Accomplishments
In 2009, CNT has been able to research, measure, implement and invent new approaches to urban challenges. We have developed innovative tools that help individuals to make better choices and communities to make better plans. This year, CNT…
CLIMATE
Participated…
in a public announcement of President Barack Obama’s national high-speed rail (HSR) master plan that cited CNT’s research on high-speed rail and greenhouse gas emissions.
Advocated…
in support of the proposed “Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (G.R.E.E.N)” Act and recommended that key language on expanding the definition of “efficiency” to include “location efficiency” be incorporated in the federal climate bill.
Advised…
successfully to the Climate Registry that the Local Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocol be the rulebook for reporting local government emissions in North America.
ENERGY
Audited…
8,250 units in 260 multifamily buildings through the Energy Savers program.
Conducted…
energy and climate inventories for 40 of the 283 municipalities in the 7- county Chicagoland region, through the Municipal Energy Profile Program, with plans to complete profiles for all 283.
Partnered…
with the U.S. Green Building Council – Chicago Chapter and performed the data collection and analysis for a year-one report of the post-occupancy performance of 25 LEED buildings in Illinois.
Co-authored…
“Chicago’s Guide to Completing an Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy”, to help cities and counties to plan for long-term and sustainable energy efficiency and conservation and maximize opportunities provided by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.
Released…
Illinois Smart Grid Initiative’s “Empowering Consumers through a Modern Electric Grid”.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Launched…
the Super Barrel revolution: 5 installed, including 2 affordable multifamily housing sites, 2 market-rate multifamily buildings, and CNT’s own.
Launched…
the Green Affordable Housing Initiative with a dozen rain gardens, bioswales, green walls, and superbarrels at multifamily affordable housing units in Oak Park and Chicago’s West Side, in partnership with Oak Park Residence Corp., Mercy Lakefront Housing, and Home Depot Foundation.
Replaced…
about 2,300 square feet of pavement with native plants and permeable surfaces to reduce runoff and create habitat at schools and a multifamily affordable housing courtyard that hosts a youth center.
Fulfilled…
our objective to give regional impact to Chicago’s pioneering efforts in sustainable street design by organizing “Sustainable Streets for Chicagoland” workshop to an overflow crowd of 100, exploring how to convert streets from part of the problem to part of the solution by incorporating sustainable stormwater, material, lighting and other approaches.
Improved…
the nation’s premier GI evaluation tool with a dozen green infrastructure stormwater practices and the ability to assess whether selected GI measures meet a variety of policy standards that are in force in various parts of the country.
Educated…
thousands of municipal officials, engineers, architects, designers and others in the effectiveness and benefits of GI via workshop presentations, webinars and publications (including Chicago, Baltimore, Louisville, Kansas City, San Antonio, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Toronto.
Advocated…
for Illinois legislation requiring a study of potential state standards for applying Green Infrastructure in urban areas, which will recommend potential actions to the 2010 legislature, and worked with Illinois EPA to include GI training requirements in the state permit for small communities under the Clean Water Act’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System.
Contributed…
research to congressional debate leading to the 20% green reserve set-aside within the ARRA stimulus for water infrastructure.
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Helped…
secure $2.22 Million in new investment toward brownfields remediation for Chicago’s south suburbs, including Dixmoor, Blue Island, and Harvey.
Released…
“Making Smart Choices”, a report on existing conditions and opportunities for TOD at 33 stations along 4 commuter lines.
Upgraded…
our Housing + Transportation (H+T) Affordability Index website to include greenhouse gas emissions maps of carbon dioxide stemming from household vehicle travel in 55 metropolitan areas across the U.S.
Provided…
input to the federal administration transition and co-authored “Re-tooling HUD”, which resulted in a solid agenda for a new interagency partnership on sustainable communities between Housing & Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. EPA, a proposed new Office of Sustainable Communities and Housing, and initial budget appropriations to support these efforts.
Applied…
the results of our H+T Affordability Index to communities throughout the Chicago area to allow them to more fully understand and promote their affordability and advocate for location efficient projects like transit-oriented and cargo-oriented development.
Released…
with the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing and CHP, “A Heavy Burden”, which finds that housing located far from transit and employment centers places a heavy financial strain on working families in the Washington, DC metropolitan region.
Testified…
at several congressional meetings regarding the adoption on urban sustainable policies.
Partnered…
with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to create the nation’s first joint smart card between a public transit agency and car-sharing service. The Chicago Card Plus/I-GO Card enables its dual-account holders to access CTA trains and buses, Pace buses, and every car in I-GO’s metro-wide fleet—most of which are near or adjacent to CTA routes or rail stations.
Spread…
the wide-ranging benefits of car sharing across the metro area by expanding to the Chicagoland suburbs.
Introduced…
two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to Downtown Chicago and the South Loop.
GENERAL
Recognized…
as one of only eight organizations from around the world to receive the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.
Past years:
