV) rebates and incentives encourage eco-friendly transportation options, it's critical to equip your urban, multi-tenant properties with cutting-edge EV charging solutions.

At Powering Chicago , we understand the unique challenges urban, multi-tenant communities face when it comes to EV charging. Proximity to the power source, multi-user charging needs, existing infrastructure complications, and the need for equitable access can make the transition seem daunting. However, our member contractors are experts in navigating these obstacles, offering tailored solutions that seamlessly integrate EV charging into your properties.

We encourage you to partner directly with Powering Chicago's qualified contractors from the outset of your EV charging project. Our knowledgeable industry experts are leveraging the latest technologies and best practices to overcome hurdles and unlock the full potential of EV charging for your residents. 

Powering Chicago’s electrical contractors are finding innovative solutions for public and private sector charging needs as well as HOA’s, property managers, and the AEC industry. Our qualified electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) experts are able to collaborate during every phase of your EVSE project. They are well-versed in urban multi-user charging applications and can be your guide to finding the right solution for your project.

From solar-powered EV charging ports to innovative curbside charging options, our contractors will work closely with you to develop and implement strategies that not only meet but exceed your community's needs. By collaborating with Powering Chicago, you'll benefit from:

Collaboration and guidance from design to completion for EVSE projects 
Cutting-edge EV charging solutions tailored to urban, multi-tenant environments
Expertise in navigating complex electrical systems and space constraints
Equitable access strategies that ensure all residents can participate
Cost-effective installations that maximize your investment, as well as guidance on available rebates, funding programs, and incentives if applicable.

Don't let the challenges of urban EV charging hold you back. Embrace the future with Powering Chicago's qualified electrical contractors and unlock the benefits of sustainable transportation for your community.

Check out our EV charging installation resources and download our EVSE eBook and informational fact sheets to learn how to get started. You can also utilize our Find A Contractor tool to find a licensed electrical contractor for your next EVSE installation project.

You can also learn more about how to maximize energy efficiency through building retrofitting via our fact sheet here . And for all of your solar electric and energy storage system installation needs, check out our solar resources here .

Elbert Walters III is the Executive Director of Powering Chicago, an electrical industry labor-management partnership within the metro Chicago region, and sits on the Building Energy Resource Hub Advisory Board.

Illinois Green Policy Update: March 2024

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 21:56:53 GMT

Energy Efficiency Progress Delayed

Challenges to the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) may hamper Illinois’ ability to improve energy efficiency—even as the state makes moves to adopt high performance building standards.

Illinois has an obligation to adopt the latest version of the IECC, but some groups have lobbied the International Code Council(ICC) to weaken energy efficiency requirements. This follows the ICC’s decision to revamp their code development process, which gave outside interests a more prominent role. Now, opponents of the code have been allowed to submit appeals past the deadline and without proper examination of their merits.

These appeals have also halted progress on a major initiative from Illinois’ landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA)—the development of Residential and Commercial Stretch Codes, which is keeping local communities from improving efficiency standards.

The delay stems from the stretch codes using the 2024 IECC draft as a reference. Illinois Capital Development Board members, worried that this link could lead to lawsuits, voted in February against approving the stretch codes. The state is required to have the stretch codes complete and ready for adoption by July 1, 2024, but the likelihood of meeting that deadline has become slim.

Research shows that the residential stretch code alone could save the state billions of dollars in energy costs while significantly reducing consumer utility bills. However, municipalities—who are currently waiting in limbo—are unable to provide these benefits to their communities until the Capital Development Board takes action and the stretch codes are approved.

Supporters of high efficiency codes can tell policymakers to approve the stretch codes without alteration or further delay by providing public comment, written or verbal, at the upcoming Capital Development Board Meeting on April 9. Contact Ryan Wilmington at rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org for more information.

City Council to Hold Hearing on Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance

The Chicago City Council is set to hold its first public hearing this year on building decarbonization policy, including the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO).

CABO, introduced by Mayor Brandon Johnson and co-sponsored by 11 members of City Council, aims to protect the city’s health, environment, and financial wellbeing by setting indoor air quality standards for new buildings, in part by banning appliances that emit large amounts of emissions.

Immediately after CABO’s introduction, a group of council members assigned the ordinance to the Rules Committee instead of allowing it to be debated in a Joint Environmental and Zoning Committee as it was initially intended.

The public hearing, taking place on April 3 at 9:30 AM, provides an opportunity to advance the ordinance after this delay. Advocates and detractors of CABO will testify in front of council members and be questioned on the merits of emmissions limits in new buildings.

The hearing is an opportunity to demonstrate that CABO is effective, commonsense policy for meeting the city’s climate goals and protecting residents.

Supporters of sustainable, healthy buildings are highly encouraged to show their support for CABO by attending the hearing. [RSVP Here]

Other Green building news

Governor Pritzker announced his fiscal year 2025 budget, which includes tens of millions of dollars for building electrification and decarbonization. Many of these initiatives stem from the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Take a deeper dive into the proposed programs and other state environmental funding here .
The City of Chicago is currently in the process of soliciting community feedback to inform the 2024 update of its Sustainable Development Policy . This policy is meant to ensure that important projects in the city, like those receiving public assistance, are achieving the highest levels of sustainability possible. The Department of Planning and Development is collecting opinions from building experts, developers, and community leaders and we want to make sure Illinois Green Members have a seat at the table. Make your voice heard by filling out this short survey .
Mayor Johnson introduced Marlene Hopkins as his pick for the new Department of Buildings Comissioner. Most recently, she was the Deputy Comissioner of the Department. City Council will likely vote on her confirmation next month.

In Other Sustainability News

Policy Blueprint: Stretch Codes

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 22:04:48 GMT

To comply with one of the mandates in the historic 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) , Illinois has undergone the process of working with energy efficiency experts and stakeholders to develop residential and commercial stretch energy codes. These codes have been fully approved by the state and will be fully available for municipalities to adopt on January 1, 2025.

Stretch codes set much more aggressive energy efficiency targets than the base code and require readiness for future installation of electric technologies—while offering multiple avenues to meet the new requirements. Stretch codes provide numerous benefits, including allowing municipalities to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in their jurisdictions without undergoing a long, difficult process of developing their own code and maintaining consistent standards across the state.

CEJA requires that the stretch codes be ready for municipalities across the state to adopt by July 2024.

Stretch Code Goals

Stretch codes were developed to achieve significant reductions in Energy Use Intensity (EUI) using the 2006 IECC code as a baseline and will be regularly updated to meet increasingly rigorous performance targets. The 2024 Stretch Codes used IECC's 2024 Residential and 2021 Commercial Codes as the reference for the new codes.

Complying with the Stretch Code

The drafted structure of the stretch codes offers multiple routes of compliance. Owners, developers, and project teams have the ability to decide which pathway works best for them and their project. These pathways include installing high efficiency systems and extremely airtight design, meeting a certain number of energy efficiency credits, or achieving Phius certification.

Residential Targets

50% more efficient by 2024
60% more efficient by 2026
67% more efficient by 2029
75% more efficient by 2032

Commercial Targets

40% more efficient by 2024
50% more efficient by 2026
56% more efficient by 2029
61% more efficient by 2032

Projected Impact

Research from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that Illinois’ residential stretch code proposal will lead to significant consumer savings and greenhouse gas reductions.

These impacts include:

Almost $250 in annual utility savings for the average homeowner.
Projected return on investment in 10-11 years.
Average life cycle cost savings of $8,829 for newly constructed homes.
Statewide CO2 emissions reductions of 14,150,000 metric tons over a 30-year period.
$3 Billion in statewide energy savings over 30 years.

Similar research is being conducted on the impact of the commercial code and is likely to be available in Spring 2024.

Supporting Stretch Codes Across the State

��Ĵ�ý sees the significant financial and sustainability benefits of adopting the stretch codes. However, for the benefits of this policy to be realized, the stretch codes must overcome the final hurdles of the approval process—sign-off by the Illinois Capital Development Board and State Legislative Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. We have—and will continue—to ask these government bodies to approve strong and effective stretch codes without delay.

Once the codes are approved, Illinois Green is committed to advocating for municipalities to adopt the stretch codes and supporting those that do. We envision the Building Energy Resource Hub as a valuable resource for stretch codes adoption and implementation.We are in the process of working with other organizations to develop tools for accessing education, training, financial assistance, and other avenues of support to make stretch codes adoption and implementation smooth across the state.

If you are interested in advocating for stretch codes adoption, contact Ryan Wilmington at rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org.

Meet Illinois Green’s 2023 Outstanding Volunteers

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:46:34 GMT

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Volunteer Awards! These six volunteers have gone above and beyond in their work with Illinois Green. They will be receiving their awards in-person at the 2024 Annual Meeting on February 8th. Click here to register!

Mohammad Abbasi

Senior Consultant

WSP

For the past two years, Mohammad has worked with staff and Board Members to develop Illinois Green’s ED&I Mentorship program, where Illinois Green members are matched with college students of color interested in a sustainability career. With over 30 students between the two cohorts, this has been an important program to build up the bench of future green building leaders and diversify the workforce. Mohammad also designed, moderated, and hosted our first hybrid event – Decarbonization Through People: Intersections of Sustainability and Wellness. Thank you Mohammad for your unwavering commitment to our community.

Q&A

Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

I enjoy being part of different communities and Illinois Green is by far my most favorite one by agenda, people, and the vision.

What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

Often time it’s easy to see the impact and the reward since our industry evolves so fast so when you do a volunteering activity, you see it’s impact sooner rather than later.

What is your volunteer highlight from 2023?

Definitely the mentorship program and the Decarbonization through People panel!

Emerson Dority

Superintendent

Gilbane Building Company

Emerson is a returning Green Schools Mentor who has gone above and beyond providing support to the Illinois Green Schools Project, inspiring multiple Gilbane team members to join him and participate in the program. Emerson holds the record for most in-person visits to his Green Schools Mentees; taking the time to meet with the students and lead assemblies at 4 different schools in Glenn Elyn’s District 41, to share information about water conservation and the local lead pipe replacement project. We are so grateful for Emerson’s enthusiasm and dedication to our program. Thank you, Emerson!

Q&A

Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

As a Builder myself, along with the concept and responsibility of building Green projects being one reason for why I volunteer with Illinois Green, another reason is that this platform allows additional support, awareness and exposure to young minds that as a parent myself appreciate and wish was available for myself at my younger age, and my own children at the time of their own developing in the K-12 learning environments. To have this program of invested and committed individuals that share their passion through this volunteering effort and vehicle of Illinois Green has so much value to Teachers, Students, Parents and so much more. To be a part of it is giving back what cannot be measured but is my hope that the value extends past the program for all involved and built environments yet to come.

