Our hearts swell with pride today with the news that Retrofit Chicago has been awarded the Inspiring Efficiency Impact Award, which is given each year by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance! Way to go Retrofit Chicago team!
NRDC has been a proud partner of the Retrofit Chicago Commercial Building Initiative since its launch with the first 14 buildlings in 2012. Now, with more than 50 buildings having joined with a pledge to reduce energy use by 20 percent over five years, the program is truly a model for engaging building managers and owners.
This summer we documented that the initiative had already achieved a seven percent reduction in energy use for participating buildlings, avoiding more than $2.5 million in unnecessary energy costs, and 28,000 metric tons of harmful carbon pollution.
For other cities to establish similar initiatives, please see our handy best-practices guide, which describes how Retrofit Chicago's commercial Buildings Initiative got its start, lessons learned, and key factors in its success to date.