Press Releases News
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Chicago ranks 10th for metro areas its size with poor access to transit for seniors
Chicago IL – By 2015, more than 15.5 million Americans ages 65 and older will live in communities where public transportation service is poor or non-existent, a new study shows. That number is expected to continue to grow rapidly as the baby boom generation “ages in place” in suburbs and exurbs with few mobility options for those who do not drive.
The report, Aging in Place, Stuck without Options, ranks metro areas by the percentage of seniors with poor access to public transportation, now and in the coming years, and presents other data on aging and transportation. The analysis by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) evaluates metro areas within five size categories.
By 2015, 66 percent of seniors living in suburban Chicago will have poor transit access, while only 6 percent of seniors living in the City of Chicago will face poor transit options. The total number of seniors with poor access is projected to increase by 153,550 by 2015.
Metro Chicago ranks among the best for metro populations of 3 million and more. Atlanta ranks worst, followed by Riverside-San Bernardino, CA, Houston, Detroit and Dallas. In smaller areas such as Hamilton, OH will have 100 percent of seniors without access to public transportation. These conditions present a daunting challenge to local communities as a larger share of their population ages, increasing the demand for mobility options.
“The baby boom generation grew up and reared their children in communities that, for the first time in human history, were built on the assumption that everyone would always be able to drive an automobile,” said John Robert Smith, president and CEO of Reconnecting America and co-chair of Transportation for America. “What happens when people in this largest generation ever, with the longest predicted lifespan ever, outlive their ability to drive? That’s one of the questions we set out to answer in this report.”
“Transportation is typically the second highest expense for people, especially for those living in areas where driving is the only way to get around,” said Jacky Grimshaw, vice president of policy at CNT. “Poor transit access not only reduces independence for seniors, it also forces them to spend a large portion of their fixed incomes on transportation costs that could instead be paying for food and medicine.”
“For older individuals, access to safe, affordable and reliable public transportation is critical, said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois Senior State Director. “But in Chicago, a growing number of older adults lack access to the transportation options they need. AARP commends Illinois PIRG and the rest of the Transportation for America coalition for raising awareness of this issue, and starting a conversation with Congress and other stakeholders aimed at generating solutions for the transportation needs of older Americans.”
Such a small percentage of older Americans relocate that researchers already are seeing the emergence of so-called “naturally occurring retirement communities.” That phenomenon is growing as baby boomers begin to turn 65. Today, 79 percent of seniors age 65 and older live in suburban or rural communities that are largely car-dependent.
“Baby Boomers are a vital part of our economy, and we need to make sure that our local communities and entire region provide options that meet their changing transportation needs,” said Peter Skosey, vice president, Metropolitan Planning Council. “Seniors work, shop, volunteer and recreate, and our transportation system, in particular our public transportation network, must enable them to continue to do all of those things to keep our economy strong.”
Research shows that without access to affordable travel options, seniors age 65 and older who can no longer drive make 15 percent fewer trips to the doctor, 59 percent fewer trips to shop or eat out, and 65 percent fewer trips to visit friends and family, than drivers of the same age. As the cost of owning and fueling a vehicle rises, many older Americans who can still drive nonetheless are looking for lower-cost options.
“The transportation issues of an aging America are national in scope, and cash-strapped state and local governments will be looking for federal support in meeting their needs,” Smith added. “As Congress prepares this summer to adopt a new, long-term transportation authorization, Aging in Place, Stuck without Options outlines policies to help ensure that older Americans can remain mobile, active and independent.”
Policy recommendations includes:
- Increase funding support for communities looking to improve service such as buses, trains, vanpools, paratransit and ridesharing;
- Provide funding and incentives for transit operators, nonprofit organizations, and local communities to engage in innovative practices;
- Encourage state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and transit operators to involve seniors and the community stakeholders in developing plans for meeting the mobility needs of older adults;
- Ensure that state departments of transportation retain their authority to “flex” a portion of highway funds for transit projects and programs;
- Include a “complete streets” policy to ensure that streets and intersections around transit stops are safe and inviting for seniors.