What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

I thoroughly enjoy engaging with the young ones and gaining the insight from our future builders, teachers and leaders. The viewpoint from their lens is always the greatest combination of funny and smart, so much that I have no problems admitting that I am NOT smarter than a 5th Grader! They have some interesting solutions and even see some issues from an interesting perspective to solve as well. It is a joy all around.

What is your volunteer highlight from 2023?

My volunteer highlight from 2023 was that my first year of involvement and introduction to Illinois Green was met with tumbleweeds and echo filled virtual rooms so to speak due to lack of participation and engagement from our selected school district, we just could not connect for whatever the reason. The time was just passing along, and we were getting so worried that we would have to just give up hope on the year….and then we got some support from Glen Ellyn District 41 Science and Innovation Coordinator, Nick Papineau and a couple of great Parent Volunteers, Jacquelyn Casazza and Karen Shea, and then we got more from the one school selected and then before it was over we were able to reach 4 schools at 3rd and 5th grade levels totaling close to 500 students! The coordination was effective and the participation was energetic, engaging and thrilling to see unfold right before our eyes! It was also so inspiring to have such a committed group from Team Gilbane to work with that did not give up and see the value of the time they shared for the results that we all shared so much joy in completing. The pictures of the water tower poster challenge submissions from the students were THE BEST!!! A bonus highlight was probably the day we came in for one presentation and it actually was the same day as one of the school spirit week dress up events, Hawaii Day, and Team Gilbane jumped right into character, even sporting some leis and snorkels, it was awesome!

Brianna Galvan

Commissioning and Energy Engineer
Baumann Consulting

In Brianna’s first year on the Auxiliary Board, she provided crucial support for the success of the 3rd Annual Race to Net Zero 5K. Her organizational and leadership skills have led her to be the Fundraising Chair for 2024. She is also a returning Green Schools Mentor, helping schools in Illinois accomplish amazing things like a shoreline restoration in Libertyville and streamlined waste management at a Chicago elementary school. We are so thankful for all the ways Brianna shares her time and expertise with our community.

Q&A

Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

I volunteer with Illinois Green in the hopes of making my local community a more sustainable and healthier place for all. Illinois Green has a great vision and strategic plans to get there. It is a pleasure to be a part of something bigger having such a positive impact in any way that I can.

What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

I enjoy volunteering with Illinois Green because I get to interact with other passionate, sustainability-focused individuals. Volunteering as a Green Schools Mentor, I have had the pleasure of seeing students’ excitement for sustainability. Their willingness to learn and work to make their schools and communities a better place is very rewarding. Volunteering on the Auxiliary board has helped foster many strong relationships with other young professionals.

What is your volunteer highlight from 2023?

Volunteering with the Auxiliary board to put on our 3rd annual Race to Net Zero 5k & Fundraiser. Regardless of the heat, getting to work with the Association House of Chicago to raise $9,000 was worth it!

Also, working with Libertyville High School. Their proposal for the shoreline restoration project gave me hope for the future!

I vy Klee

Auxilary Board Member

In addition to being one of our most dedicated members, Ivy led the Auxiliary Board’s brand new policy committee. Ivy spearheaded this latest initiative to help engage our volunteers in advocacy work. She led her fellow members of the committee in the planning and execution of a tour of Oak Park’s new, net zero Community Recreation Center. Ivy and the committee coordinated with the project team, developed the event’s agenda, and sent numerous invites and follow ups. This hard work resulted in a highly successful event that helped educate policymakers from around the area about the benefits of net zero construction. Thank you, Ivy!

Q&A

Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

I volunteer with Illinois Green because this group of people is inspiring! The staff and the volunteers are wonderful people to work with and learn from. Illinois Green has given me the opportunity to become confident in my networking and professional development skills, and I get to participate in meaningful, fulfilling work with IGA.

What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

I enjoy learning about state-of-the-industry practices and credentials during the educational sessions. Events like the Sustainability Credential Soup Sessions every year are particularly fun.

What is your volunteer highlight from 2023?

My volunteer highlight for 2023 was joining policymakers for a tour of the net zero Community Recreation Center in Oak Park. It was fantastic to talk with elected officials about the importance of these high performance buildings in communities.

Dan Moring

Project Manager

Slipstream

Dan has played a significant role in identifying and developing educational programs for Illinois Green through his years of commitment to our Programs Committee. His positive attitude, can-do spirit, and unflappable nature make him an invaluable asset to the committee and have resulted in his recent promotion to committee co-chair. In 2023 alone, he personally directed the creation and development of 2 programs: Leading The Charge: Policy and Design for EV Adoption and Constructing Connections: Developing Chicago’s Clean Energy Workforce. Combined, those programs reached an audience of 338 people, sharing important concepts for the future of sustainability in Illinois. Thank you, Dan!

Q&A

Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

To connect with smart, interesting, and friendly green building professionals who share a passion for making the world better through design.

What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

Nerding out while having fun with a purpose. Sharing and gaining perspectives on important issues from very thoughtful and talented professionals while building relationships.

What is your volunteer highlight from 2023?

Touring the Inherent factory and hearing from the (badass) women collaborating to build homes, neighborhoods, and livelihoods!

Luke Rossi

Director

Modern Energy

In Luke’s second year on the Auxiliary Board, he led the Fundraising Committee in raising nearly $10,000 for the Illinois Green Schools Project. Luke is a true asset to the Auxiliary Board, effectively delegating work to make the 3rd Annual Race to Net Zero 5K the most successful and highest attended ever, with over 70 runners turning out to Humboldt Park last July. We look forward to watching Luke support our mission as the Professional Development Chair of the Auxiliary Board in 2024. Thank you Luke, for your commitment to supporting Illinois Green’s mission!

Q&A

Why do you volunteer with Illinois Green?

Climate change is a global concern that requires immense local action. And in Chicago, buildings alone account for 70% of citywide carbon emissions. Volunteering with Illinois Green enables me to actively address these emissions by supporting an organization committed to a more sustainable built environment across the state.

What do you enjoy about volunteering with Illinois Green?

Illinois Green rightly acknowledges that building decarbonization is inherently an interdisciplinary effort. Progress is hindered when sustainability professionals from diverse backgrounds cannot seamlessly partner and collaborate. Illinois Green addresses this challenge by fostering a community of diverse local professionals united by common sustainability objectives. I have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with this community, where I've connected with individuals possessing expertise very different from mine yet still sharing a mutual passion for sustainability in our city.

What is your volunteer highlight from 2023?

Through my participation on the Auxiliary Board, I had the opportunity to help organize the Race to Net Zero 5K & Fundraiser this past summer. Not only was the event successful in achieving our fundraising objectives, but the day itself ended up being a wonderful way to spend time with fellow IGA members and other sustainability-minded people in our community.

Welcome from our 2024 Board Chair

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:17:31 GMT

2023 was a landmark year for ��Ĵ�ý and net zero buildings. In 2024, it is critical we seize the next opportunity to grow our impact!

Last year with your help, ��Ĵ�ý’s events and programs reached over 4,000 people. We redoubled our efforts to advocate for building decarbonization policy – including pitching our support of electrification to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. We launched Illinois Green’s biggest project yet – the Building Energy Resource Hub (“the Hub”) , a one-stop-shop for information, guidance, and training on energy efficiency.

Given this momentum, it is an honor to be stepping into my role as 2024 Chair of the Board of Directors. I’m thrilled to be here at such a pivotal time – in our industry and in our world. Right now:

Chicago is on the verge of introducing bold new policies for building decarbonization .
More buildings than any prior year were certified net zero energy in 2023 .
Illinois Green’s membership has surpassed a 5-year peak, representing a catalyst of interest in green building knowledge and community.

Our achievements to date demonstrate it’s possible to build the sustainable future we desperately need.

Given our recent achievements, I look forward to the organization accelerating in three key areas:

Fostering a strong, diverse network of building experts and sustainability advocates,
Educating policymakers across the state on the importance of building decarbonization, and
Turning the Building Energy Resource Hub into a state-of-the-art tool for implementing energy efficiency.

Now, more than ever, I ask that you get involved with Illinois Green — attend one of our more than 50 education & networking events (like my personal favorite, the Women in Green Leadership Luncheon), bring a colleague, and meet someone new. I am constantly sharing how Illinois Green is the best organization to get involved with – professionally and personally – and I know many others feel the same. Join us and see for yourself the networking, collaboration, inspiration, and positive impact that can be made.

Thank you for all you have done – and all you will continue to do – to strengthen our ��Ĵ�ý network. The work we do together is critical to support our path to a decarbonized, healthy, resilient, and equitable future for all.

I look forward to capitalizing on our momentum in 2024 and beyond – and I hope you do too.

Onward!

Sincerely,

Annalise Dum

2024 Board Chair | ��Ĵ�ý

North America Sustainable Buildings Practice Lead | JLL

Chicago to Introduce Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 20:51:57 GMT

CHICAGO – Today, at a press conference at City Hall, Alderwoman Maria Hadden of Chicago’s 49th ward announced that Mayor Brandon Johnson will be introducing an ordinance at Wednesday's City Council meeting to set decarbonization measures for all newly constructed or majorly renovated buildings.

"Too many Chicagoans are having trouble paying their gas bills, and too many families are exposed to chemicals that cause cancer and asthma when burning gas in their kitchens. That is why we are taking the first step towards making how we heat our homes more affordable and making indoor air safer for every Chicagoan," said Mayor Johnson in a statement about the ordinance.

The Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO) would eliminate harmful natural gas emissions by setting an indoor emissions limit banning the combustion of fuels that emit more than 25 kg/btu – effectively requiring all new construction to switch to clean power sources like electric or other high efficiency systems. The proposed ordinance would provide exceptions to specific systems including for commercial cooking, emergency backups, and more.

The introduction of the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance stems from the 2023 Chicago Building Decarbonization Working Group Recommendations Report , the work of 53 technical experts, civic leaders, and community stakeholders across the city. It is also the culmination of years of grassroots advocacy work from members of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition.

Addressing the climate impacts of Chicago’s built environment is vital towards meeting the city’s climate targets, as 68% of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the buildings sector compared to 22% across the state and 29% nationwide. This ordinance takes the much needed first step in ensuring that new construction does not exacerbate this impact.

