O’Hare Plans Massive Solar Panel Installation
July 24, 2012 by Matt Baker · 1 Comment
By Matt Baker
The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) recently announced that it is seeking a developer to design, construct and maintain a new solar power generation installation on the grounds of O’Hare International Airport. Development will occur over two phases with an expected completion by 2016.
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Retrofit Chicago
June 21, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
Some in the sustainability community were unsure of what sort of policy changes to expect as Mayor Daley handed over his office to Rahm Emanuel. After all, under Daley’s charge, a number of green building programs were put in place, such as the Green Permit Program, the Chicago Climate Action Plan and the Chicago Green Bungalow Initiative. The green roof on top of city hall stood as a badge of his commitment for years.
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A Decade of Model Green Building
June 21, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
This June, the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT) turned ten years old. Hundreds of people came out to celebrate the successes of one of the country’s premier green building educational facilities and to launch it toward the next ten years.
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Double Down: Two Riverfront Buildings Invest in Sustainability
June 21, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
The two buildings at 10 and 120 South Riverside Plaza sit beside the south branch of the Chicago River, near more traditionally attractive, art deco structures like 2 North Riverside Plaza and the Civic Opera House. These two Miesian boxes aren’t necessarily homely in comparison so much as emblematic of their era. Designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill and erected in 1965 and 1967, they exhibit the steel and glass aesthetic of mid-century modernism.
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Power to the People: Electrical Aggregation
June 21, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
Though many Illinois residents may still not be aware of it, their utility options broadened in January 2010 with the passage of the Illinois Power Act. This legislation allows municipalities and counties to collectively bargain with alternative electric suppliers on behalf of their residents and small businesses. And in many cases, it can lead to a greater demand for alternative energy.
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Beyond Cost, the Environmental Benefits of Wood Buildings
June 21, 2012 by Matt Baker · 1 Comment
By Duane Schantz
For many building designers, the choice of wood as a structural material is driven by price. Wood is cost effective—in terms of materials, speed of construction and design flexibility—while meeting code requirements for safety and performance in a wide range of building types. However, as green building has evolved beyond its initial emphasis on operational energy efficiency, it has become increasingly clear that, in addition to cost, there are compelling environmental reasons to choose wood.
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Building Green Chicago 2012
June 21, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Linda Seggelke
Now in its sixth year, the Building Green Chicago Conference has grown into one of the area’s most reliable sustainable building events. Hundreds came out to the Chicago Mart Plaza to visit with green vendors, hear educational seminars and network with like-minded professionals.
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New Version of LEED Delayed Until 2013
June 5, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
The USGBC announced yesterday that the upcoming balloting for the newest revisions to LEED will be delayed until next year. The next version of the green building rating system was to be known as LEED 2012 but will now be LEED v4.
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Introducing Our New Green Map
April 16, 2012 by Matt Baker · 2 Comments
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new interactive green map, which identifies all LEED-certified and other sustainable buildings within Chicago. Users can access information on green buildings in the city, including the name of the organization or business that developed the property, pictures, links, certification level and many other characteristics.
The green map also overlaps and interacts with the other information that you know and trust from Index Publishing, including zoning, transportation infrastructure, orthophotography and more. For more detailed information, check out our user guide.
Like Sustainable Chicago magazine, this green map is brought to you completely free. For more information about the green map, the Chicago Zoning map or any of Index Publishing’s other products and services, please contact us at staff@sustainable-chicago.com or call 312-644-7800.
Bulls and Blackhawks Ditch the Red, Opt for Green
April 12, 2012 by Matt Baker · Leave a Comment
By Matt Baker
The United Center
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