Using energy efficiently has been a critical focus of CNT’s efforts to improve urban sustainability. In 2000, CNT Energy (formerly known as the Community Energy Cooperative) was created to explore new ways to measure energy usage and to assist individual consumers and concerned communities in achieving sustainable, affordable energy solutions.
The energy programs at CNT are consolidated under the division CNT Energy, a 501c(4) non-profit organization helping consumers and communities obtain the information and services they need to reduce their consumption and costs. CNT Energy’s areas of focus include building performance and energy efficiency, real-time electricity pricing, climate change analysis, regional energy planning, and green building research and evaluation.
CNT Energy offers consumer households up-to-date information on the rapidly changing energy market in Illinois. Members gain access to educational programs on managing energy costs, as well as opportunities to participate in pilot programs designed to benefit consumers.
CNT Energy will continue developing innovative programs and strategies to reduce energy consumption and costs, and will work to help communities become healthier and more sustainable.
Monday, July 1st, 2013 at 5:21 pm
The City of Chicago has a introduced an ordinance that would require commercial and residential buildings greater than 50,000 square feet to disclose their energy use over the next few years. CNT Energy has benchmarked more than 43 million square feet of commercial, municipal, and multifamily building stock over the years and have written a primer on benchmarking. Additionally, CNT Energy recently completed a project with Cook County to benchmark 33 of its municipal buildings. CNT Energy found that Cook County has saved more than $3 million in utility costs from 2010 to 2012 with no- and low-cost efficiency improvements.
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Thursday, June 20th, 2013 at 10:35 am
Small multifamily buildings – those with two, three, or four units – are common in the Chicago area. They represent 39 percent of Chicago metropolitan urban housing and 33 percent of Cook County housing, overall.
Improving the efficiency of these small multifamily buildings means less energy is required to maintain comfortable living spaces. Reducing energy consumption can help building owners and their tenants save money and contribute to a healthier environment.
Despite the prevalence of this building type, energy efficiency programs geared for small multifamily buildings have historically been lacking. In addition, building owners often don’t have the opportunity to identify the best ways to improve their buildings, and often lack the capital or access to financing to invest in money-saving improvements.
CNT Energy’s new Small Multifamily Energy Savers program gives owners the assistance they need to recognize, implement, and finance energy efficiency improvements for their building. As part of the Small Multifamily Energy Savers program, experts from CNT Energy and a qualified contractor will conduct a detailed, comprehensive building assessment to improve the energy and water efficiency and health and safety of the building.
The Energy Savers team will identify the most cost-effective improvements that give the best return on investment and assist building owners throughout the entire construction process, from soliciting contractor bids to inspecting the work that is done. We also connect building owners to low-cost financing, rebates, and incentives to help pay for the recommended improvements. For example, now through August 2013, home owners can save 70% up to $1750 off the one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency improvements: air sealing and insulating the home.
It’s an easy process for small multifamily building owners:
- Apply online.
- Schedule the assessment. The Energy Savers team will contact you to set up a free walk-through.
- Review the results and work proposal. We’ll help you decide the best improvements for your building.
- Schedule, install, and inspect work. Our team will help you get the most competitive bids.
- Save energy, money, and have happier tenants!
Since 2008, CNT Energy, in partnership with Community Investment Corporation, has delivered energy efficiency upgrades in more than 13,000 apartment units in larger apartment buildings (those with 5 or more units) in northern Illinois. We’re excited to extend our expertise and experience to the small multifamily building sector and help preserve affordable housing in our area.
The Small Multifamily Energy Savers program is open to owners of residential small multifamily buildings located in the City of Chicago. For a limited time, applicants may also qualify for a free assessment, valued at $400 to $600. Apply now to schedule your small multifamily building assessment or call us at (855) 372-8377.
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Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 at 2:39 pm
In a recent post, we highlighted a report that shows how energy efficiency upgrades in multifamily buildings could save building owners and residents up to $3.4 billion annually. Despite this, the multifamily building sector represents a mostly untapped opportunity for energy efficiency gains amongst traditional utility-run programs.
One reason for this is because the multifamily market has unique challenges that must be addressed in order to deliver effective programs. The good news is, we have a roadmap and there are partners along the way to help utilities capitalize on the enormous opportunity for energy savings that exists in the multifamily housing sector.
A new report we released along with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Engaging as Partners: Introducing Utilities to the Energy Efficiency Needs of Multifamily Buildings and Their Owners, examines the factors that contribute to effective energy efficiency program design for multifamily buildings and recommends strategies that can help utilities design and implement energy efficiency programs.
Here are recommended strategies, from the report:
- Segment the Multifamily Market: Segmenting the multifamily market into several common local building types, ages, and split incentive structures will increase program efficiency and improve service.
- Design Programs that Overcome Split Incentive Barriers: Overcome split incentive barriers (when building owners are responsible for investing in energy efficiency improvements, while tenants reap the benefits via lower energy bills) by providing sufficient incentives to building owners.
- Coordinate Gas and Electric Programs: Coordinate administration across utilities to simplify and speed up the process for multifamily building owners.
- Choose the Most Appropriate Delivery Mechanism for the Program: Programs that are convenient and use trusted partners help educate potential customers and break down barriers.
- Integrate Comprehensive and Direct Install Solutions: Combine the two activities into one project to achieve economies of scale, create a single point of communication, and decrease disruptions.
- Make Rebates Accessible and Easy: Convenience is an important determinant of participation.
- Partner with Sources of Attractive Multifamily Financing: Consider a trusted financing partner and an opportunity to educate multifamily clients about efficiency upgrades when they seek other financing.
- Provide Follow-Up and Aggregated Building Energy Use Data: Quality control is critical to success, reducing rework and improving customer satisfaction.
- Engage with Key Multifamily Industry Players: Collaboration with other organizations can heighten the impact of a multifamily energy efficiency program.
The other good news is that while building owners in many areas historically have not made energy efficiency investments a high priority, utilities can and have designed effective programs for the multifamily sector. Read the full report for case studies on some of these programs.
This report is a follow-up to an earlier report that introduced building owners and housing advocates to the utility sector.
This post was originally published on the CNT Energy blog.
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