Publication Library

The Impact of Transportation on Affordability: An Analysis of Auto Cost White Paper, December 2012

Commissioned by the Manhattan Strategy Group, with CNT work by Sofia Becker, Peter Haas, Stephanie Morse, and Linda Young
May 16, 2018
This December 2012 paper calculates expenditures on a variety of costs of car ownership from the 2006-2010 waves of the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX). The Consumer Expenditure Survey is conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and tracks the expenditure patterns of a representative set of U.S. households.  This research was undertaken to provide a measure of the costs of auto ownership and usage based on reported expenditures for use in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Location Affordability Index (LAI), a measure of housing and transportation costs based on location. 
PDF icon Auto Cost Paper Final 12-31-2012.pdf

Equity Express Fact Sheet

by CNT
April 5, 2018
Equity Express Financial Education Workshops give participants the information and support they need to decrease household expenses, increase savings and reduce environmental impacts. They respond to two major crises of our time- economic and ecological- by increasing the wealth of asset-poor households through consumer choices that are both financially smart and promote sustainable living. Learn more about Equity Express here.
PDF icon CNT-EquityExpress-Chicago_2018.pdf

Industrial EcoDistricts: Primer

CNT
June 27, 2017
This paper presents CNT’s recent research on a range of innovations for Industrial EcoDistricts in the areas of energy, water, transportation, and waste. Our work looks at district-scale interventions through the lenses of: What is it?, Why do it?, and What does it cost? with practical, real world examples and financing strategies to help implementers and decisionmakers create next-generation industrial districts in their communities.  This paper examines:  Energy: Renewables, Storage, District Energy, Microgrids, Energy Efficiency, and Demand Management  Water: Water Efficiency, Demand Reduction, and Water Reuse Transportation: Urban, Transit-Served Locations, Goods Transportation, and Logistics Waste Systems  We also discuss the several essential implementation factors, including site selection, governance, engagement, financing, policy, and documenting benefits.  While all of the strategies and technologies we have looked at are being tried in one form or another, for the most part they have yet to be brought to scale. As we begin to reimagine what infrastructure means in our communities, Industrial EcoDistricts present a way to create jobs while saving energy and water, addressing climate change, and creating an economic benefit for businesses and communities.
PDF icon CNT_EcoDistrictPrimer.pdf

Food Incubator Energy Systems Innovation

Jen McGraw, CNT Director of Sustainability Innovation
April 4, 2017
With the recent uptick in manufacturing around the United States, the importance of food manufacturing to local economies has come into focus for its roles in creating jobs and building on the local culinary and cultural assets of a community. With this focus has arrived an interest in supporting food manufacturing entrepreneurs as they start and grow their businesses. As a result, food manufacturing incubators and shared commercial kitchens are sprouting up in cities around the county. To explore these issues, CNT convened a group of experts in December 2016 to workshop potential energy savings for the Hatchery, a food manufacturing incubator in Chicago. The goals of the workshop and this resulting white paper were 1) to help the Hatchery team make the operations as efficient as possible and 2) to share the workshop findings with the broader food manufacturing incubation industry to build understanding of the best energy saving options for such operations.
PDF icon Hatchery_FoodIncubatorEnergySystemsInnovation.pdf

Transforming and Embracing Innovation in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District: Moving towards Sustainable, Efficient and Reliable Energy

CNT
December 1, 2011
Northern Ohio has enough wind, solar and biogas potential to meet all of its electricity needs, but only a small fraction of the region's energy comes from these sources. In spite of its vast untapped renewable resources, production of renewable energy in the 9th Congressional District is not economically viable without supportive state and federal policies and incentives. This paper lays the conceptual and analytical foundation for a new energy economy in Northern Ohio.
PDF icon CNT_Oberlin.DOE_.pdf

Regional Green Building Case Study Project: A post-occupancy study of LEED projects in Illinois

by CNT
October 26, 2009
The Regional Green Building Case Study Project analyzes the post-occupancy performance and costs and benefits of 25 LEED projects in Illinois related to: measured energy and greenhouse gas emissions, water, commute transportation, construction and operating costs, green premium, health and productivity impacts, and occupant comfort.
PDF icon CNT_Exec-Summary-Regional-Green-Building-Case-Study-Project-Year-1-Report.pdf

On July 13, 2009, CNT Vice President of Policy, Jacky Grimshaw, gave remarks at a press conference held by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Grimshaw’s remarks were in support of the state capital bill signed by Governor Quinn.

by Jacky Grimshaw, CNT
July 13, 2009
On July 13, 2009, CNT Vice President of Policy, Jacky Grimshaw, gave remarks at a press conference held by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Grimshaw’s remarks were in support of the state capital bill signed by Governor Quinn.
PDF icon CNT_Grimshaw.RemarksOnCapitalBillSigning.0713091.pdf

Empowering Consumers Through a Modern Electric Grid

by CNT/Illinois Smart Grid Initiative
April 7, 2009
The Illinois Smart Grid Initiative (ISGI) involved an ad hoc and voluntary assembly of individuals and organizations interested in improving Illinois’ electric power system and services for consumers. This report identifies several key policy considerations that CNT believes should be examined in future work to develop the smart grid concept in Illinois, including the workshop and collaborative meetings held under the auspices of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
PDF icon ISGI.SummaryReport.pdf

Testimony on the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2008

by Scott Bernstein, CNT
June 11, 2008
CNT President, Scott Bernstein’s, testimony on the proposed bill HR6078, the Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods Act of 2008 (GREEN Act).
PDF icon CNT_Bernstein061108.pdf

Reconnecting Fort Wayne: System Reliability and Energy Efficiency Benchmarking

by CNT
June 1, 2008
Establishing measurable goals for the City of Ft. Wayne’s energy service is a critical step towards defining a sustainable energy plan. In order to establish realistic and achievable goals, this report sought to define indicators and identify performance standards that have been achieved in other cities with comparable climates and housing types.
PDF icon CNT_ReconnectingFortWayneSystemReliability.pdf

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