Featured Portfolio News News
Monday, January 9th, 2012
CNT recently contributed to a report by Oberlin College that lays the analytical roadmap for a healthy, efficient, and sustainable energy economy in the city of Oberlin and throughout Northern Ohio.
CNT helped develop a sustainable transportation plan to reduce carbon emissions in the city of Oberlin over the next 40 years. After the jump, you can see the 10 strategies to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Friday, January 6th, 2012
In support of CNT’s community development partner, the South Suburban Mayors and Manager’s Association (SSMMA), CNT is posting a Request for Proposals (RFP). SSMMA has received a seed capital grant from HUD’s Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant program to establish the Southland Community Development Fund. SSMMA seeks an organization or coalition of organizations that possesses the qualifications and wants to perform the duties detailed in the RFP to become the Fund Manager of this emerging fund.
Download the RFP ››
Download Attachment A: Fundamental Structural Proposals for the Southland Community Development Fund from Chicago Area and Southland Financial Advisors ››
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
Thursday, December 15th, 2011
The US EPA and other federal and state agencies have announced a legal settlement with the Chicago area’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) to address the problem of raw sewage being released into Chicago area waterways during rain storms. The settlement includes a requirement to complete the Deep Tunnel by 2029 to increase its capacity to handle wet weather events and address combined sewer overflow discharges. It also requires the agency to implement a $25 million to $50 million green infrastructure program that will reduce stormwater runoff in communities.
“We are pleased to see green infrastructure included in the overall plan to manage our stormwater in the Chicago region,” said Kathryn Tholin, CEO of the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), which has worked for more than a decade to demonstrate the myriad benefits of green infrastructure and foster its widespread use. “The additional investment in green infrastructure dwarfs previous investment in the proven, cost-effective practice, and it will allow the district and others to measure its benefits at a regionwide scale.”
“Despite the positive step forward, the 15-year timeframe for implementing green infrastructure is far too long and should be accelerated,” said Tholin. “Philadelphia and St. Louis, cities smaller than Chicago, have invested much more money in green infrastructure in a much shorter period of time. The beauty of green infrastructure is that we can implement these solutions now and begin seeing positive results in communities long before the Deep Tunnel is complete. Deploying green infrastructure in communities is the quickest, cheapest way to address costly flooding in homes and businesses.” Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Natural Resources | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, December 14th, 2011
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has approved the installation of an I-GO Car Sharing solar-powered charging station for two electric vehicles at the park and ride lot adjacent to the Brown Line Kimball El station. This is the first solar-powered charging station announced on CTA property.
I-GO recently announced its groundbreaking electric vehicle project that will add 36 all-electric vehicles to its fleet and 18 solar charging stations to provide clean power to its cars. Once completed, I-GO will have the largest electric vehicle fleet in the Midwest, and it will use more solar power to charge electric vehicles than anywhere else in the country.
“CTA has long supported initiatives that reduce emissions and promote sustainability—two main goals of the transit services we offer,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool. “Car sharing is a great complement to public transit.” Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, I-GO, Transportation and Community Development | 1 Comment »
Friday, December 9th, 2011
Gov. Patrick Quinn today announced a major partnership and conservation initiative that will significantly increase natural green space and strengthen the economy in the Lake Calumet area located south of Chicago. The Millennium Reserve is the largest open space project in the country, which will enhance public recreation opportunities in 140,000 acres of land in the Calumet region. Today, Governor Quinn announced the start of the Calumet Core phase of the effort, which involves restoration of 15,000 acres of open space.
“This important project will convert an industrial area into valuable open space that gives area families a place to gather, play and experience the great outdoors,” Gov. Quinn said. Read more »
Posted in Featured Portfolio News, Transportation and Community Development | No Comments »
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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Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
CNT President Scott Bernstein has co-authored a “big idea” in the “Big Ideas for Jobs” policy brief released by the Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment, part of the University of California-Berkeley. The brief and more details can be found at www.BigIdeasforJobs.org.
The essay by Bernstein and Center for Wisconsin Strategies Director Joel Rogers argues for finding new ways to invest public and private capital to fund much-needed infrastructure improvements that will create jobs while strengthening communities. The authors cite two case studies as models for public-private investment—the Los Angeles plan to finance and expand its transit service in 10 years over the typical 30 and the Energy Savers program in Chicago that provides a revolving low-interest loan fund for energy efficiency retrofits of multifamily apartment buildings. Read more »
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Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
Workshop participants discuss how families can save money by reducing their carbon footprint.
Last week, 11 community leaders who provide financial education and homeowner counseling spent two days in a “train-the-trainer” workshop learning how to incorporate CNT’s Equity Express Green Financial Education into their programs.
Once clients have defined their financial goals and begun to keep track of their expenses, the next step is to determine how they can save money on their limited income. One option is to make smarter consumer choices.
Equity Express is a six-session curriculum that focuses on ways people can save money in the areas of energy, transportation, telecom, and food, which together represent 40 percent of a typical family budget. By making smarter consumer choices, former Equity Express workshop participants have decreased monthly expenses from $20 to $200 per month.
Read more »
Posted in Climate, Equity Express, Featured Portfolio News | No Comments »
Friday, November 4th, 2011
Livability Solutions is now accepting applications for free technical assistance.
Applications are now being accepted from local, regional, state, and tribal governments and community-based organizations for free technical assistance in implementing smart growth initiatives. Up to 12 recipients will receive a two-day workshop with members of Livability Solutions, a partnership among CNT and 10 other organizations, who have expertise in planning projects that protect the environment, improve public health, facilitate job creation and economic opportunity, and improve overall quality of life. The application deadline is November 22, 2011, and grantees will be announced on December 22, 2011.
Please visit Livability Solutions for the complete details.
Posted in Climate, Featured Portfolio News | No Comments »
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.
Read more »
Posted in Energy, Featured Portfolio News | No Comments »