While the push for increased electric use has raised questions around grid capacity, research into long-term grid reliability finds that Chicago’s is among the lowest risk in the nation. Furthermore, COMED has been researching scenarios to meet increased demand, while also achieving the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.

A recent report by E2 found that 12,000 Chicagoans work in clean energy, more than double the number of fossil fuel workers. Passing CABO and electrifying new construction in Chicago would expand the opportunities for the electricians, HVAC installers, geothermal technicians, and workers graduating from the two clean job training centers coming soon on Chicago’s West and Southwest sides.

Switching away from gas and adopting electric systems would also save homeowners in Chicago a significant amount of money. A study by NRDC shows that the average Chicago homeowner would save up to $20,000 over twenty years by fully electrifying their home.

Investing in clean buildings is also an investment in public health. Gas-burning stoves are linked to over 21% of childhood asthma cases in the state. Other pollutants from natural gas are linked to elevated risk of cancers like leukemia.

��Ĵ�ý commends this initiative towards making Chicago a leader in building decarbonization. This ordinance represents a crucial first step towards that goal. CABO aligns the Chicago with other cities across the nation and state who have taken bold steps for human health and the future of our built environment including New York City and the Village of Oak Park. We strongly urge Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago City Council to advance the city’s carbon reduction goal, protect the health of its residents, and support the electrification workforce by passing the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance.

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��Ĵ�ý is a nonprofit, mission driven organization working to advance green buildings and sustainable communities for all. Driven by members from within the building industry, we advance our mission through education, policy, and community outreach. Learn more at www.illinoisgreenalliance.org

Net Zero Building Case Study: Countryside Municipal Complex

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:08:36 GMT

Combining Classic Architecture with Modern, Sustainable Design

Project Overview

After 49 years of use, the City of Countryside decided to replace their previous City hall with the new, net zero Municipal Complex. The project achieved Zero Energy Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and LEED v4 Gold Certification.

Project Team

Owner : City of Countryside
Architectural Design, Interior Design, Mechanical & Structural Engineering : Dewberry
Landscape Architect : Hitchcock Design Group
Civil Engineering : Eriksson Engineering Associates
Construction Manager : Frederick Quinn Corp

The prairie-style City of Countryside Municipal Complex meets net zero energy standards while fulfilling the needs of a public facility and battling the fluctuating Illinois weather. As a mixed-use combined facility, the building houses the City of Countryside municipal administration and police department. Located on a Route 66 intersection, the building serves the surrounding community and aims to revitalize the corridor.

The all-electric building is powered by a 638-panel solar array across the rooftop and police vehicle carports. The system produces a combined 275.2 MWh per year and delivers excess power directly back to COMED in times of peak production. It also uses (32) 450-foot-deep geothermal wells with a heat pump system to meet the building’s heating and cooling demands.

Initially, Countryside’s goal was to achieve LEED Silver certification. During the design process, the team pursued energy credits focusing on creating a tight building envelope, using passive design strategies, and making mechanical systems as efficient as possible. Eventually, the team realized that these features brought them very close to net zero energy and all they needed to add to the design was a solar array. The design team pitched the idea of a fully net zero energy building to the City and received enthusiastic support to go for it.

Expanding space for community needs

The old City Hall was cramped after five decades of growth in Countryside. The City conducted a space-needs analysis which found that they needed twice as much room as they currently had. The new facility provides 34,000 square feet of space for the City and police department.

Financing the Net Zero Premium

The City of Countryside recieved a $1 million grant to incorporate rooftop solar into the design from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. This funding helped push this project from a LEED Silver certified project to a certified net zero building.

Meeting net zero in prairie-style architecture

This building’s prairie-style architecture is unusual for a net zero project, as the large windows, open spaces, and overhangs associated with the style make it difficult to meet a low energy demand. Every single window, doorway, and angle complicates the building envelope and increases the potential for energy loss.

City of Countryside loved the design before they decided to pursue net zero goals. When the team began to discuss making this project net zero, the City maintained that they wanted to do this while keeping the design they fell in love with. Transitioning the original building design to a net zero one was a challenge in the design & construction process, but the project team made it happen through a variety of strategies including adding solar power and geothermal systems, incorporating passive design strategies, and ensuring the air filtration rate of the building’s envelope was 2 times better than the energy code requirements.

A Full-scale Test run

Due to the number of complex intersections and overhangs incorporated into the prairie-style design, there were concerns about potential leaks in the building’s envelope. If a gap was left during the building’s construction, the associated energy loss would make it impossible to reach net zero. To avoid these losses, the engineering and construction team built full scale mock-ups of the most critical sections and conducted a blower door test, repeating the test until they could assure a tight envelope during the actual construction phase.

Setting an Example

The City of Countryside’s decision to pursue net zero energy was not driven by financial return, as the City does not pay for energy due to their utility agreement. Instead, their intent was to create a leading facility that demonstrates their commitment in the fight against climate change and show that the public sector can be leaders in this movement. By going above and beyond in making their Municipal Complex net zero energy, the City of Countryside hopes to inspire other governments and members of the private sector to take ambitious actions to make their local facilities more sustainable.

Educating the Public

The building integrates educational displays on energy use throughout the facility (a requirement of the ICECF grant). The project takes the complex concepts and designs of sustainability, energy efficiency, and net zero and turns them into materials that are easily digestible for all ages and levels of familiarity.

A Letter from our Executive Director – Celebrating 2023

bimus@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Brian Imus) — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 21:02:18 GMT

Dear valued partner,

The progress this past year makes me more excited than ever about our big bold vision to decarbonize every building in Illinois. There has been unprecedented momentum in making Illinois a recognized national leader in net zero building design, technology, and operations.

My optimism is rooted in the amazing community of members, partner organizations, allies, and volunteers that make Illinois Green’s work possible every year. Thank you!

A few of my favorite highlights from this past year

The Getting to Zero Illinois Summit included over 200 attendees . The program allowed for dialogue with owners, operators, and designers of net zero buildings and concluded with a standing room only Emerald Awards Ceremony recognizing trailblazers advancing net zero in Illinois.
The Building Energy Resource Hub was launched . With the support of partners like Elevate, BOMA Chicago, the Illinois Finance Authority, ComEd, and the City of Chicago, this new project will better serve building professionals and owners with the resources and tools they need to meet our region’s climate goals.
Over 250 building professionals voiced support for decarbonization policy . The call to action has encouraged Mayor Johnson to consider new policies like a building performance standard for existing buildings and an all-electric policy for new construction. Meanwhile, Oak Park passed the first-of-its-kind building decarbonization policy in Illinois with implementation support from Illinois Green’s Building Energy Resource Hub.
30 schools enrolled in the latest cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project .Schools from Carbondale to Libertyville are participating and will implement a sustainability project with support from Illinois Green mentors.
The Auxiliary Board hosted the third annual Race to Net Zero 5K . The event, organized by our young professional leaders within our membership, was successful in raising nearly $10,000 to support this coming year’s green schools sustainability projects.
Over 3,600 people attended an Illinois Green event this year . With the help of our volunteer-led Programs Committee and support of our partners, we provided education on the latest trends and technologies and networking with other professionals.

Reflecting on this work, I’m reminded that Illinois Green is a community. You make this work possible, and I’m grateful for your dedication, support, and partnership.

I’m looking forward to the year ahead and the opportunity to build on the success and momentum from this past year.

With Appreciation,

Brian Imus
Executive Director
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P.S. — This year we were thankful to add three new staff members to our team. Miranda Wright (Education & Engagement Manager) in April, Ryan Wilmington (Policy & Communications Associate) in July, and Kindy Kruller (Senior Program Manager) just last week! It has been truly an inspiring year of growth for our staff and our community.

Welcoming Our New Board Members

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:23:19 GMT

This year the ��Ĵ�ý Board Elections Committee are pleased to present the results of this year's Board of Directors elections. The Board of Directors guides Illinois Green's strategic vision — to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois by 2050 is net zero.

Illinois Green welcomes six members to the board - Royce Cunningham, Amina Helstern, Owen Hull, Elena Savona, Sandrine Schultz, & Sumayyah Theron!

Royce and Elena will be joining as re-elected members while Amina, Owen Sandrine, and Sumayyah will be joining as newly elected members. All will serve for a two-year term, 2024-2025.

The Board Elections Committee would like to thank all of the members who submitted their names for consideration and all of the members who cast a ballot.

Royce Cunningham, LEED AP BD+C, BPI BA

Owner, Founder, and President

ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES GROUP, INC./GREEN ENERGY IN MOTION, INC.

Confession No.1.

I hate politics nearly as much as I hate Environmental Injustice.

Confession No. 2

I am a 71 y/o Black man in America.

I have seen and survived it all:

Poverty, gangs, war, teen parenting, and much, much more.

I now have 5 grandkids and 5 great-grandkids, so for me the stakes are high.

I currently live less than a mile of the public housing block where I grew up along with some 1,000 families and about 5,000 other victims of deliberate Environmental racism. My family, my neighbors, and me have been exposed to emissions from leaded gas vehicles, lead in our drinking water, and LBP on our wall surfaces; as well as Asbestos (VAT) in our floor tiles and NO2 from railway traffic moving thru our neighborhoods at a rate 6 times that of other major urban centers. My surviving former neighbors and me are dying at a rate in excess of the national norms.

In my sunset years, I am on a mission to evangelize and demand Environmental Justice, Education, Awareness, and Outreach to Urban Chicagoland.

I am currently designing Net Zero high-density SF new construction and retrofit housing, and NZ hospitality buildings. I enjoy teaching solar panel installation with CUL and IGW to the disadvantaged and underserved. I hold a BARCH IIT/87, and am active in several local community organizations.

Learn more about Royce on his LinkedIn profile.

A mina Helstern, LEED AP ID+C, Fitwel Ambassador, NCIDQ

Senior Regenerative Design Advisor

Perkins&Will

Amina Helstern is a Senior Regenerative Design Advisor at Perkins&Will where she oversees high-performance energy and carbon analysis, material research, health and well-being initiatives, and resilience strategies. Trained as an architect, Amina incorporates environmental strategies into the earliest phases of the firm’s corporate interiors, residential, mixed-use, K-12 education, branded environments, sports and recreation, and affordable housing projects. A member of Perkins&Will’s Living Design Leadership Council, Amina works with other experts in design, sustainability, and technical execution to refine the strategic direction for the firm and, by extension, the industry. She has developed numerous tools and resources for project teams and clients to track quantitative and qualitative metrics, resulting in more positive environmental outcomes. Amina is a LEED AP, a Fitwel Ambassador, and has experience with Enterprise Green Communities. She is actively involved with Perkins&Will’s Material Performance and Human Experience research labs. She was part of the research team that released the “Healthy Affordable Housing: The Toolkit” and is currently working on an ASID Foundation grant to develop the Public Repository to Engage Community & Enhance Design Equity tool, which will help designers integrate and translate public health data into design decisions. Amina is a 2023 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Leader in Sustainability.

Amina is enthusiastic about joining the Board of Directors because it aligns with her values, offers a platform for leadership and influence in sustainable practices, and allows her to actively contribute to an organization and a cause she deeply believes in, making a broader and lasting impact on our city and community. Amina would encourage cultivating inclusive leadership traits such as empathy, active listening, and open-mindedness. Amina looks forward to working with other accomplished professionals, including fellow board members, industry experts, and executives to impact the organization itself but also on our city and green building community.

Learn more about Amina on her LinkedIn profile.

Owen Hull

De velopment Manager

Lendleas e

Owen Hull is a Development Manager at Lendlease. With over 10 years of experience in the real estate finance and development industry he has worked across a wide range of asset classes with a focus on multifamily residential. In his current role with Lendlease, Owen leads development activities at Southbank, a 7-acre multi-phase masterplan located in the South Loop. Serving as project sustainability lead, he has been instrumental in the development and implementation of proprietary low embodied carbon concrete in addition to achieving numerous project certifications including LEED Gold, FitWel and ENERGY STAR. Beyond his professional commitments to sustainability, Owen provides broad development oversight working across the full project life cycle with a broad array of partners from all corners of the industry including architects, engineers, general contractors, property managers, lenders and investors. Prior to joining Lendlease, Owen worked in the Real Estate Advisory Group of Duff & Phelps, providing advisory and valuation services on complex portfolio transactions. He is an active member of the Wisconsin Real Estate Alumni Association and the Urban Land Institute, currently serving on the Climate Ready Chicago Taskforce.

Owen became a member of Illinois Green in 2019, volunteering with the Auxiliary Board and has held various leadership roles, most recently serving as Co-Chair from 2022-2023. During his time with the Auxiliary Board, his focus has been towards fundraising and governance, driving significant growth in total dollars raised and implementing structural enhancements, particularly in regard to recruitment and elections with an emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion. Owen believes that his demonstrated commitment to green building and deep ties to the development community will allow him to serve as a crucial link for Illinois Green to property owners, managers and decision makers to foster the growth of the organization and advancement of its mission and vision.

Learn more about Owen on his LinkedIn profile.

E lena Savona

Director of Federal Partnerships

Elevate

Elena Savona is an expert in energy and sustainability and is passionate about equitable climate action that brings the benefits of clean energy to all. In her 20+ years of experience in this industry, Elena has led initiatives ranging from energy and sustainability plans to management of energy efficiency and solar programs.

Elena is the Director of Federal Partnerships at Elevate , a Chicago-based nonprofit. In this role, she is responsible for Elevate’s federal and public sector engagement, overseeing proposals and developing programs in coordination with teams across the organization. In her prior role at Elevate, Elena led a team of project and program managers that managed climate planning, energy efficiency, and solar energy programs for disinvested communities, municipalities, and nonprofits to help them save energy and money while investing in their properties. Elena is a certified Project Management Professional, Certified Energy Manager, and LEED accredited professional.

Elena has been a member of ��Ĵ�ý since 2008. Over the past 15 years, she has collaborated with the organization in different capacities. She was part of the Programs Committee for four years and served as chair from 2018-2020 to develop educational programs in alignment with ��Ĵ�ý’s mission and strategic direction. Elena currently serves as the ��Ĵ�ý Board Treasurer. In the past two years Elena has worked with ��Ĵ�ý on fundraising strategy and helped secure funds to support the Building Energy Hub. Elena wants to continue to shape an equitable path to decarbonization for all buildings.

Learn more about Elena on her LinkedIn profile.

Sandrine Schultz

S enior Sustainability Manager

U.S. General Services Administration — Office of Federal High-Performance ��Ĵ�ýs

Before I discuss my qualifications/bio, I would like to share the reasons for my candidacy for the Board. Although my bio showcases my experience, roles, and responsibilities, it's important to note that my innovative approaches have led to the success of all my projects and programs. I have accomplished this by building coalitions with diverse stakeholders who share my passion and by expanding their passions as well. Currently, I work for the General Services Administration (GSA) at the Washington DC Office of Government-wide Policies and High Performance and ��Ĵ�ýs (OGP-OHPGB). My previous experience as Director of Energy and Sustainability at Chicago Public Schools allowed me to apply lessons from the Federal Government and implement a more ambitious program to address climate change.

My goal was to engage with principals and students, and I was pleasantly surprised to see their enthusiasm for waste reduction, renewables, transitioning away from fossil fuels, electrifying the fleet, and making CPS part of the Better Buildings Program led by the Department of Energy (DOE). With the new administration under President Biden at the White House, I recognized there would be significant changes in the approach towards the climate crisis and clean energy initiatives. It was the right time for me to return to Washington, DC, and extend my support to all the efforts being made across various sectors, not only at the federal but also at the state and local levels. Throughout my 20-year career in the energy, utility, and sustainable industries, I have tackled challenges such as budget limitations, keeping up with rapid technological advancements, and convincing upper management to support initiatives. I have collaborated with many individuals from different backgrounds, all of whom have contributed unique and creative ideas to the team. I have created tools to enable facility managers, procurement specialists, and design teams to perform their work effectively and efficiently.

If elected to the Board, my primary objective will be to ensure that we do not miss out on any opportunity that the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law offer to everyone. I will collaborate with everyone to support the State of Illinois and transform Chicago into a global 21st Century Infrastructure Hub.

Furthermore, I will continue to involve students in this work and ensure everyone has access to clean air, energy, and training to secure clean energy jobs. Today, the Federal Government must work with our cities because sustainable design requires system thinking - a holistic vision of systems and their relationships. So, let's prepare to achieve decarbonization, net zero energy, and net zero emissions, and install the best controls to measure our goals and implement necessary changes to combat climate change. Not only is there momentum here, but there is also money, and we need to ACT FAST.

Learn more about Sandrine on her LinkedIn profile.

Sumayyah Theron

Director of Sustainability

Cyclone Energy Group

Sumayyah Theron is the Director of Sustainability at Cyclone Energy Group. With 20 years in the industry, her expertise spans climate change policies, global sustainability frameworks, and extensive expertise in building performance. In her position she managed carbon reduction projects and initiatives, including the development and improvement of sustainability and healthy building services for clients and the advancement of the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. She led the expansion and management of sustainability programs and green building certifications at Cyclone Energy Group, including LEED, WELL, Fitwel, and Green Globes. Before this, she worked internationally as an architect and building science consultant, designing buildings, and conducting energy audits. Sumayyah's rich certification list includes E.I.T, WELL Accredited Professional, Fitwel Ambassador, and Green Globes Professional and Fellow. A dedicated industry advocate, she's an active member and a volunteer on several committees of ASHRAE, ILGA, and the ��Ĵ�ý Initiative (GBI).

Sumayyah’s decision to seek a position on the ��Ĵ�ý Board of Directors stems from a profound commitment to sustainability and the ambition to further their mission. Leveraging vast experience and an expansive network, she is poised to advocate for environmentally responsible policies, actively participate in strategic discussions, and promote a greener and more resilient Illinois. Sumayyah envisions a future where the alliance not only fosters sustainable practices but also champions an equitable Illinois. Her distinctive combination of technical skills, leadership, and passion uniquely positions her to be a catalyst for meaningful change within the board and the community.

Learn more about Sumayyah on her LinkedIn profile.

18th Annual Emerald Awards for ��Ĵ�ý in Illinois Announced

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 16:48:16 GMT

2023 Awardees Highlight the Impact of Net Zero Action on Communities

Chicago, IL — ��Ĵ�ý announced the recipients of this year’s Emerald Awards, dubbed the 2023 Path to Zero Trailblazers, for their ongoing efforts to mainstream net zero buildings in Illinois.

The ��Ĵ�ý Emerald Awards were launched in 2008 to celebrate outstanding green building achievements in Illinois by providing recognition to organizations, people, buildings, and technologies. This year, one individual and one organization are being honored for their continued commitment and advocacy in advancing high performance, cutting-edge existing and new construction buildings.

These awards reflect ��Ĵ�ý’s five-year strategic plan centered on creating healthy buildings and spaces to live and work in through best practices for energy efficiency and zero carbon design.

Illinois Green’s 2023 Emerald Award for Individual Achievement is Sarah Elizabeth Ippel , Founder and Executive Director of the Academy for Global Citizenship, and CEO of Cultivate Collective.

Her uncompromising 20-year commitment to sustainable communities is reflected as a leader in the education and community revitalization fields. While the recently completed Cultivate Collective hub that houses the Academy for Global Citizenship on Chicago’s Southwest side, championed by Ippel, serves as a first-of-its kind net zero project, it is just the most recent example of her long-standing commitment to reflect the environmental values of the school in the physical design of the building. Throughout her career she has leveraged her experience from one project to the next, each time raising the bar for what can be accomplished.

“I am inspired by the way she brings the sustainability components of the buildings as anopportunity to influence the educational curriculum, improve the health and wellness of the
community and engage the community in the process,” said John Mlade, Illinois GreenAlliance’s Board Chair.

For her work, Ippel was named one of Monocle’s Top 20 International Pioneers in Education and visited the White House to receive a national award from the Obama administration in 2011. Forbes named her one of the nation's “top five game changers in education” and was therecipient of the GOOD 100 list of “people pushing the world forward through doing.” In June 2022, Crain's Chicago Business recognized Ippel as one of their “notable leaders insustainability.”

Recognized this year with the Emerald Award for organizational achievement is Cook County .

Their leadership on an ambitious goal for carbon neutrality by 2050 is driven by a commitment to improve the health and resiliency of the county’s most disadvantaged communities. For example, Cook County’s recent purchase power agreement includes support private investment in local solar and energy job training programs, environmental biodiversity and habitat protection for the solar site, and local economic development through job creation. The full project will provide jobs for approximately 450 tradespeople during construction.

Cook County has also allocated over $130m in American Rescue Plan Act funds to making itscommunities, especially under-resourced communities, more sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change.

