Are you ready to get on the path to zero?
We're working to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and commonplace in Illinois.
Illinois Green is tracking and mapping the status of verified zero energy, carbon, water and waste projects throughout Illinois. We are excited to work with project teams to develop educational content, publish case studies, and provide recognition at our annual awards program each October.
View projects across the U.S. actively pursuing zero energy verification on NBI’s Getting to Zero Buildings Database.
Verified Net Zero Energy Buildings in Illinois
Projects are featured on the Net Zero Honor Roll when they are verified net zero energy through the New Buildings Institute's database. Buildings on the Honor Roll are recognized annually in October at Illinois Green's Limelight Gala.
Adlai E. Stevenson High School East Building Addition
Lincolnshire, IL
Verified in 2021
Photo Credit: Connor Steinkamp
Adlai E. Stevenson High School East Building Addition
Lincolnshire, IL
The Adlai E. Stevenson High School East Building Addition is the first verified net zero building in Illinois. The addition serves as a living laboratory through on-site gardens. The high performing project incorporates best practices across architecture and engineering including a large photovoltaic array that generates 545 MWh-year, resulting in a project that produces more energy than it consumes (-3.75 kBTU/sqft-y). The base building, without photovoltaics, has an efficiency of 32 kBTU/sqft-yr.
At a Glance
- ILFI Zero Energy Verified
- 50,000 sq ft.
Project Team:
- Project Owner: Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125
- Architect, MEP Energineering, Structural Engineering, and Landscape: Wight & Company
- Construction Manager: Gilbane Building Co.
- Civil Engineer: Eriksson Engineering
- Solar Consultant/Commissioning: Aero Building Solutions
Carroll Community Center
Oak Park, IL
This all-electric retrofit and addition to a 1920s community center was verified net zero in 2021. Powered by a grid-tied solar photovoltaic array, this high performance project benefits the community and saves on energy bills.
At a Glance
- Retrofit of 1920s building
- EUI -4, producing about 9,600kWh more energy than it consumes yearly
- Phius+ 2018, Phius Source Zero, fully certified for both
Project Team:
- Project Owner: Park District of Oak Park
- Architect, CPHC, and Co-Construction Manager: TBDArchitects, Ltd.
- Structural Engineer: Goodfriend-Magruder
- Mechanical-Electrical-Plumbing Engineering: Architectural Consulting Engineers
Techny Prairie
Activity Center
Northbrook, IL
Verified in 2022
Techny Prairie Activity Center
Northbrook, IL
This net zero verified park district building represents an achievement in combining high-performance with natural aesthetics. This project is PHIUS 2015+ and Source Zero certified, and powered by both gas & electric, with a 312 kW on-site roof mounted solar array.
At a Glance
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EUI of 0 and dropping following net zero verification
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Completed in 2021 & verified in 2022
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44,100 sq ft
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16% window-to-wall ratio
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ICECF grant recipient
Project Team:
- Project Owner: Northbrook Park District
- Architect, Landscape, and Engineering: Wight & Co.
- Solar Consultant: SEIE
- Construction: CCS
- Ongoing Commissioning: Aero Building Solutions
Net Zero Buildings Watch List
Projects are featured on the Net Zero Watch List if they are pursuing a net zero energy certification and have been approved by their municipality/board to move forward. Eligible certifications are Phius ZERO, ILFI Zero Energy, or LEED Zero. When projects receive net zero energy verification after a 12-month performance period, they move to the Net Zero Honor Roll (see above).
| Multi-family Housing | 7 Van Buren | Oak Park Residence Corporation | Oak Park, IL | Phius ZERO |
| K-12 School | Academy for Global Citizenship | Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School | Chicago, IL | ILFI Zero Energy/Living Building Challenge |
| K-12 School | Adlai E. Stevenson High School Fieldhouse Addition (EBA II) | High School District 125 | Lincolnshire, IL | LEED Zero |
| Municipal | Countryside Municipal Complex | City of Countryside | Countryside, IL | ILFI Zero Energy |
| Affordable Housing | Granite City Passive House | Granite City Housing Authority | Granite City, IL | Phius ZERO |
| Higher Ed | Heartland Community College Agricultural Complex | Heartland Community College | Normal, IL | n/a |
| Park District | Lake County Forest Preserves Environmental Education Center | Lake County Forest Preserve District | Riverwoods, IL | n/a |
| Park District | Oak Park Community Recreation Center | Park District of Oak Park | Oak Park, IL | ILFI Zero Energy |
| Park District | Plainfield Activity & Recreation Center | Plainfield Park District | Plainfield, IL | Phius ZERO |
| K-12 School | Prairie Trails School | River Trails School District 26 | Mount Prospect, IL | Phius ZERO |
| K-12 School | St. Joseph's School Addition | St. Joseph's School | Downers Grove, IL | Phius ZERO |
| Higher Ed | University of Illinois Campus Instructional Facility | University of Illinois | Champaign, IL | LEED Zero |
| Park District | Willowbrook Wildlife Center | Forest Preserve District of DuPage County | Glen Ellyn, IL | n/a |
Net Zero Building Resources
- Zero Energy Project Guide (Published by New Buildings Institute).
- Building Decarbonization Code: A building decarbonization overlay to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (Published by the New Buildings Institute).
- Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation's Net Zero Energy Building Program
Listing of a resource on this page does not imply endorsement by Illinois Green Alliance. This page was curated by our staff and Board members.
If there's a resource we should add, let us know.
Net Zero Hero Spotlight: Tom Bassett-Dilley
Winner of a 2021 Emerald Award, Tom Bassett-Dilley is the owner and principal at Tom Bassett-Dilley Architects, Ltd. As an architect, he has made meaningful contributions professionally and personally to advance high performance building design and best practices. His decades-long passion for making a positive impact on the environment is reflected in his work as an architect, specializing in Passive House technology and zero energy buildings. His firm has worked on more than a dozen projects that have been designed to net zero standards.
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