2010 was a truly eventful year at CNT. We hit the ground running and we have many exciting new projects in the pipeline for 2011. Thank you for your interest in our work!
Take a look at our highlights 0f 2010 ››
Sustainable development is economic development. That was the mantra when CNT put together a package of 22 policy recommendations for Chicago’s next mayor. The Mayoral Playbook makes the case for how Chicago’s next leaders can apply sustainable development principles to strengthen the city’s economy.
“Investing in a Better Chicago” argues that investing in strategies that make the city more sustainable will also make the economy more productive and resilient. The report calls for increased energy conservation, improved transportation options, prioritized development around transit nodes, and wide deployment of green infrastructure. All would save money, create jobs, conserve resources, and combat climate change. Read more »
Clean-up has begun on 40 acres of prime industrial land straddling Chicagoland’s Dixmoor and Harvey
A ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the environmental remediation of 40 acres of prime industrial land straddling Chicagoland’s Dixmoor and Harvey was held on Monday with dozens of stakeholders in attendance. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.; Illinois Rep. Will Davis; Dixmoor Mayor Keevan Grimmett; and Harvey Director of Planning and Community Development LaTonya Rufus spoke about the benefits of returning the site to industrial use: job creation, increased tax revenue for the towns, and a renewed sense of pride.
The political leaders also acknowledged the important contributions of CNT, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Land Resource Management Group to make the clean-up possible. Read more »
A new guidebook by the Center for Transit-Oriented Development (CTOD) provides information to help planners create high-quality transit-oriented developments (TOD) that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) while creating a host of community benefits. CTOD is a national coalition group that includes CNT, Reconnecting America, and Strategic Economics.
The guidebook builds off of the TOD Database, a web tool that provides economic and demographic information for every existing and proposed fixed guideway transit station in the United States. Read more »
Each profile includes annual emissions inventory by sector - a starting point for the development of a municipal sustainability or climate action plan
Last year, CNT began conducting workshops for communities with technical questions about their Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program federal money and to identify best practices, kicking off the Municipal Energy Profile Project (MEPP) for the 7-county Chicago region. This week, CNT Energy has released the results of MEPP, an effort to produce customized Municipal Energy Profiles for 283 communities in the Chicago metropolitan region.
The Municipal Energy Profiles provide unprecedented collections of information that local leaders can use to understand energy use in their communities, reduce energy expenses, and measure progress toward environmental goals. These reports are especially timely given the federal and state energy efficiency dollars and other funding opportunities that are currently available to local municipalities. Read more »
CHICAGO (December 13, 2010)—A set of 22 policy recommendations released today make a case for how Chicago’s next leaders can apply sustainable development principles to strengthen the city’s economy. The Center for Neighborhood Technology’s “Investing in a Better Chicago” argues that investing in strategies that make the city more sustainable will also make the economy more productive and resilient. The CNT report calls for increased energy conservation, improved transportation options, prioritized development around transit nodes, and wide deployment of green infrastructure. All would save money, create jobs, conserve resources, and combat climate change.
“Sustainable development is economic development,” said Kathryn Tholin, CEO of CNT. “Now more than ever, Chicago needs leaders who champion policies that create jobs, increase residents’ incomes, are fiscally responsible, and protect the environment. Implementing these sustainability recommendations will help Chicago emerge from the current recession as home to the nation’s most productive place to live and work.”
Chicago has a reputation as a sustainable city, but it has unrealized potential when it comes to increasing the productivity of its urban economy. Realizing that potential requires investing in the assets that will make business, households and government run more cheaply and efficiently in the long term. Meanwhile, expensive inefficiencies force people to pay too much to conduct business and live their lives. The city’s future leaders can do their part to support Chicago’s long-term productivity by making sustainable development the guiding ethos of public decision making. CNT mailed each mayoral and aldermanic candidate a copy of its recommendations last week.
“The efficient use of resources is a basic tenet of good business, and it also applies to urban areas,” said Scott Bernstein, president of CNT. “That simple concept has driven CNT’s work for 32 years. We are committed to working with the city’s next leaders to help Chicago reach its full potential.”
“Investing in a Better Chicago” has four key strategies that call on the next mayor and City Council to:
“Chicago is at risk of falling behind other regions and cities unless it takes additional steps to improve its productivity as an urban area,” said Jacky Grimshaw, CNT vice-president of policy. “By investing rather than spending, Chicago’s new leaders can position us to be the most productive, competitive, environmentally conscientious, livable and profitable city in America in the 21st century.”
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CONTACT:
Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
Chicago mayoral candidates gathered in a downtown auditorium recently to share their views on sustainability to a sold out crowd of environmentally conscious voters at a monthly Green Drinks event – an institution for Chicago’s sustainability community.
Five of the 16 candidates attended, including Danny Davis, Miguel Del Valle, John Hu, Carol Moseley Braun, and Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins. Each candidate outlined his or her view about the city’s current track record on sustainability, what sustainability means to them, and the role environmental issues would play in their administration. Read more »
On December 1, building owners, contractors, and local elected official gathered at the Howard Apartment Building in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood to learn about the Energy Savers program, one of the most effective energy efficiency programs in the country. Energy Savers is a project of CNT Energy and the Community Investment Corporation (CIC). The program offers a one-stop shop that helps building owners navigate the complexities of investing in energy efficiency. Read more »
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) is a creative think-and-do tank that combines rigorous research with effective solutions. CNT works across disciplines and issues, including transportation and community development, energy, water, and climate change.
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