"They aren’t just setting climate goals and a net zero pledge — they have a plan for how to get there – and for how to bring communities in the county along with them,” said John Mlade, ��Ĵ�ý’s 2023 Board Chair. “Cook County is measuring their progress not just in carbon reductions, but in the community impacts that result from those reductions, like jobs created and the health improvements of residents.”

Projects include green infrastructure for community flood mitigation, assistance with municipal climate resiliency planning, helping for moderate income households to go solar, new recycling services in the south suburbs, providing electric vehicle infrastructure in south and west suburban areas where it’s lacking, brownfield cleanup, pollution prevention assistance for businesses, and many others.

Net zero building projects in Illinois will also be recognized at the Emerald Awards Ceremony. Seven buildings will be added to ��Ĵ�ý’s Net Zero Honor Roll, celebrating certified net zero buildings in Illinois, making for a total of 10. This initiative to raise awarenessto the buildings achieving the highest level of green building certifications around net zero energy, carbon, water, and waste. The public is invited to celebrate these sustainability achievements at Illinois Green’s annual Limelight Reception on November 14 at The Old Post Office on 433 W. Van Buren. Tickets to the event and presentation of the Emerald Awards are available online.

###

About ��Ĵ�ý

How One Illinois Foundation Catalyzed Net Zero Building Growth

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:05:54 GMT

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF)’s net zero energy building grant has played a significant role in driving the growth of net zero energy buildings in the state of Illinois in the last decade. However, with the grant's resources ending, it is essential to explore and create alternative funding options and strategies to continue the momentum and advance the net zero energy movement. Delve into the impact of the ICECF grant, and the next steps in furthering the development of net zero energy buildings.

The impact of the ICECF grant

While ICECF’s zero energy buildings program is no longer considering any new applications at this time, the program has supported an impressive 15 of the 16 building projects in the state of Illinois that are verified or “emerging” as net zero energy as of April 2023.

Commonwealth Edison, the largest electric utility company in Illinois (ComEd), provided a $225 million endowment to kickstart ICECF in 1999. Since then, the foundation has worked to improve energy efficiency, advance the development and use of renewable energy resources, and protect natural areas, and wildlife habitat in communities across Illinois. The foundation has awarded more than 5,700 grants.

Now, nearly 24 years later, the grant’s funding is coming to a close soon, making it imperative to take a look at its impact, especially in the path to net zero.

ICECF only funds projects owned by 501(c)(3) organizations or local government agencies serving Illinois — a limitation that ensures the grants are channeled towards initiatives that have a broader public benefit.

The grant program follows a specific payment process, where 60% of the grant amount is disbursed upon completion of the building, and the remaining 40% is provided after 12 months of performance data to prove net zero energy. This payment structure incentivizes building owners to not just design a net zero energy building, but ensure operations meet this achievement. This emphasis on verification leads to a greater emphasis on the building's energy efficiency and overall performance.

“With the grant payment tied to building performance, people are paying attention to how the equipment is performing, and there are a lot of changes that manufacturers are having to make to get the equipment to perform properly,” said Gabriela Martin, Program Director at ICECF.

It's not net zero on paper, it's net zero in performance — an emphasis that requires building teams to look at the full picture of the process, from design, construction, commissioning, and day-to-day operations.

Why do grants like ICECF’s matter?

It’s no secret that building a net zero project is expensive, but grants like ICECF’s minimize cost concerns, so owners can build net zero projects because it’s the right choice for the planet, and the best choice for ongoing financial savings and occupant comfort.

“Net zero projects are doable, but until you show someone, it's hard to kind of clear that hurdle,” Martin said. “We, through our money, can provide examples that become a showcase and a catalyst that tells people, ‘This is possible.’”

The first five net zero energy projects in the state of Illinois were all made possible through financial support from the ICECF Net Zero Energy Building Grant. Without it, it’s unclear what the path forward would have looked like, or how projects like those would have gained traction.

Martin pointed to the emergence of LEED in the early 2000s as an example of how grants can promote change within the industry, and believes net zero buildings can gain momentum in a similar way.

In 2002, ICECF gave a grant to the first LEED certified building in Illinois , at a time when LEED was still new. In 2012, Illinois was recognized as the state with more LEED square footage per capita than any other state , a feat that was made possible in part by grants and government regulations.

“I think our money contributed heavily to the fact that Illinois became the number one state building LEED,” Martin said. “[Illinois] went from being nobody to being number one. How did that happen? Well, there was some money put on the table.”

Now, nearly 30 years later, the next step is to reach net zero. The ICECF Net Zero Energy Building Grant has built a similar kind of momentum to lay a foundation for getting to a net zero future.

Martin recalled, in the late 1990s, some industry professionals were weary about building net zero projects in Illinois because of inherent climate and technology concerns, like a lack of access to consistent solar exposure, or inefficient appliances, like HVAC.

“There is absolutely no excuse at this point. We have the building techniques, the building materials, the existing technology, we have everything that we need to design and build net zero buildings, right here, right now, in Illinois,” Martin said.

What makes a project successful when applying for a grant?

Successful net zero energy projects require several key factors. The ICECF grant focuses on funding projects with a significant impact, strong educational aspects, and committed facilities personnel to manage the completed building.

“Because we are a small foundation, we are limited in who we can make grants to. We don't have the same ability to transform the market, with lots and lots of grants, so what makes a grant successful for us is a project that will have a large impact,” Martin said.

For instance, Martin pointed out that of the program’s 15 grants given out, one has gone toward a community college, four toward K-12 schools, and four toward park districts.

“Those are all entities that have a really strong educational aspect,” Martin said.

Part of the grant’s stipulations require that a project receiving funding “Make education about net zero energy buildings an integral part of the project.” This may include signage, publicly-viewable metering data, an educational exhibition, and more.

The board also looks at a project’s plan for how the building will be managed after completion, which includes technology use and facilities personnel.

“You really need people who are knowledgeable, who are committed, and willing to learn that running a net zero building is a little different than most other buildings,” Martin said. “They are going to be the ones responsible for making sure the building operates and continues to operate as a net zero energy building.”

While the ICECF grant has been instrumental in funding net zero energy projects, exploring alternative financing routes is crucial since the grant fund has come to an end.

ComEd New Construction Program

The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program offers incentives for new construction in Commercial, Industrial, and Public Sector projects. While this new program is not directly aimed at incentivizing net zero energy buildings, it encourages more efficient buildings by using energy modeling compared against a baseline. Using the difference in consumption between the actual building and its baseline, ComEd then pays for the building’s excess per kilowatt-hour. ComEd is the same electric provider that funded the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) in 1999.

Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program

Just this past fall, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Finance Authority launched the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program to spur investment in electric vehicle charging stations, energy efficiency, and water conservation, and to stimulate the growth of renewable energy and resilient building design throughout Illinois. C-PACE financing can be used by owners and developers of commercial properties to finance or refinance eligible clean energy improvements in connection with the renovation of existing buildings and new construction, in each case up to 25% of the value of the property.

Power Purchase Agreements

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have proven to be effective in financing net zero energy projects across the United States. Under a PPA, a third party, such as a renewable energy developer or utility company, installs, owns, and operates the energy system while the project owner purchases the generated energy at a predetermined rate. PPAs allow project owners to avoid the upfront costs associated with system installation and maintenance. This model has been successful in Illinois, with numerous commercial and municipal entities entering into long-term PPAs to achieve their sustainability goals.

Tax Credits and Tax-Exempt Bonds

Tax credits provide a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the amount of taxes owed, making them an attractive incentive for developers and investors. Tax-exempt bonds provide a way for governments and nonprofits to finance construction projects at a lower interest rate, as the interest earned by bondholders is exempt from federal and state income taxes.By leveraging tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, developers and investors can reduce the upfront costs and lower the financing expenses associated with constructing net zero energy buildings in Illinois.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or loans

Affordable housing projects may receive funds from sources such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or loans from local banks.

Adopt a design-build model

Finally, Martin suggests adopting the design-build model may enhance performance accountability and cost control for net-zero buildings, as it allows for early collaboration and continuity throughout the project, similar to the traditional construction process where one entity oversees the entire project.

The Building Energy Resource Hub

While there is an unprecedented amount of resources currently available across the state, federal, and private sectors to fund net zero projects, it can be challenging, even for experienced building professionals, to find and access these resources. That's why ��Ĵ�ý recently launched the Building Energy Resource Hub . The Hub's goal is to act as a one stop resource for navigating energy efficiency funding sources as well as providing training, education, and access to other resources.

A New Landscape

Even with the number of new funding avenues and resources now available, the end of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Grants will leave the green building community with massive challenges to address. These grants have had an incredible impact kickstarting the net zero movement in Illinois, but making these types of buildings more feasible and commonplace will still require more resources, stronger collaboration, and support from policymakers. ��Ĵ�ý believes that the Hub can address some of these gaps but also hopes to see more individuals and organizations step up and get involved. Explore our involvement opportunities for more ways to support healthy, sustainable buildings for all.

Introducing the Building Energy Resource Hub

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 16:17:24 GMT

Dear Illinois Green Community,

Last week we launched the Building Energy Resource Hub , with the help of our project partners .

This new resource for Chicago & Northeastern Illinois stakeholders to provide critical training and resources, ensuring that the region can meet aggressive climate action goals within the buildings sector, while building an inclusive green economy.

The business case for building decarbonization is urgently and dramatically shifting . With new financing tools changing the ROI on building upgrades, and investor interest in ESG influencing the cost analysis for building decarbonization, more than ever building professionals are asking questions on how to take advantage of financial tools & make energy efficiency retrofits.

That’s exactly why we’ve created the Building Energy Resource Hub – to better meet the needs of building industry professionals and alleviate marketplace uncertainty about the changes in the industry and the solutions available to improve building performance.

The Hub will provide education , online tools and serve as a connector to the broader network of resources in the industry that are out there to help with code and policy compliance, challenges of navigating funding, and guidance on technical assistance options and strategies.

The primary focus areas of the Hub’s programs and services will be serving building owners, developers, and contractors in the large multifamily and commercial building sectors, with an emphasis on those in disinvested communities.

In short, the Hub is a one-stop shop for energy efficiency, financing, and technical training resources for building professionals at all levels of familiarity with energy efficiency concepts.

Resources available to access now:

Step-by-step industry playbooks for owners , property managers , contractors , engineers
Technology primers to help understand what’s possible at your building.
Case studies for high performance new and existing buildings to check out

Tools we’ll be building out further this fall and the coming year include project financing pathways, qualified service provider database, and technology discussion forums.