To view the full report and to see the extended rankings, please click http://t4america.org/resources/SeniorsMobilityCrisis2011
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TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICA (T4) is the largest, most diverse coalition working on transportation reform today. Our nation’s transportation network is based on a policy that has not been significantly updated since the 1950’s. We believe it is time for a bold new vision — transportation that guarantees our freedom to move however we choose and leads to a stronger economy, greater energy security, cleaner environment, and healthier America for all of us. We’re calling for more responsible investment of our federal tax dollars to create a safer, cleaner, smarter transportation system that works for everyone. www.t4america.org
Founded in 1978, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
Since 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has been dedicated to shaping a more sustainable and prosperous greater Chicago region. As an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, MPC serves communities and residents by developing, promoting and implementing solutions for sound regional growth. www.metroplanning.org
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Friday, May 20th, 2011
CHICAGO (May 23, 2011)—Despite a persistent high unemployment rate and a history of inefficient development, Columbus has the economic and transportation assets to foster sustainable future growth, according to a new analysis of Columbus’s regional economy by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). The analysis found that the proposed North Corridor light rail line would enable the city to capitalize on national real estate trends when the economy and housing market rebound. It also found that attracting industrial and logistics businesses to South Columbus would allow the region to take advantage of the expanding freight rail industry.
“The Columbus region generates a fifth of the state’s economic activity but its development patterns over the years have undermined rather than reinforced its sizable economy,” said Scott Bernstein, president of CNT. “Central Ohio is at a turning point. It can continue with the status quo, stretching jobs and people farther and farther apart, or the city can forge a new path.”
The Columbus report is part of a broader partnership with CNT, then-Governor Ted Strickland’s administration and nearly 50 leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Columbus. The two-year project analyzed the economic development opportunities in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
Specifically, the Columbus report documented that:
- Since 2000, homebuilders constructed 43,000 more units than the market could support.
- Residents spend $6.1 billion per year to pay for transportation, with gas costs alone draining $817 million from the local economy. As Columbus residents face gas prices of $4 per gallon, their spending on gasoline alone could surge beyond $2.2 billion a year if their travel patterns stay the same.
- Auto-dependent, high-transportation-cost neighborhoods have as many as 3 in 10 properties with a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
- Retirees and young professionals are projected to demand more compact development through 2030, but as a whole these kinds of developments are in short supply in Columbus.
- National investors rank Central Ohio poorly as a market for multifamily and mixed use development.
The CNT report identified several strategies that Columbus could implement to promote growth that is more efficient for household, business, and municipal budgets. The strategies include:
- Moving forward with the proposed North Corridor light rail line. The North Corridor would connect downtown to Ohio State University, which represents 163,693 jobs, the second largest concentration of employment in Ohio.
- Encourage transit-oriented development along High Street to connect people from neighborhoods south of downtown to OSU and points farther north.
- Promote cargo-oriented development (COD). Columbus has two intermodal freight terminals—Rickenbacker Yard to the south and Buckeye Yard to the west. The region can capitalize on this intermodal advantage and attract industrial and logistics businesses that would benefit by locating near multiple modes of freight transportation, complementary firms, and a ready workforce.
- Direct public investments in housing in areas where the combined cost of housing and transportation do not exceed 45 percent of household income. CNT’s Housing + Transportation Affordability Index analysis found that less expensive housing costs in communities outside of I-270 often have transportation costs that meet or exceed the cost of housing.
“The region’s economic development efforts need to refocus on investments that make the region more economically and environmentally resilient,” said María Choca Urban, CNT’s director of Transportation and Community Development. “The prevailing development patterns of the past contributed to the current economic situation of foreclosures, recession and unemployment.”
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CONTACT:
Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
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Friday, May 20th, 2011
CHICAGO (May 23, 2011)—Despite a persistent high unemployment rate and a history of inefficient development, Cleveland has the economic and transportation assets to foster sustainable future growth, according to a new analysis of Cleveland’s regional economy by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT). The analysis found that a focus on transit-oriented development around three of the city’s fixed rail stations would enable the city to capitalize on national real estate trends when the economy and housing market rebound. It also found that attracting industrial and logistics businesses around the convergence of the Port of Cleveland, Interstate 77, and two Class 1 freight rail lines would allow the region to take advantage of the expanding freight rail industry.
“The Cleveland region generates the greatest single portion of the state’s economic activity, but its development patterns over the years have undermined rather than reinforced its sizable economy,” said Scott Bernstein, president of CNT. “Cleveland is at a turning point: continue with the status quo, stretching jobs and people farther and farther apart, or forge a new path.”
