Archive for December, 2010

Each profile includes annual emissions inventory by sector – a starting point for the development of a municipal sustainability or climate action plan

CNT Energy today released the results of the Municipal Energy Profile Project, an effort to produce customized Municipal Energy Profiles for 283 communities in the Chicago metropolitan region. The Municipal Energy Profiles provide unprecedented collections of information that local leaders can use to understand energy use in their communities, reduce energy expenses, and measure progress toward environmental goals. These reports are especially timely given the federal and state energy efficiency dollars and other funding opportunities that are currently available to local municipalities.

The Municipal Energy Profile Project (MEPP) provides all 283 municipalities in the seven-county Chicago metropolitan region with detailed breakdowns of annual citywide energy consumption, vehicle miles traveled, and greenhouse gas emissions data. Each profile is designed to give the municipality information about how energy is consumed by residents and businesses in the community and to help the municipality prioritize strategies for energy efficiency and conservation. The emissions profile included in each report also provides a starting point for the development of a municipal sustainability or climate action plan.

At the local level, the profiles are important because this is the first time that the municipalities have had access to this type of comprehensive analysis of energy use and emissions. The profiles give each community an accurate benchmark of energy use, and they make it possible to estimate the potential benefits of various energy saving strategies and programs.

“This project gives municipalities better, more accurate data so they can make more informed decisions about energy use,” said Lindy Wordlaw, senior planner at CNT Energy. “These profiles provide a great starting point that municipalities can use to set goals, and to find the energy saving strategies that will work best for their communities. The profiles also give them a baseline, so they can measure their progress toward their goals,” she said.

At the regional level, the project is notable because the Chicago metropolitan region is one of just a few nationwide to have produced such detailed energy and emissions analyses for each community across the region. The project strengthens the region’s position as a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency. Communities that use the profiles to develop programs that reduce energy use will benefit from lower energy costs while building the region’s reputation as a sustainable and affordable place to live and do business.

The Municipal Energy Profile Project is funded by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. The profiles were developed in cooperation with the major utilities in northern Illinois and Illinois Department of Transportation. The reports are available at no cost to the municipalities.

Download a fact sheet about the Municipal Energy Profile Project here.

On December 1, building owners, contractors, and local elected official gathered at the Howard Apartment Building in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood to learn about the Energy Savers program, one of the most effective energy efficiency programs in the country. Energy Savers is a project of CNT Energy (a division of the Center for Neighborhood Technology) and the Community Investment Corporation (CIC). The program offers a one-stop shop that helps building owners navigate the complexities of investing in energy efficiency.

In the three years since the program started, Energy Savers has helped local building owners upgrade more than 3,000 housing units, cutting energy costs by 30 percent on average. This saves the average building owner $10,000 per year. The lower utility bills help to keep rents affordable, and the energy saving improvements make apartments more comfortable for tenants. The program also creates jobs for contractors who provide services such as insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling system repair or replacement.

CNT Energy and the Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation hosted the December 1 showcase in order to highlight one of the buildings that has been improved through the Energy Savers program. Bickerdike worked with Energy Savers to implement energy efficiency improvements in the 53-unit apartment building where the event took place. Guests learned about the energy savers program and toured a unit to see the work that was done in the building. They also had the opportunity to talk with Energy Savers staff members and network with other guests.