We are thrilled to have the guidance of an amazing Advisory Board to help us in the coming year to make strategic and thoughtful decisions around the creation of education, development of technical guidance programs and continued partnership opportunities to ensure we are serving all the Hub’s stakeholders.

Partnership and collaboration are the key to success in bringing the most useful and applicable programming, resources, and services to all of the people working to make buildings perform better in our region. In fact, it was thanks to a collaboration with Elevate, ComEd, the Illinois Finance Authority, and the International Code Council we were able to secure Department of Energy funding for tools and resource development most relevant to building professionals in Illinois.

We are excited to further engage with new and existing stakeholders and partners to ensure that what we are putting out into the world is what people need to effectively improve their work.

This project is a culmination of over half a decade of work — from an idea to a needs assessment to a business plan, and now a website. This launch is just the beginning — our strategic plan for the Hub includes developing a physical space to host events and offer office hours to building professionals.

People are what make buildings work – the Hub is here to serve those people.

Learn how you can get connected to that work today.

Sincerely,

Katie Kaluzny
Deputy Director, ��Ĵ�ý
Director, Building Energy Resource Hub

Photos from our Launch Event

Meet our Summer 2023 Outreach Engagement Intern: LeNece De Salle

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:19:22 GMT

LeNece De Salle will be wrapping up her summer internship with ��Ĵ�ý next week. In this role, she . She is currently a 4th year student at Columbia University Chicago studying design management and interior architecture. At ��Ĵ�ý, she focused on the Illinois Green Schools Project and Hub Resource, taking on diverse responsibilities like conducting in-depth research for educational resources, gathering information for Playbooks, and creating a Master Green Schools Project Cohort spreadsheet, emphasizing Environmental Justice communities. These experiences led to open discussions on energy efficiency, sustainable design, and outreach, revealing the impactful role of industry professionals in driving positive economic change.

LeNece is a creative thinker and business-minded individual with experience planning and organizing the design of commercial interiors. Especially well-versed in developing initial ideas for design and acquiring key information to determine specific requirements for spaces. She is a forward thinker and optimistic youngster who has big plans to rebuild the world around us with her passion for environmental sustainability and health. She came to Illinois Green for an internship to have the opportunity to learn how she can make a real difference in promoting green buildings and sustainable communities throughout Illinois. Through learning, research, and engaging with communities and schools, she believes she plays a role in creating a more sustainable future for Illinois.

Q&A with LeNece

Why did you want to intern with Illinois Green?

I wanted to intern at Illinois Green because I wanted to insert myself into a role that would let me share my ideas and make an impact on people’s lives through my views on environmental sustainability, health, and design.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve learned so far?

I would have to say the coolest thing I’ve learned is how Illinois Green is trying to make an impact on industry leaders and children in school. The ��Ĵ�ý’s initiatives, such as the Neighborhood Power Project and the Illinois Green Schools Project, provided me with exposure to various aspects of green building education. This exposure was a valuable learning experience and kept me interested in this field.

What story are you most excited to share?

At the end of my internship, I would say working at Illinois Green has left me with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that my efforts have contributed to positive change and made a meaningful difference in promoting green buildings and sustainable communities. I’m going to continue pursuing a career in the design sector that focuses on sustainability, become a leader in my industry, and carry some of the ideals Illinois Green has into my next career.

Where does your passion for sustainability come from?

I was a girl scout growing up, in which I learned how to care for nature, and in turn, I grew to appreciate the health of the environment and how others live their lives.

Where does your passion for design and architecture come from?

It comes from my hobby of photography and taking pictures of buildings’ intricate design details and structures. I was captivated and loved to know the story behind every building I captured. I visited my local library often and checked out floor plan guides which I copied in order to understand the proper way in which people create living
spaces for themselves. I love the feeling of making someone feel at home and safe and that’s where that passion comes from.

What Mayor Johnson’s Transition Report Means for Net-Zero

rwilmington@illinoisgreenalliance.org (Ryan Wilmington) — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 18:48:43 GMT

On July 6th, Mayor Brandon Johnson submitted his transition team’s 223 page set of policy recommendations for the new administration. In this report, the new mayor pledges his support for “Securing a just transition to an equitable decarbonized Chicago” as an environmental justice goal. We dove into this report to learn the specifics of the Mayor Johnson’s net-zero goals.

Decarbonization, Performance Standards, and more

At an event last month, Mayor Johnson stated his commitment to pass a building decarbonization ordinance early in his administration. While a specific ordinance is yet to be introduced, the transition plan includes policies to decarbonize new buildings and establishing performance standards for existing buildings.

Regarding new construction, the transition reports the goal to,

Require all new buildings and major renovations to use eﬃcient, all-electric equipment and build rooftop solar-ready infrastructure starting in July 2025 to align with the building code update, and incentivize the adoption of heat pumps, all-electric equipment, and renewable energy technologies.

As for existing building energy performance targets, the report says to,

Establish energy performance targets for reduced energy use and on-site greenhouse gas emissions standards for buildings over 25k sq/ft. and require that buildings meet the standard by 2040 with interim emissions reductions targets.

In addition, the transition document aims to provide funding to retrofit existing buildings. These retrofits would aim to prioritize divested areas and incorporate all building types from single family homes to large apartment buildings as well as public and subsidized housing. Mayor Johnson has made clear building decarbonization is a priority for early action so expect more updates in the weeks ahead.

Decarbonization Workforce

One of the key elements of Mayor Johnson’s environmental justice agenda is bringing back the City Department of Environment. Shuttered in 2011 due to budget cuts, this report envisions the DOE’s return in 2024 with at least $5 million in funding and significant regulatory power.

The new administration sees two goals for the department: increasing environmental regulation and enforcement & unlocking the significant private, state, and federal funds available. This second piece is especially important as the rest of Mayor Johnson’s agenda, especially with regards to next-zero, will require significant financial investment. As the report points out, there are millions of dollars of funds currently available that could be utilized for decarbonizing the city.

Green New Deal for Schools

The Johnson administration envisions tackling systematic disinvestment and environmental racism by making Chicago a leader in decarbonizing school buildings. The report states that the Johnson administration will work with CPS to address health, safety, and structural issues through energy efficiency retrofits and accessibility upgrades. The plan sets an ambitious long-term goal of retrofitting 50 schools in historically disinvested neighborhoods with climate and environmental facility upgrades.

Other Transition Report Recommendations Include:

Replacing 40,000 lead service lines by 2027.
Establishing a geothermal utility.
Generating community solar power on all publicly-owned rooftops.
Investing in Equitable Transit Oriented Development and public electric vehicle charging.
Electrifying the city fleet by 2035 and CTA fleet by 2040.

Takeaways

Mayor Johnson’s transition report, coupled with recent statements, indicate a strong commitment to support building decarbonization to create jobs, support environmental justice communities, and meet the carbon pollution reduction goals set forth in the 2022 City of Chicago Climate Action Plan. It will be important that as policymakers consider how best to act on these recommendations hear from sustainability professionals who have experience and expertise in the technologies and building design practices that can make the decarbonization goals a reality.

If you are a resident of Chicago and want to discuss decarbonization with your alderperson, fill out this form and we will help you do so: https://illinoisgreenalliance.org/be-an-advocate/

Illinois Green Member to Bike 400 Miles for Climate

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 18:51:58 GMT

Longtime Illinois Green member and event speaker, Nate Kipnis, FAIA, LEED BD+C will be fundraising for Illinois Green by participating in the Climate Ride , a 400 mile bike ride from Burlington, VT to Bar Harbor, ME this September. Kipnis has previously participated in the Climate Ride in 2014 and 2018.

Nate has personally personally been involved with Illinois Green for nearly 10 years now, working with us to showcase examples of sustainable homes to the public. Through his Climate ride, his goal is to raise $5000 for Illinois Green. Your dollars will help support their vision to combat climate change in Illinois by making net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois by 2050 is net zero.

More about Nate

Nate Kipnis is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and principal of Kipnis Architecture + Planning ( https://www.kipnisarch.com/ ), based in Evanston, Illinois and Boulder, Colorado. The firm was named ‘Best Chicago Residential Architect’ in 2019 and 2022 by Better Magazine and was a previous recipient of ��Ĵ�ý’s prestigious Emerald Award.

A founding member of the AIA’s 2030 Commitment Working Group in 2009, Mr. Kipnis served as national co-chair from 2018 to 2019. He was also on the AIA’s national Sustainability Leadership Group and the Committee on Climate Action and Design Excellence. He now serves at the national level on the Executive Committee of the AIA’s national Small Firm Exchange, hoping to get the word out on sustainability to the large number of the AIA’s smaller firms.

Nate was a founding board member of Citizens’ Greener Evanston (now Climate Action Evanston). He spearheaded the group’s Lake Michigan offshore wind farm concept from 2009 through 2013, which is now on the Department of Energy’s list of potential offshore wind sites.

Mr. Kipnis is the founder of NextHaus Alliance ( https://nexthausalliance.com/ ), a new, premium design/build concept to provide ‘net zero’ sustainable. resilient and healthy homes.

A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, he received his Environmental Design degree in 1983. Mr. Kipnis obtained his Master of Architecture degree from Arizona State University, with emphasis in Energy Conscious Design in 1985.

‘Nate the Skate’ was a semi-professional skateboarder a long (long) time ago, but continues to skateboard, snowboard, ski and surf when the opportunity presents itself.

Net Zero Building Case Study: Adlai E. Stevenson High School EBA

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 21:25:07 GMT

Illinois’ first verified net zero energy building centers student wellbeing

Project Overview

In 2021, the Adlai E. Stevenson High School East Building Addition became the first verified net zero energy building in Illinois. The all- electric powered project achieved Zero Energy Certification from the International Living Future Institute.

Project Team

Owner: Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125
Architect: Wight & Company
MEP, Structural Engineering: Wight & Company
Civil Engineering: Eriksson Engineering Associates
Programming + Educational Planning Consultant: Wight & Company
Construction Manager : Gilbane

In response to growing enrollment, Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire welcomed students into the all-electric East Building Addition (EBA I) in 2019. The project achieved Zero Energy Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) in 2021, making it the first verified net zero energy building in Illinois.

The 56,800-square-foot structure is home to twenty science and world language classes, as well as a rooftop greenhouse and garden. The building relies heavily on natural daylight and its PV system generates 534 MWh-year, producing more energy than the project consumes.