The Cleveland report is part of a broader partnership with CNT, then-Governor Ted Strickland’s administration and nearly 50 leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Cleveland. The two-year project analyzed the economic development opportunities in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
Specifically, the Cleveland report documented that:
- Since 2000, homebuilders constructed 48,831 more units than the market could support.
- Residents spend more than $8.5 billion dollars per year to pay for transportation, with gas costs alone draining $1.2 billion dollars from the local economy. As Cleveland residents face gas prices of $4 per gallon, their spending on gasoline alone could surge beyond $3.2 billion a year if their travel patterns stay the same.
- Auto-dependent, high-transportation-cost neighborhoods have as many as 1 in 3 properties with a second mortgage or a home equity loan.
- Retirees and young professionals are projected to demand more compact development through 2030, but as a whole these kinds of developments are in short supply in Cleveland.
- National investors rank Cleveland as one of the least favorable markets for multifamily and mixed use development.
The CNT report identified several strategies that Cleveland could implement to promote growth that is more efficient for household, business, and municipal budgets. The strategies include:
- Moving forward with the proposed Blue Line extension at Warrensville and Van Aken. An extension of the Blue Line to the Outerbelt would bring transit to a major employment center and increase job access for households living along the entire system.
- Encouraging transit-oriented development in Downtown, University Circle, and Shaker Square. These places sit at key hubs of the city’s rail system, share a stable housing market, and possess a street grid that makes it easy for residents to walk to destinations.
- Promote cargo-oriented development (COD). CODs bring industrial and logistics businesses together with access to multiple modes of freight transportation, complementary firms, and a ready workforce. Cuyahoga County boasts a fresh water port, two rail-to-truck intermodal terminals, 20 transloading facilities, and ample rail service from Norfolk Southern and CSX. The region should capitalize on these assets to attract businesses to nearby underutilized industrial sites.
- Make better use of the Port of Cleveland. The Port of Cleveland is the fourth busiest US port by tonnage but could take better advantage of trends that favor shipping by making upgrades to the port with resources from the US Department of Transportation, Economic Development Administration, and Ohio Department of Transportation.
- Directing public investments that affect housing and economic development to areas where the combined cost of housing and transportation do not exceed 45 percent of household income. CNT’s Housing + Transportation Affordability Index analysis found that less expensive communities in Lorain, Geauga, Medina, and Lake Counties may be out of reach for some because transportation costs often meet or exceed the cost of housing.
“The region’s economic development efforts need to refocus on investments that make the region more economically and environmentally resilient,” said María Choca Urban, CNT’s director of Transportation and Community Development. “The prevailing development patterns of the past here in Cleveland, across Ohio and across the country contributed to the current economic situation of foreclosures, recession and unemployment.”
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CONTACT:
Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
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Friday, April 22nd, 2011
CHICAGO (April 21, 2011)—A new feature on CNT’s Abogo® website allows users to see how rising gas prices could affect household transportation costs at a given location. Users type in an address to see average transportation costs for a neighborhood, and then select a gas price to calculate how this price affects total transportation costs for a typical household at that address. In auto-dependent locations, transportation costs increase dramatically as prices move up along the slider, while transit-rich locations have more modest increases.
“Location matters when it comes to how much a household pays to get around,” said Scott Bernstein, CNT president. “This tool illustrates how people in neighborhoods that lack transportation options will feel the gas price squeeze more acutely than people in neighborhoods where they can get around via transit, car sharing, a bike or their two feet.”
To see how gas prices will affect transportation costs where you live, go to: http://abogo.cnt.org/.
Abogo – a mash-up of “abode” and “to go”— uses data and calculations from CNT‘s Housing + Transportation (H+T®) Affordability Index to calculate the average transportation costs of a place. Transportation costs in the Index are based on the area’s average cost of auto ownership, auto usage and transit use. Calculations are based on 2000 Census data, the most recent data available at the census block group level. CNT will update the H+T Index with the most recent American Community Survey data later this year.
The Abogo gas slider allows people to adjust gas prices at $.05 increments between $3/gallon to $7/gallon. Users can compare these projected costs to two other transportation costs that are based on:
- the most recent national gas price average, and
- 2000 gas prices in the H+T Index.
How do today’s gas prices compare with 2008, the watershed year when a gallon of gas topped $4? The figure below charts the two years’ gas prices by week:
The national average gas price was $3.84/gallon on April 18 of this year, 33 cents higher than the price at this time in April 2008. National average gas prices didn’t hit $3.84/gal until May 26 in 2008, so in a sense we’re running at least five weeks ahead of that famous price run-up.
