Sustainable Chicago

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Receives Top Research Award

Representatives from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) attending the American Academy of Environmental Engineers’ conference last month came home holding the grand prize for university research.

Introducing Our New Green Map

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new interactive green map, which identifies all LEED-certified and other sustainable buildings within Chicago. The green map also hosts Chicago’s largest comprehensive database of green roofs, identifying where the structure is, the type of green roof system and the size of the green roof.

Bulls and Blackhawks Ditch the Red, Opt for Green

The Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks are both headed to the playoffs this year. But the teams’ fans had another reason to cheer in the first environmentally friendly “Go-Green” games recently held at the Madhouse on Madison. The Bulls, Blackhawks and Constellation Energy also jointly announced a five-year sponsorship designating Constellation as the official energy provider for United Center.

Ed Begley Jr. is Optimistic About the Environment (And He Thinks You Should Be Too)

"You don’t run up Mt. Everest,” Ed Begley Jr. likes to say when encouraging people to live as sustainably as they are able, not as they feel that they must. “You get to base camp and you get acclimated. Then you climb only has high as you can.” Begley agreed to sit and discuss the environmental challenges and successes he’s experienced over the years, the politics of sustainability and the new, LEED Platinum house he and his wife will soon construct and document for On Begley Street.

Roosevelt University Eyes the Future

Edward Sparling was president of the YMCA College in Chicago in 1945 when he refused to provide the school’s board with student demographic information, fearing a quota that would limit the enrollment of women and minorities. When the board insisted, Sparling resigned in protest and many of the school’s faculty and staff joined him.

Tax Rebates May Be Gone, But Utility Rebates Remain

What would you do if major utility companies like Nicor, ComEd and Peoples Gas would pay you to change your energy consumption habits? If you knew you could get free money out of these companies, would you modify your behavior now, to fix things today? The obvious answer is yes, you would change. And in a depressed economy where contractors, builders and homeowners are seeking alternative methods to save money and spend less on everything, more utility providers are making free and easy money a reality.

The Green Exchange Comes to Life

As spring arrives and the region shows signs of life renewed, new vigor is coming to the Green Exchange as well. Imagined as a microcosm of sustainable businesses, the Green Exchange made much fanfare five years ago with the announcement of plans to refurbish the former Cooper Lighting factory in Logan Square into a localized venue for purveyors of green products and services. And then the floor fell out of the economy.

The Superior Wall System That You’re Not Using

Stick-built homes have many flaws. They are hard to effectively insulate and guard against air and moisture infiltrations. Even if you are able to put in stellar insulation, every stud is a thermal bridge that allows unwanted heat to seep in or out, depending on the season. There is an alternative, however. Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) offer several wall components in one system: concrete forms, insulation, furring strips, air infiltration barrier and vapor barrier.

Mayor Emanuel Announces Chicago Infrastructure Trust

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the creation of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, an innovative way to leverage private investment for transformative infrastructure projects. Mayor Emanuel was joined at the announcement by President Bill Clinton, who has been helping strengthen the country’s infrastructure for decades, most recently through the Clinton Foundation's work with large cities like Chicago on energy efficiency initiatives.

Chicago’s First LEED-Gold Certified Dental Office Opens in Wicker Park

There’s now one less reason to fear going to the dentist: the air you breath will be free of VOCs. ORA Dental Studio, which promotes “Ecofriendly Dentistry,” is now also Chicago’s first dental office to be certified for green building. The company’s new Wicker Park office on Division was recently awarded LEED Gold certification by the USGBC for its eco-friendly and high-performance design, construction and operation.