Who We Are

About Us


A group of people are standing in front of a green and white building.

MISSION

The Illinois Green Alliance is a membership-driven, community centered nonprofit that works collaboratively to promote green buildings and sustainable communities for all. Our network of sustainability professionals believes green buildings are important to improving the quality of life for everyone in Illinois.

VISION

To combat climate change in Illinois, it's time we made net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois by 2050 is net zero.


A group of people standing in front of a solar panel.

Our History

We were founded in 2002 by professionals from industries tied to the built environment who believed their work could address environmental problems facing our communities.

2002

Founded by a group of passionate green building advocates

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2003

The Center for Green Technology in Chicago, the first LEED Platinum municipal building in the world, became a signature project and living laboratory.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2009

Supported the passage of the Illinois Green Buildings Act, which requires all new state buildings to meet LEED Silver.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2012

Illinois was recognized as the state with more LEED square footage per capita than any other state.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2013

Supported the passage and implementation of the Chicago energy benchmarking ordinance.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2016

The 2016-2020 strategic plan, called the Epic Challenge, built on our experience with LEED to bring green building experience to more buildings and neighborhoods.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2020

The Neighborhood Power Project launched to assist community oriented buildings with sustainability operations.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2020

The Illinois Green Schools Project launched to engage students and classrooms around green building.

A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.
A black and white leaf icon on a white background.

2021

Launched our 2021 - 2025 Strategic Plan, focused on making net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and commonplace through education, policy, and support for existing buildings.


Organizational Transformation

The logo for the u.s. green building council chapter in chicago.
The logo for the u.s. green building council chapter in illinois.
The logo for illinois green is a usgbc community.

>2022

The logo for the illinois green alliance is a green map of illinois.

Illinois Green Alliance was founded by green building advocates in 2002 as the Chicago Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Our first Executive Director was hired in 2006. In 2009, we merged with the USGBC – Central Illinois Chapter and became USGBC-Illinois, and in 2017 we updated our name to Illinois Green Alliance. We are a member-driven, mission-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the state of Illinois.

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