Energy News
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Energy efficiency upgrades in multifamily buildings could save building owners and residents up to $3.4 billion nationwide, according to a report released by CNT Energy and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Engaging as Partners in Energy Efficiency: Multifamily Housing and Utilities demonstrates that energy use in multifamily buildings can be reduced substantially, and cost-effective upgrades can result in utility cost savings of 15 to 30 percent in buildings with five or more residential units. The key to unlocking the savings is for energy utilities and apartment building owners to work together more closely to develop effective energy efficiency policies.
“We have billions essentially sitting untapped in our apartment buildings. We can harness that by simply setting better policies for efficiency for apartment buildings,” said Anne McKibbin, CNT Energy policy director and coauthor of the report. “Partnering with utilities is a crucial part of the process. Building owners and other housing industry players need to work with their utilities, engaging them directly and in local and state regulatory proceedings,” she said.
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Friday, November 18th, 2011
Bank of America has awarded the Energy Savers program $8.5 million to expand the number of energy efficiency retrofits it finances. Energy Savers, a partnership between CNT Energy and the Community Investment Corporation (CIC), is the nation’s premier one-stop service for energy efficiency retrofits in multifamily buildings. CNT Energy provides the energy audits, oversees construction, and monitors post-construction energy bills to maximize performance. CIC provides the low-interest financing that reduces the upfront costs of efficiency upgrades for owners. The program helps preserve affordable housing by keeping energy costs low, and it reduces global warming emissions by reducing energy use. Read more »
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Energy Impact Illinois—a partnership of government, utilities, and nonprofits to help residents, businesses, and non-profits reduce energy use—has launched a personalized energy calculator and financial resources for Chicago area homeowners to help them make energy efficient improvements to their homes. The tools will educate homeowners on their current energy usage, provide information on how to make smart energy efficiency investments and connect them with financial resources to make those investments a reality.
The energy calculator, known as “MyHomeEQ” and developed by CNT Energy, is a unique customized web tool that gives users real, up-to-date information on their home energy usage. The tool is a simple process that tells a user how they use energy, what can be done to lower utility bills while improving energy efficiency, and how to connect with the right resources and contractors needed to implement those actions.
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Thursday, October 27th, 2011
Dynamic pricing, made possible by the smart grid, allows consumers to buy cheaper power.
If the results of an Ameren Illinois program is any indication, the electric grid modernization components of the bill approved yesterday by the Illinois General Assembly could enable consumers to reap savings on their electricity that will more than offset the bill’s estimated $36 per year price tag for households.
The downstate Ameren program, made possible by the smart grid technology that will become widespread as a result of the new law, has saved more than 11,000 customers an average of 25 percent on the cost of their energy supply compared to what they would pay on a standard rate plan. The savings translates to nearly $200 on average savings per year, with typical households paying around $100 per month before switching to the program. Program participants have saved more than $4 million since it began in 2007.
“The smart grid can facilitate the use of smart rates that save people real money,” said Anne Evens, director of CNT Energy, which administers the Ameren program. “Based on our experience, when grid modernization technology is combined with clear, ongoing customer education, it can help customers make good choices about their energy use and take control of their utility bills.”
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
American home buyers and builders are often discouraged from purchasing and constructing energy efficient homes because current mortgage underwriting and appraisal standards fail to account for energy costs and savings that come from energy efficiency improvements. Today’s introduction of the SAVE Act by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Isakson (R-GA) will remove these roadblocks to more energy efficient homes and take a first step toward giving consumers an energy rating on homes, similar to “miles per gallon” ratings on cars or Energy Star labels on appliances.
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
An analysis of 51 LEED-certified green projects in Illinois found that most—specifically those that prioritized energy efficiency during the design and construction phase—use less energy than a typical commercial building. The study also showed that additional costs associated with green construction varied across projects, with a median value of $3.81 per square foot. In addition, building occupants are generally satisfied with their work environment and the commute to these LEED® projects.
“Not all green buildings are alike when it comes to energy efficiency,” said Anne Evens, director of the nonprofit CNT Energy, which conducted the study in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council – Illinois Chapter (USGBC – Illinois). “Maximizing efficiency requires starting with the right priorities, monitoring usage, and tweaking operations and maintenance over the life of a building. Buildings account for a large portion of our global warming emissions here in Chicago, and building owners need to be diligent about efficiency to reduce emissions and save on utility bills.” Read more »
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Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
CHICAGO (September 28, 2011)—An analysis of 51 LEED-certified green projects in Illinois found that most—specifically those that prioritized energy efficiency during the design and construction phase—use less energy than a typical commercial building. The study also showed that additional costs associated with green construction varied across projects, with a median value of $3.81 per square foot. In addition, building occupants are generally satisfied with their work environment and the commute to these LEED® projects.
“Not all green buildings are alike when it comes to energy efficiency,” said Anne Evens, director of the nonprofit CNT Energy, which conducted the study in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council – Illinois Chapter (USGBC – Illinois). “Maximizing efficiency requires starting with the right priorities, monitoring usage, and tweaking operations and maintenance over the life of a building. Buildings account for a large portion of our global warming emissions here in Chicago, and building owners need to be diligent about efficiency to reduce emissions and save on utility bills.”
The study, “Regional Green Building Case Study: Year Two Report,” is a follow-up to a 2009 study that examined the energy usage and other environmental factors in 25 LEED-certified buildings in Illinois. Read more »
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Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
CNT Energy and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning are proud to cohost an innovative event coming to Chicago on September 28. The GreenMLS/Better Buildings Roundtable will bring energy and real estate professionals together to pinpoint a market-driven path to drive demand for energy efficient homes.
Using a bottom-up model, the event will bring together key players from six communities receiving Department of Energy Better Buildings grant funding. The Better Buildings grants are designed in part to create residential home energy remodeling programs that will both accelerate energy efficient home inventory and create long-term demand for this type of remodeling work. National experts will provide context and discuss how energy efficiency programs can be reflected best in each community’s local multiple listing service (MLS). Addressing energy efficiency in the MLS systems now will ready the markets for a time when more energy efficient homes become available for resale. This work could make a premium for these homes more transparent to consumers. Read more »
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Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Curious about the Energy Savers program? Listen to CNT Energy’s Peter Ludwig explain how it works and what the benefits are on Tuesday, July 26, at 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CDT. Register here for free.
Energy Savers is a one-stop shop for apartment building owners in the Chicago region to obtain technical assistance and financing for energy efficiency retrofits to their buildings. To date, the program helps building owners save an average of 30 percent on their utility bills, equaling roughly $10,000 per year. Energy Savers has completed retrofit work in more than 6,000 units and created 75 jobs. CNT Energy is an affiliate of CNT.
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Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
On June 14 the Kane County Board approved an energy plan that recommends a set of actions that could save the county between $1 billion and $3.4 billion in avoided energy costs over the next 30 years. The Kane County 2040 Energy Plan, produced by Chicago-based nonprofit CNT Energy, provides data and analysis on current energy use in the county and then projects various energy use scenarios between today and 2040. The plan is an expanded update that CNT Energy produced for the county in 2005. Read more »
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