Illinois Green Policy Update: April 2024 

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…

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Key Takeaways: 2024 Women in Green Building Leadership Luncheon 

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…

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Meet Illinois Green’s 2023 Outstanding Volunteers

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!  We asked each recipient to tell us a little…

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Chicago to Introduce Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance

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…

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Welcoming Our New Board Members

This year the Illinois Green Alliance 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…

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18th Annual Emerald Awards for Green Building in Illinois Announced

2023 Awardees Highlight the Impact of Net Zero Action on Communities Chicago, IL — Illinois Green Alliance 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 Illinois Green Alliance Emerald Awards were launched in 2008 to celebrate…

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How One Illinois Foundation Catalyzed Net Zero Building Growth

By: Sam Stevens, Communications Intern 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…

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Lessons from a Net Zero Building Operator: Management requires continuous monitoring and dedicated staff

By: Sam Stevens, 2023 Communications Intern   Completing a net zero building project is an incredible achievement, benefiting not only the owner and designer but also the community. However, the journey doesn’t end there. Managing a net zero building involves continuous system monitoring, an informed and dedicated staff, and adaptability when troubleshooting new technologies. We…

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39 Illinois Schools Recognized for their Sustainability Projects

Since October 2022, participating schools across Illinois have been hard at work identifying, planning, and implementing low-to-no cost sustainability projects for their schools and communities through the Illinois Green Schools Project. As the school year comes to a close, we want to thank all who were involved and reflect on the achievements and impact of your work. Nearly 1,800…

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