To minimize the impact of raising gas prices, CNT recommends that people:
Take transit where possible and make sure their employers have signed up for pre-tax transit benefits. Pre-tax transit benefits are an underutilized “use it or lose it” federal tax break administered through employers. Employees can save up to 40 percent on their commuting costs by buying transit fare before paying taxes. In Chicago, Cook County employers currently can receive up to $1,700 for simply enrolling their employees into the program.
Curb their cars and sign up for car sharing. Americans spend an annual average of $7,319 to own, operate, and maintain their cars, according to the AAA. A typical member of I-GO® Car Sharing in Chicago spends roughly $2,520 per year on transportation. Car sharing gets people where they need to go without worrying about gas prices. Members pay for cars by the hour, and gas is included in the hourly fee (as is insurance), so no need to worry about its price. Chicago’s I-GO has cars that are gas sippers, and it will soon add 30+ electric cars to its fleet that don’t use gasoline at all. There are 10 other nonprofit car-sharing organizations across the country. Find one in your city at carsharing.org.
“The H+T Index quantifies how choosing to live in walkable, transit-connected neighborhood can lower household expenses, and escalating gas prices drive this point home,” said Bernstein. “It’s times like these that underscore how tolerating low-density development patterns and neglecting public transportation infrastructure has serious consequences.”
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Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
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Thursday, April 21st, 2011
CHICAGO (April 19, 2011)—The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), a 33 year-old nonprofit organization dedicated to urban sustainability, has purchased a building at 1741 N. Western Ave. to accommodate growth in the organization and its two affiliates, CNT Energy and I-GO Car Sharing. The expansion reflects the increased demand for CNT’s solutions that simultaneously promote economic growth and environmental sustainability. Staff will move into the building this summer.
“We like to practice what we preach, and this is a nice example of what CNT is all about: uncover a community’s hidden assets and put them to new uses in ways that help the economy and the planet,” said Kathy Tholin, CNT’s Chief Executive Officer. “We needed a building, and this building needed us. It was slated to be demolished to make room for new condos before the housing bubble burst. Now this 97-year-old structure will be home to CNT’s committed staff, and we will soon draft plans to make the building a model of today’s energy efficiency technology, much like we did with our first building in the early 2000s.”
The purchase of 1741 N. Western marks a new chapter in CNT’s history. A CNT staff of 30 moved into 2125 W. North Ave. in 1987. In 2005, CNT remodeled the former weaving factory to become one of the first platinum USGBC LEED-certified buildings in the United States.
Since then, CNT has grown to include 96 staff across CNT, CNT Energy and I-GO Car Sharing. The research, programs and policies the organizations test and advocate for have taken off as concern over climate change, high energy costs, and inefficient use of existing community assets has steadily increased.
CNT Energy staff will move into the new building this summer. Demand for energy efficiency retrofits to the Chicago region’s building stock has dramatically increased in recent years, thanks to the Chicago Climate Action Plan goal of retrofitting 50 percent of the city’s buildings by 2020, multiple tax credits and rebates, and the savings owners see on utility bills.
Last fall, the region was awarded $25 million in stimulus funding to scale up the energy efficiency retrofit market. CNT Energy was chosen to administer the program, the Chicago Regional Initiative for Better Buildings, due in large part to its successful Energy Savers program. Energy Savers has helped local building owners make energy efficiency improvements in more than 3,500 housing units, cutting energy costs by 30 percent on average or $10,000 per year.
“I’m thrilled CNT is expanding into the 1st Ward,” said Alderman Joe Moreno. “We welcome our newest neighbor’s commitment to making communities economically and environmentally stronger.”
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Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
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Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
CHICAGO (April 13, 2011)—I-GO Car Sharing, Chicago’s first and only non-profit car-sharing organization, has formally announced its long-time status as a community-based “public offering.” I-GO went public at its inception in 2002, providing the public a convenient, affordable transportation alternative to auto-ownership. I-GO views itself as an extension of the public transit system, and it is the only car sharing organization in North America that has partnered with a local transit authority to offer a smart card that gives its 15,000 members access to both transit and car sharing vehicles.
“We provide an important public service that enhances mobility options while creating sustainable communities,” said Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-GO, an affiliate of the 32-year old Chicago-based Center for Neighborhood Technology. “We have nothing against Wall Street; we’re just more focused on places like Broadway and Lawrence and 53rd and South Lake Park.”
