Green Building Research and Evaluation : Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)

Green Building Research and Evaluation

Communities across the country are making commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy consumption in buildings accounts for 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in the Chicago area. CNT’s LEED-Platinum building is being used as a model and demonstration project to help others learn more about how to build the next generation of energy-efficient, cost-effective buildings. CNT’s Green Building Research and Evaluation program can help local governments provide property owners with the information and tools they need to stabilize operating costs and improve the environment.

CNT Energy offers a variety of green building services, including green building code reviews to assist municipalities in including green building components in existing building and zoning codes; green building permitting programs designed to provide incentives to developers; analysis of community building trends and recommendations for targeting green building initiatives for both publicly and privately built structures. Communities are offered customized green building guides; training programs for permit review staff, inspectors, and code compliance staff; educational materials for developers, builders, contractors and homeowners; and tools for tracking progress and evaluating the effectiveness of green building initiatives.

Cities can use these innovative programs to assure that new construction and rehabbed buildings are cost-effective, provide environmental benefits, and reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more about CNT’s building at http://building.cnt.org/.

Projects

CNT Energy is part of a team assessing the carbon dioxide emissions of Chicago and the region, and developing strategies to reduce emissions.

Building off the Kane County Energy Plan, CNT Energy advocates the critical importance of planning for the changing energy environment and infrastructure needs in growing communities.

CNT’s LEED-Platinum building is being used as a model and demonstration project to help others learn more about how to build the next generation of energy-efficient, cost-effective buildings.

The ISGI is a public-private working group formed to engage Illinoisans in examining the nature and potential benefits of a modernized electric grid, and to map a policy path for achieving those benefits for consumers and the economy.

Tools

Visualizing CNT is a Web-based tool to display energy use intensity, carbon emissions and water use.

CNT Energy is a leader in developing and implementing successful real-time energy pricing programs for residential customers. We provide information, services, and tools to help manage electricity costs. For more information, see:

Power Smart Pricing for Ameren Illinois Utilities customers

The Watt Spot for ComEd customers.

This is a one-stop shop for owners of multi-family rental buildings with suggestions for energy efficient construction strategies and appliances for their properties.