The building’s two, two-story living walls enhance occupant comfort, and multi-purpose spaces contribute to student collaboration. Aspects like these “help put learning on display,” said Wendy Watts, Design Principal at Wight & Company.

The school has historically invested in sustainability. The existing campus achieved LEED EBOM Gold in 2011, and was re-certified in 2016 and 2021. The EUI of the EBA I building addition is 32; Including PV generation in the energy balance, the EUI is -3.

Solar PV offers savings

The project’s photovoltaic array generates more energy than it consumes. Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Sean Carney, estimates that the school saves about $65,000 annually on electric avoidance due to the solar array. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation’s $1 million grant funded the array.

Why is biophilia important when designing a net zero building?

With 98.8% of spaces having views to the outdoors, EBA I connects students with nature. In addition, biophilic elements like the living green walls and green roof cultivate a calm environment. 97.7% of space is daylit, which not only saves energy, but also contributes to the overall well-being of students.

Asking Questions pushes the Project Further

Ongoing collaboration between the owner and architect helped the project team reach net zero. At the beginning of the project, the school district didn’t anticipate creating the state’s first certified net zero building, but this became a realistic goal through the sharing of ideas and questions between stakeholders.

“One of the things that I appreciate about the relationship we have with Wight & Co. is they will push against me, and we push back against them, and at the end of the day we get to a product that — quite simply — works,” Carney said.

Green roof provides hands on learning

The rooftop’s greenhouse and garden beds provide students with hands-on learning while also reducing stormwater runoff and energy use. The green roof also minimizes heat island effect and helps keep the building cool or warm, depending on the season.

Living walls offer comfort and savings

The building’s two two-story living green walls reduce energy consumption and provide clean indoor air. The plants help filter air by removing carbon dioxide and other particulates from the air while recirculating already conditioned air. This allows the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system to exert less mechanical power, resulting in greater energy savings. When designing the living wall, the team carefully considered humidification, lighting, and plumbing and mechanical codes.

EBA 1 set a sustainable standard

The harsh climate in northern Illinois has always been a concern when it comes to operating a net zero building, but the effectiveness of EBA I’s PV array and daylighting demonstrates how projects like these can succeed, even with limited access to sunlight. The building’s rooftop greenhouse and garden, as well as the living walls, are spaces where students can learn about and enjoy nature.

High Performance Building Case Study: Ford Calumet Environmental Center

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 21:38:52 GMT

Nail-laminated timber project connects Big Marsh Park’s industrial past with local ecology

Project Overview

In 2021, the Ford Calumet Environmental Center opened in Chicago’s Southeast side. The LEED Silver building is located within Big Marsh Park, which is a part of the Chicago Park District’s largest reclamation projects.

Project Team

Owner: Chicago Park District
Architectural Design: Valerio Dewalt Train
General Contractor: Chicago Commercial Construction
Civil Engineering: Primera MEP Engineering: dbHMS
Structural Engineering: Matrix Engineering
Green Infrastructure: Biohabitats

Located within Big Marsh Park on Chicago’s Southeast side, the Ford Calumet Environmental Center celebrates the region’s environmental and cultural assets.

Big Marsh Park is a 300-acre natural and recreational space that has been damaged by more than a century of industrialization from nearby steel mills. Now, the park, opened in 2016, is one of Chicago Park District’s largest reclamation projects and home to a 40-acre bike park and walking trails.

The 9,300-square-foot LEED Silver project includes a bike repair area, nature exhibits, two classroom spaces, offices, restrooms, and storage spaces.

The center uses an on-site, constructed wastewater wetlands system, which uses the site’s wetland vegetation, soil, and other natural organisms to filter the building’s blackwater. This system, which isn’t connected to the City’s sewer system, is the first of its kind in Chicago and one of the first in Illinois.

A majority of the project was funded by a $3.7 million donation from Ford Motor Company, which owns a nearby assembly plant.

Spotlight on nail-laminated timber

Nail-laminated timber (NLT) is a durable, low-carbon alternative to building materials like concrete and steel, which are carbon- intensive during production. This lightweight material is well-suited for large floors, walls, and ceilings. In addition, NLT is less expensive than other mass timber materials, like cross-laminated timber.

Cost Effective Sewer Solution

“One of the things that pushed us into doing a high performance building was the fact that we had to come up with a solution to sanitary waste,” said Joe Valerio, Principal at Valerio Dewalt Train.

The site is roughly two miles from any sanitary sewer system, so the project team had to think creatively about how to solve this issue. Initially, the team estimated that it would cost nearly one eighth of the project budget to build a connecting sewer line to the site.

That’s when Valerio Dewalt Train sought out ecological restoration company, Biohabitats to design Chicago’s first constructed wastewater wetlands system . The system treats black water on-site and releases the nearly-potable water back into Lake Calumet.

Matterials Marry industrial past with nature

The building’s exterior is clad in a rain screen of weathered steel, which calls upon the site’s industrial past. In contrast, the interior structure is made of exposed nail-laminated timber, alluding to the project’s sense of ecological reclamation.

Exhibit connects past, present, and future

The building is home to an exhibit that tells the story of over industrialization; The display focuses on the park’s reclamation of natural habitats after decades of damage caused by nearby steel mills.

A building made with birds in mind

Given the marsh’s importance to migrating birds, it was essential that the building be bird friendly. This was made possible through operable hangar doors that shade the 10-by-10-foot windows when raised over them. When raised like this, the doors limit the chance of birds to mistake reflections in the windows for the landscape. Even when closed, the doors’ perforated metal allows 50% of daylight to enter the space.

Why is the environmental center important to the surrounding community?

The project centers local ecology, but also, importantly, the surrounding neighborhoods that have historically been burdened by pollution caused by steel mills and other industries. “As you walk through the exhibit you see photographs of some of the people that live in the surrounding communities, and their stories are reflected in that exhibition,” said Joe Valerio, Principal at Valerio Dewalt Train.

Net Zero Building Case Study: Carroll Community Center

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:51:49 GMT

A net zero retrofit of a century-old park district building

Project Overview

Carroll Community Center is one of the first net zero verified buildings in Illinois, earning PHIUS+ 2018 & Source Zero certifications. The building was completed in 2020 and net zero verified in 2021.

Project Team

Owner & Co-Construction Manager: Park District of Oak Park
Architect, Co-Construction Manager, & Certified Passive House Consultant: Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects
Structural Engineers: Goodfriend-Magruder
Mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing: Architectural Consulting Engineers

In 2020, the Park District of Oak Park completed a retrofit of the century-old Carroll Community Center in Oak Park, which is now the second facility in all of Illinois to reach net zero energy performance. The project added two, 1,200 square-foot classrooms to accommodate the growing need for afterschool childcare and to address the Park District’s overall need for more program space.

With sustainability at the core of their community values, the Park District of Oak Park approached the project with the goal of producing a net zero energy building. To make this possible, the Park District was awarded a $577,800 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to achieve Passive House Certification and Source Zero Energy Certification for the Carroll Center expansion project.

The project architect, Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects , and the Park District were both co-construction managers. With careful collaboration, they used Passive House standards to retrofit the original building and build the new structure. The building also features triple-glazed windows, super insulated roof/walls/slab, LED lighting, electrical load monitoring, daylighting and urban timber re-use.

Quality air you can feel

At the community center, families can be at ease with their children spending time indoors, thanks to the building’s ventilation. Improved air quality in passive house design is something “you feel more than you really see,” Bassett-Dilley said. Occupants experience minimal drafts, warmer floors, and a reduced risk of mold.

Architect involved from design to construction

For a zero energy building to be successful, sustainability needs to be at the forefront for all stakeholders involved, including the owner, architect, contractor, and subcontractors. The Park District of Oak Park was able to ensure that their goal to reach net zero emissions was reached by working with TBDA to co-manage the construction process. The firm doubled as the architect and co-construction manager, which was a first for TBDArchitects. Having an architect on-site as a co- construction manager helped them see through the project, project architect, Tom Bassett-Dilley said.

Tight thermal envelope makes retrofit reality

Creating a solid thermal envelope is a common challenge when retrofitting older buildings — but it’s crucial in meeting the Passive House standard. The original Carroll Center did not have the materials necessary to be airtight, and the complex roof geometry exacerbated the leakiness. Bassett-Dilley addressed the building’s deteriorated insulation by repairing cracks on the interior with caulk and spray foam, resulting in a significant decrease in wasted energy from heat and air leakage.

Project made possible through ICECF grant

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation granted $577,800 to the Carroll Community Center, which covered 80% of the cost upgrades to achieve net zero energy.
The project’s remaining $116,000 came from the Park District’s Capital fund.

Solar panels generate energy and cost savings

The new facility generates nearly double the amount of energy it uses. While the on-site solar array generates 23,930 kWh of energy per year, the building only uses 12,696 kWh of energy per year. This excess energy goes to cover the park lights usage, located outside of the building. Due to on-site energy generation, the district pays $0 in utilities. But back in 2017, they paid $4,300 (not adjusted for inflation) in utilities for a building that was half the size of the newly retrofitted facility.

Why are all verified net zero energy projects in Illinois municipal buildings?

The first three net zero verified buildings in Illinois were all made possible in part to a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. This grant requires that the owner of the building be a local government agency 501(c)3, or college. Oak Park also required the project to be net zero as a part of its village sustainability plan.

The Proposed Chicago Energy Transformation Code, Explained

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 20:25:00 GMT

Illinois Green congratulates Mayor Lightfoot & the Chicago Department of Buildings on the introduction of the 2022 Chicago Energy Transformation Code. The proposed code goes beyond the 2021 IECC baseline by adding key advancements that would make meaningful steps towards advancing building electrification.

The Chicago Department of Buildings sought feedback from Illinois Green's Building Professionals Advocacy Group on this proposed code.

Learn more about the four key advancements that would contribute to building decarbonization & electrification:

The proposed code was introduced to the Chicago City Council on June 22 and now heads to committee to finalize the language.

Why the code matters:

The Chicago Energy Code has been regularly updated since 2001 — these latest advancements will future-proof new construction and catalyze building electrification across the city. This advancement and the new baseline would help create meaningful opportunities and incentives for energy efficiency and reduce the carbon impact of the City's building stock.