A typical I-GO member spends about $2,500 per year on transportation, roughly $5,000 less than the annual cost of owning a car. I-GO has more than 200 cars in 35 neighborhoods throughout the city and four suburbs that get users where they need to go without worrying about today’s escalating gas prices. Members pay for cars by the hour (about $8.50), and gas is included in the hourly fee (as is insurance).
I-GO is committed to pushing the car sharing industry to be as sustainable as possible. I-GO’s cars are all fuel efficient, and the organization will soon add roughly 30 electric cars to its fleet that don’t use gasoline at all. This spring, I-GO will install 15 solar canopies to power its electric vehicles with emissions-free electricity.
To speak to I-GO CEO Sharon Feigon about I-GO or other car sharing businesses that are going public, contact Emily Robinson at erobinson@cnt.org or 773.269.4043.
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Thursday, April 7th, 2011
CHICAGO (April 7, 2011)—A new analysis of Cincinnati’s regional economy has found that the city’s proposed streetcar plan would increase access to more than 100,000 jobs, including those at six Fortune 500 companies, the University of Cincinnati, and two hospitals. The analysis also found that the streetcar would reduce the cost of living in Over-the-Rhine and enable the city to capitalize on national real estate trends when the economy and housing market rebound. The report, produced by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) with guidance from nearly 50 leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, shows that focusing development around the region’s existing assets—such as its historic, walkable neighborhoods—would foster economically and environmentally sustainable growth.
“Once again, hard facts come down on the side of the streetcar,” said Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls. “This study shows how the streetcar plan would be a catalyst for a vibrant, connected Cincinnati where people of varying incomes and backgrounds could live, work and play.”
The CNT streetcar analysis is part of a broader study of Cincinnati’s current economic, demographic and housing situation and expected future trends. The report found that the region’s history of sprawling development and a disconnect between housing supply and demand have hindered rather than fostered economic development. The study found that:
- Residents spend more than $6.5 billion dollars per year to pay for transportation, with gas costs alone draining $900 million dollars from the local economy. As Cincinnati residents face gas prices of $4 per gallon, their total spending on gasoline could surge beyond $2.5 billion a year if their travel patterns stay the same.
- Since 2000, homebuilders constructed 38,000 more homes than the market could support.
- Foreclosures have swept into auto-dependent, high-transportation-cost neighborhoods along I‐71 and I‐75.
- Retirees and young professionals are projected to demand more compact development through 2030, but as a whole these kinds of developments are in short supply in Cincinnati.
The report also found that many households in Cincinnati are living in communities they cannot afford. Under the traditional view of housing affordability—housing should cost no more than 30 percent of income—75 percent of 10 Cincinnati households are living in affordable housing, according to the 2000 Census.
However, the conventional view of affordability fails to consider transportation costs, the second largest expenditure in household budgets. Households located in compact, mixed‐use, transit‐rich communities typically have lower transportation costs than households in auto-dependent neighborhoods, because they can use their feet, a bike, or transit to get to work, school and the grocery store. CNT’s Housing + Transportation (H+T®) Affordability Index reveals that only four in 10 households (44%) live in neighborhoods with combined housing and transportation costs below a more holistic benchmark of 45 percent of household income.
According to the CNT analysis, the streetcar would help keep housing affordable. Residents from auto-dependent neighborhoods who move into areas served by the streetcar could cut their typical transportation budget by half—and those savings would grow as new amenities follow and gas prices rise, as they have over the past decade.
The Cincinnati streetcar plan has already had a positive impact on the neighborhoods it would connect. The study found that people have started purchasing and renting homes in anticipation of the streetcar. Data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reveals that recent mortgages around Central Parkway are reaching as high as $250,000, even in the down market.
“Demand for my units is so high that I can’t imagine where it will be once the economy takes off and when the streetcar is built,” said Bill Baum of Urban Sites, a development firm in Over-the-Rhine. “People have come to me looking for apartments along Elm Street because they have read about the streetcar in the paper.”
“Our research here in Cincinnati and across Ohio and the country shows that households, jobs, and transportation options comprise the ‘three-legged stool’ of household affordability and sustainable economic development,” said María Choca Urban, CNT’s Director of Transportation and Community Development. “The region’s economic development efforts need to ensure new and existing jobs are accessible to other businesses, retain a diverse workforce, and offer multiple transportation options. The streetcar would do this, and it’s woefully short-sighted to throw away this opportunity.”
