At a press conference last week, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) awarded its first grants. The grants to organizations throughout the state - including 20 to organizations in the greater Chicago area - total $2.1 million and concentrate on integrating state-of-the-art energy efficiency into new and rehabilitated buildings and on using the cost savings from energy efficiency investments to promote economic development.
Peter P. Peters, chairman of the ICECF Board of Trustees, describes the goal of these grants as “ climbing a ladder. Every step to a higher level of efficiency saves energy, leading to lower costs for consumers, increased economic growth and reduced pollution in our communities.”
Throughout the Chicagoland area, nonprofit organizations are receiving ICECF grants to incorporate highly energy-efficient design elements into buildings currently under development to meet community needs. Such grants totaling more than $800,000 were awarded to: The Museum of Science and Industry; Latin United Community Housing Association; University of Illinois at Chicago, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; Inspired Partnerships, El Valor, Prairie Crossing Charter School, and Lakefront SRO.
El Valor received $73,560 towards the design of a new children and family center. Inspired Partnerships received $75,000 towards increasing energy efficiency of church facilities. Lakefront SRO gains $63,000 towards the design of a multi-family supportive housing facility. Latin United Community Housing Association is slated for $200,000 for increasing residential energy efficiency. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum receives $75,000 towards the design of a new wing of the museum. The University of Illinois at Chicago will develop a sustainable design certification program with the $44,500 it receives.
Similarly, across Chicagoland, government planned projects for police stations, nature centers and school buildings are receiving more than $300,000 in ICECF grants to help assure that these buildings are highly energy-efficient when they open to serve the public.
“In this first grant cycle, we chose projects that advance the energy efficiency aspect of our threefold mission,” stated Peters. “All of the Chicago area projects build energy efficiency into innovative efforts that serve their communities and we are proud to be funding such worthy projects.”
The grants awarded today respond to the overwhelming public support for improved energy efficiency in public buildings. Among participants in a statewide poll last summer: 75 percent of poll respondents said it is extremely or very important for state and local governments to make new and existing buildings energy efficient; 84 percent favored requiring energy efficient designs for all government-funded construction projects; and 76 percent called for changing local building codes to require new and remodeled homes and businesses to be energy efficient. In the same poll, 84 percent cited the benefits to their communities of businesses and manufacturing plants investing more in clean energy technologies. The ICECF commissioned the poll to benchmark Illinois residents’ attitudes on energy issues prior to making its first grants.
The ICECF is backing up the grants with an initiative to work with Illinois municipalities to capture the momentum for energy efficiency.
“The Foundation recently sponsored energy efficient building workshops in Normal and Rockford,” explained Bob Romo, the ICECF’s Program Officer for this effort. “We are partnering with a growing number of cities and town across the state as they work to adopt energy efficiency building codes.”
The ICECF is an independent, nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports clean energy development and land conservation efforts, working with communities and citizens to improve environmental quality in Illinois.
This spring, the ICECF will follow up its energy efficiency grants by awarding its first grants focused on the other two aspects of its mission: expanding development of renewable energy resources in Illinois and conserving natural habitats and wildlife areas in the state.
Additional information about the ICECF and its programs and the results of its statewide poll of Illinois residents’ attitudes about energy issues can be found at www.illinoiscleanenergy.org.
Printable Version