Green Building Policy
Illinois Green Policy Update: June 2024
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…
Read MoreIllinois Green Policy Update: May 2024
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…
Read MoreIllinois 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…
Read MoreIllinois Green Policy Update: March 2024
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…
Read MorePolicy Brief: Stretch Codes
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. As of early 2024, the drafted stretch codes are ready for state approval. Stretch codes set much more aggressive energy…
Read MoreChicago 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…
Read MoreWhat Mayor Johnson’s Transition Report Means for Net-Zero
On 7/6, 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.
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