CONTACT:
Emily Robinson, Center for Neighborhood Technology, erobinson@cnt.org, 773-269-4043
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Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development.. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
CHICAGO (March 30, 2011)— In three short weeks, 87 companies have enrolled in the Transit Ridership Improvement Program (TRIP), which gives Cook County employers up to $1,700 for enrolling their employees in a pre-tax transit benefit program. So far, the program has extended pre-tax benefits to an estimated 800 commuters, who can save between 30 percent and 40 percent on their commuting costs by purchasing transit fares before taxes.
Companies large and small are eligible. The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), which is administering the program in coordination with the Cook County Department of Environmental Control and the Regional Transportation Authority, has enrolled firms with as few as one employee to as many as 1,800. Fifty-six companies are entirely new to pre-tax transit benefits, while 31 are taking advantage of the incentive by enrolling more employees.
There’s still time to sign up for this incentive program, but no time is better than right now.
Employers can offer a pre-tax benefit program at any time, but only through TRIP can they receive incentive money for doing so. Funds for the incentives are limited and will be disbursed on a first come, first serve basis.
And, as CNT Vice President of Policy Jacky Grimshaw puts it: “We’ve just experienced the fastest ever two-week increase in gas prices at a time when households are struggling to make ends meet. Families are pinching pennies wherever they can, and signing up for pre-tax transit benefits is a winner for commuters, it’s a winner for employers, and it’s a winner for the environment.”
“Pre-tax transit programs are a major benefit to employers and employees alike,” said Jerry Roper, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. “Transit is one of our competitive edges here in Chicago because it allows us to move one million people to and from work efficiently. Tax-free transit encourages increased ridership, and today more than ever, transit is important to keeping our economy moving.”
To learn more about this incentive program, visit www.lesstaxingcommute.com or contact Emily Robinson at 773.269.4043 or erobinson@cnt.org.
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Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. CNT is one of eight nonprofits selected from around the world to be recognized by a 2009 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
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Thursday, March 17th, 2011
CHICAGO (March 17, 2011)—The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and the North Side Community Federal Credit Union recently sponsored a two-day “train the trainer” program for financial counselors to reduce their clients’ household expenses and environmental impact. The program, Equity Express, illustrates that economic and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.
“Despite the popular belief that living ‘green’ is only possible for upper-income households, CNT has consistently found in its research and programs that sustainable practices significantly decrease household expenditures on utility bills, transportation costs, and telecommunications services, to name a few,” said Steve Perkins, senior vice president at CNT. “Households can use sustainable practices to help them save towards goals like homeownership and higher education, while also reducing their environmental impacts. Equity Express shows them how.”
The 13 representatives from nine financial education and homeowner counseling organizations that attended the training can now use Equity Express to show their clients—often low- and moderate-income individuals—how making smart decisions about money has positive impacts for them and the earth. Previous Equity Express Workshop participants in the San Francisco Bay Area have decreased expenses from $20 to $200 per month.
“Our mission at the North Side Community Federal Credit Union is to provide affordable, alternative financial products and services to the community,” said Kristen Cox, Marketing and Community Relations Manager at the North Side Community Federal Credit Union. “We believe Equity Express will add depth to our financial literacy curriculum by providing a participatory and supportive, ongoing six-week class environment in which members learn from each other what best behavioral strategies really work.
Participants were enthusiastic about the training, many finding ways to reduce their own expenses, as well as finding material for their clients. Most reported that they planned on incorporating the curriculum and offering workshops within the next six months.
“It was really life transforming in a lot of respects. I’ve started paying attention to setting financial goals and waste,” said Patricia Abrams, Executive Director at The Renaissance Collaborative, who attended the workshop. “It will help us educate our clients to see a direct link between what they’re doing, how they’re being or not being, and how that impacts what’s possible.”
In attendance were representatives from: Claretian Associates, Chicago Commons, Enlace Chicago, Humboldt Park Social Services, Instituto Del Progreso Latino, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, North Side Community Federal Credit Union, and the Renaissance Collaborative.
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Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based think-and-do tank that works nationally to advance urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development. Visit www.cnt.org for more information.
