Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select providers to administer the Residential Decarbonization and Retrofit Program. This program will advance the equitable decarbonization of Chicago’s one-to-four-unit residential buildings by providing low- and moderate-income homeowners with home upgrades including new insulation and heat pump heating and cooling systems. Retrofits may also include induction stoves, heat pump water heaters, heat pump clothes dryers, air sealing around doors and windows, smart thermostats, and other energy-saving measures. The Residential Decarbonization and Retrofit Program will simultaneously address critical needs such as:  

1. Reducing Chicago’s overall emissions;  

2. Providing immediate benefits to low- and moderate-income Chicagoans including improved indoor air quality, increased cost savings, and lower utility bills;  

3. And creating increased demand for local contractors with the skills and experience to install cutting-edge, energy-efficient equipment while enhancing pathways for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) workers and business owners to meaningfully participate in the clean energy economy.   

This program is a partnership between the Department of Housing (DOH) and the Office of Climate and Environmental Equity (OCEE). Initial funding of $15M will come from the Chicago Recovery Plan. This investment is expected to decarbonize between 200 and 350 homes at no cost to income-qualified homeowners before the end of 2025. For more information, visit www.Chicago.gov/residentialdecarbonization.