Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that the Retrofit Chicago Energy Challenge has now exceeded 50 million square feet with 14 additional buildings having joined the Challenge since July 2016. One of the largest voluntary energy efficiency programs in the country, the program now boasts 76 buildings and 51.3 million square feet participating. The new participants include six affordable housing properties owned by the Chicago Housing Authority and one new house of worship, reflecting the widening scope of the program. One-half the Challenge’s new participants, and over one-quarter of participants in total, sit outside the Central Business District. Through 2015, Chicago Energy Challenge participants have saved 90 million kilowatt-hours per year, representing 70,000 metric tons in avoided greenhouse gas emissions – equivalent to removing 14,000 cars from the road.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the City of Chicago earned a 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award. It is given annually to honor organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. And last month the Mayor announced that the Smart Lighting Project will start on the South and West Sides this summer. The Retrofit Chicago Energy Challenge is a collaboration of the City of Chicago, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, City Energy Project, the Institute for Market Transformation, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Alliance to Retrofit Chicago Higher Education, the Rocky Mountain Institute and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. The program draws on sponsorship and technical support from The Joyce Foundation, World Business Chicago, BOMA/Chicago, Sieben Energy Associates, AECOM and Seventhwave. To-date, program participants have received millions of dollars in energy utility incentive funding through ComEd and Peoples Gas to support efficiency improvements. Information about the Retrofit Chicago Energy Challenge can be found at: www.RetrofitChicago.net.