North Side Community FCU is a 36-year old, member-owned, cooperative, certified community development credit union and HUD-certified housing counseling agency located in Uptown. The credit union serves 3,200 members, partners with 50 Select Employee Group and community groups, holds more than $10.5 million in assets and has a low-income service designation from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). www.northsidecommunityfcu.org
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Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
CHICAGO (March 16, 2011) – Energy efficiency work is helping to revitalize the job market for contractors in the Chicago region. The Energy Savers program, which is operated by CNT Energy and the Community Investment Corporation (CIC), has created more than 75 jobs over the past three years and is expected to generate an additional 165 jobs over the next two years. A larger, regional energy efficiency initiative could produce as many as 2,000 new jobs for workers in the Chicago region over the next three years.
Energy Savers focuses on reducing energy use in affordable multifamily buildings in the Chicago region. This reduces operating costs for building owners and helps to maintain affordable housing. With help from the Energy Savers program, building owners are finding that energy efficiency is a smart investment, even during an economic downturn.
The Energy Savers program has helped local building owners make energy efficiency improvements in more than 3,500 housing units, cutting energy costs by 30 percent on average. This saves the average building owner $10,000 per year. In the process, the program has created jobs for the contractors who implement the Energy Savers team’s energy efficiency recommendations. The program has created work for energy auditors, insulation specialists, heating contractors and others.
Mike Jasinski, owner of All Thermal Insulation in Park Ridge, has worked with the Energy Savers program for nearly a year. Building owners participating in the program have hired his company to do projects such as sealing ducts and insulating hot water tanks and pipes. He says the work that has come in through the Energy Savers program helped his company remain profitable and even grow.
“A significant part of our growth is tied to the CNT Energy Savers program,” says Jasinski. “In order to accommodate the work load we had to hire two people. We’ve been able to bring on manpower, and that allows us to pick up additional jobs over and beyond the CNT projects,” he says.
Adding two workers is a significant increase for a small business. With the addition of the two new workers, All Thermal Insulation now has eight employees.
“We brought people back into the workforce that really needed the work,” Jasinski says. “Clearly work in general is hard to come by, and these people had been in the construction and plumbing field for 20 years. We’ve got people with families to feed. As you look around the market, other people are certainly going to have similar stories to tell,” he says.
The Energy Savers team from CNT Energy evaluates each building and helps owners identify the most cost effective energy efficiency improvements. CIC offers low-cost financing options to cover the cost of the work. This approach makes it possible for building owners to invest in building upgrades that will pay off in lower electricity and gas bills.
Jasinski says his team enjoys working with the Energy Savers program because they can see that the program is having a positive impact on the community. The energy saving improvements reduce energy bills, help to preserve affordable housing, and make the apartments safer and more comfortable.
“Basically the work that we’re doing, we’re doing for people that really need this. So in addition to the new business, we feel like we’re doing something good for the community, because you really are making an impact,” says Jasinski.
Energy efficiency could continue to spur growth in the job market as the region moves forward with the Chicago Region Initiative for Better Buildings (CRIBB), a federally funded regional collaboration led by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) in partnership with the City of Chicago Department of Environment, and with support from the City of Rockford and suburban and regional stakeholders. A team led by CNT Energy is coordinating the program on behalf of CMAP. CRIBB will focus on promoting energy efficiency improvements by ensuring that homeowners, building owners and businesses have access the necessary information, financing options, and trained workforce. This program is also expected to contribute to job creation in the region, generating an estimated 2,000 jobs over the next three years.
Energy Savers Open House May 3
Building owners and contractors and others are invited to learn more about the Energy Savers program at a free open house hosted by Villa Guadalupe Senior Apartments from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., on Tuesday, May 3, 201. The event will take place at the Villa Guadalupe Senior Apartments, located at 3201 East 91st Street, Chicago, IL. For more information or to RSVP, contact Jeanine Otte at jotte@cntenergy.org or (773) 269-2222.
For more information about the Energy Savers program go to www.cntenergy.org/energysavers.
For more on the Chicago Region Initiative for Better Buildings, go to www.cmap.illinois.gov/energy.
For more information:
Stephanie Folk, CNT Energy
(773) 269-4085
sfolk@cntenergy.org
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CNT Energy – a division of the Center for Neighborhood Technology
The CNT Energy is a non-profit organization helping consumers and communities manage energy usage and costs.
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Founded in 1978, CNT is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that works nationally in advancing urban sustainability by researching, inventing and testing strategies that use resources more efficiently and equitably. Its programs focus on climate, energy, natural resources, transportation, and community development.
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