How you can help:

Neighborhood Power Project Testimonial: Ann Hinterman, Family Matters

Wed, 25 May 2022 21:13:12 GMT

Family Matters is a youth development and community leadership organization based in the North of Howard area of Rogers Park. The organization supports more than 130 youth in daily programming and their families, with an additional 300+ people participating in community collaborations. Family Matters’ programming is divided into three primary initiatives: Youth Development, including school year and summer academic support, teen leadership, and college- and career-readiness. programming; The Family Matters School; and Community Engagement, consisting of collaborative activities with families and members of the community beyond those involved in daily programming. Family Matters’ mission is to partner with youth, families, and communities to cultivate a way of living in the world that develops strong relationships, meaningful communication, and safe environments for courageous social change. They seek to build an equitable society for all. Ann Hinterman, Family Matters’ Director of Community Engagement and Grants Management, was selected to share her experience with the Neighborhood Power Project at the City of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan press conference.

Every day after the children of The Family Matters School finish their hot lunch, the cleanup process begins under the close supervision of Ethan (7) and Elijah (5), two of the self-appointed Family Matters Compost Captains. Ethan and Elijah carefully guide their classmates as to where to place various waste items (ketchup can be composted, the packets cannot!). Family Matters expanded our landfill-reduction efforts in partnership with the Neighborhood Power Project (NPP), a program created by Illinois Green and Elevate to give community buildings the resources and consulting needed to make sustainability retrofits to their facilities. Thanks to NPP, we received new waste bins and signage, which make dividing landfill, recycling, and compost items much clearer and more convenient for the members of our community.

Beyond providing the materials, NPP has offered an opportunity for the children to actively participate in sustainable operations while taking pride in the changes we’ve made to our building. The composting initiative led to an interactive lesson on vermicomposting in science class. The children saw which waste items, such as apple cores, broke down and which, such as plastic cups, remained intact. We see that the children are excited to share their newfound composting and recycling knowledge with their families — a kindergartner asked her grandmother where the compost bucket was after family dinner one evening. Now her grandmother is planning to begin composting at home! With the support of NPP, we have been able to see what climate action looks like when it’s led at the community level.

On Earth Day, I spoke about Family Matters’ experience with NPP at the City of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan press conference. NPP was featured in the Plan, and I was excited to offer testimony on the significant role that NPP has played in our building and, therefore, in the North of Howard community as a whole. I am grateful to Kyra Woods and the Climate Action Plan team for offering community nonprofits, including Family Matters, a platform to spotlight our sustainability work and demonstrate how the City sees community participation as a critical element to Plan's success.

I was honored to be included in the City of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan press conference. It was exciting to share our work with a wide audience, and was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our experience with NPP. Given the gradual progress made throughout the program, I hadn’t stopped to think about how far we’ve come since 2020. We did a lot! Thanks to NPP’s financial support and the mentorship of so many NPP experts, we have been able to demonstrate that a small nonprofit organization like Family Matters can be a leader in the Chicago sustainability space.

The program has opened the doors to dream about future opportunities for our building that would have been out of reach before: insulating our office spaces, using rain gardens for flood management, rooftop solar… and much more! And if we can do all of this in a converted vintage three-flat — a building that is similar to 25% of Chicago’s housing stock — we have demonstrated that it is possible for similar buildings in communities across Chicago to undertake this work as well.

Everyone deserves beautiful spaces they can be proud of. Creating spaces that amplify the voices of our community members — their needs and desires and what brings them joy — is central to the mission of Family Matters. Every day, we create a space at Family Matters that centers the calls from our community, including as a leader in building climate justice for future generations.

The Neighborhood Power Project asked us and our community to dream about what we want our space to be. The results are evident the moment visitors walk through our door. We considered how warmer lighting temperature creates a welcoming and inclusive learning environment for the children and youth of Family Matters who may have sensory sensitivities. We installed filtered water dispensers to reduce our dependence on plastic bottles, and the children love showing visitors how to use the automatic dispenser. Our new electric boiler moves us one step closer to building electrification, and also makes our space more comfortable.

NPP allows us to address challenges in tandem — considering what is optimal from an energy-savings standpoint, and also what is optimal for the individuals who exist in this space every day. We are so grateful for all that NPP has accomplished with us so far, and we are looking forward to continuing our sustainability work!

Family Matters is a participant in the Neighborhood Power Project, a collaboration between ��Ĵ�ý, Environmental Defense Fund, and Elevate. The NPP supports nonprofit buildings in and around Chicago on their sustainability journey through pro-bono consulting, grant funds for sustainability upgrades, and support to share their projects with the community.

By bringing high performance upgrades to often overlooked buildings, the project helps reduce the energy burden on nonprofits, empowers organizations to serve as a resource for their constituents, and demonstrates the value in delivering climate action to every community.

Are you a community organization or nonprofit interested in making sustainable upgrades to your facility? Learn more about the Neighborhood Power Project and how to participate here .

What the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act Means for ��Ĵ�ýs

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 20:56:32 GMT

On September 15, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was signed into law by Governor Pritzker. This nation-leading law delivers on the goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2045, increases the Illinois Solar for All program 5-fold, and extends electric efficiency programs beyond 2030.

This victory is the result of three years of critical advocacy and grassroots engagement by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, a network made up of more than 200 consumer, business, environmental, environmental justice, health care, and faith-based organizations, including ��Ĵ�ý.

The law establishes Illinois as a leader and addresses keystone equity and jobs provisions that ensure a just transition to a clean energy future. The green building aspects will propel forward a healthy & resilient built environment across the state.

I am ecstatic about the months to come, during which we will continue to share cutting-edge building education and leadership on translating the policies contained in the law into action—action that will advance net zero buildings for all in Illinois. There is exciting work ahead to ensure effective implementation.

Some highlights of the bill:

Puts Illinois on a path to 100% clean energy, and delivers carbon-free power by 2045
Creates thousands of good-paying jobs, especially in communities most impacted by climate change
Establishes nation-leading equity programs,
Reduces pollution at the scale science demands, and holds utility companies accountable for corruption.

We join in this celebration with all members of the coalition, and you, our supporters, who inspire us daily to build a better future for everyone.

illinois-green-alliance-140170

Illinois Green Policy Update: April 2025

Energy Bills Move Forward in Springfield

Chicago's Spring Sustainability Aspirations

Five Years of Illinois Solar for All

In Other Sustainability News

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Net Zero Case Study: Heartland Community College Agriculture Complex

Background

Sustainable

Strategies and Features

Financing and Incentives

Overcoming Challenges

Lessons Learned

Energy Moves in Springfield, Illinois’ Record Year in Solar, and Changing Building Emission Trends | Illinois Green Policy Update: March 2025

First in the State – Twice!

Springfield Sessions

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A Ray of Sunshine – Illinois Breaks Solar Record

Zooming Out – Global Building Sector Emissions Stop Rising

In Other Sustainability News

Evanston Passes First Building Performance Standard in Illinois

Building Professionals Key to Passing Healthy Buildings Ordinance

Brian Imus, Executive Director, ���Ĵ�ý

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A Win for Energy: Evanston Becomes First City to Adopt Stretch Codes | Policy Update: February 2025

Evanston Passes Stretch Codes, Continues Healthy Buildings Ordinance Discussion

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Green Policy Highlights

In Other Sustainability News

A Letter from our 2025 Board Chair

In 2021, Illinois Green embarked on a bold five-year strategic plan with an aspirational, future-forward mission: to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois is net zero by 2050.

Evanston Debates Healthy Buildings Ordinance & The New Administration's Energy Freeze | Policy Update: January 2025

Evanston Debates Healthy Buildings Ordinance

The New Administration's Energy Freeze

Policy Spotlight

Chicago's New Budget & ���Ĵ�ýs

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Green Policy Highlights

In Other Sustainability News

New Report Outlines the Path to a Net Zero Future in Illinois

The annual Getting to Zero Illinois Report examines policy and financial strategies for a fully decarbonized built environment.

Meet Illinois Green’s 2024 Outstanding Volunteers

Amy Amaon

Sustainability Manager

Health Care Service Corporation

Mayur Bandekar

Power Markets Consultant – Energy and Climate Practice 3Degrees Group, Inc ﻿

Wayne Beals

Realtor and Managing Broker

The Beals Group at EXIT Strategy Realty

Jamie Johnson

CEO

Verde Energy Efficiency Experts

Matt Johnson

Director of Energy Engineering

Cushman & Wakefield

Why We're Attending the 2025 Green Schools Conference

"I Didn't Know this was Possible": How building industry voices can drive sustainable policy action

"I didn't know this was possible"

Our progress to date

Moving forward

The New Administration and Pushing Local Clean Building Policy Forward: ���Ĵ�ý November Policy Update

Why Improving Building Performance is Key to Standing Out in a Challenging Market

Hub Q&A: Kurt Anderson, Chief Engineer, 401 N. Michigan Ave.

Question: Why is it important to improve building performance and sustainability in today’s market?

Q: How do you stay up to date on emerging green technologies and trends?

Q: How did you foster collaboration between the building owners, your operations team, and the building’s tenants during an energy efficiency project? How did you ensure everyone was working toward a common goal?

Q: What were some of the sustainable retrofit strategies and features that helped 401 N. Michigan Ave. reduce its energy use and emissions?

Q: What were the overall results of the LEED recertification? How did the building upgrades improve operations, energy efficiency, tenant satisfaction, and the overall value of the building?

19th Annual Illinois Emerald Awards for ���Ĵ�ý Announced

2024 Awardees Reflect Developer Leadership in Laying the Foundation for a Net Zero Future

Net Zero Building Case Study: Prairie Activity & Recreation Center

Background

Overcoming Challenges

"Be patient with the Challenges. Some folks are looking for that immediate return, but it takes work."

Energy Efficiency

﻿ Strategies and Features

So, what are the elements of PARC that contribute to its energy efficiency?

Illinois Green Policy Update: September 2024

Financing
and Incentives

Brian Imus, Executive Director, ��Ĵ�ý

Chicago's New Budget & ��Ĵ�ýs

Power Markets Consultant – Energy and Climate Practice 3Degrees Group, Inc

The New Administration and Pushing Local Clean Building Policy Forward: ��Ĵ�ý November Policy Update

19th Annual Illinois Emerald Awards for ��Ĵ�ý Announced

2024 Awardees Reflect Developer Leadership in Laying the Foundation for a Net Zero Future 

Strategies and Features

So, what are the elements of PARC that contribute to its
energy efficiency?

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A New Federal Rule Could Bring a Renewable-Powered Electric Grid Closer to Reality.

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Key Takeaways: 2024 Women in ��Ĵ�ý Leadership Luncheon