City info

Population 2.9 million
Surface 228 square miles
Density 12,719 per square mile
GDP 63,849 per capita

Chicago is leading by example to address climate change and building for a better future

More than 20 years ago, Mayor Richard M. Daley began to transform Chicago into the most environmentally friendly city in the nation. Today, Chicago is one of the world’s greenest and most livable cities, thanks to strong partnerships between government, residents and businesses and its first-class Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP), which was launched in September 2008. The City has been a leader from green roofs to green buildings and policies.

In preparing for the likelihood of more frequent and intense heat waves, Chicago has become the nation’s laboratory for studying ways to reduce the “urban heat island” effect, which can raise a city’s temperature 4 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit on hot summer days. The extensive public transit system offers a low-cost, energy-efficient alternative to solo driving. Chicago’s bicycling programs have produced more bike parking than any other U.S. city and 165 miles of bikeways. And, the Green Homes and other programs help families save thousands of dollars through energy efficiency.

In Chicago, businesses have achieved huge gains in energy efficiency; unions have trained workers to install new renewable energy technologies; architects have built award-winning green buildings; environmental organizations have helped businesses and government to craft innovative green policies; museums, schools and universities have incorporated environmentally friendly practices in their facilities and programs; and foundations have funded many of these efforts. Residents have done their share as well, taking numerous actions inside and outside their homes. Together, we are changing our city for the better.

Looking Back:

The City of Chicago has lead by example to create a sustainable city for over two decades:

1989: Mayor Richard M. Daley launches a tree planting campaign that has resulted in more than 500,000 trees planted to date

1991: Landscape Ordinance requires developers to integrate green elements into city projects (The ordinance was updated in 1999)

1992: The Bike 2000 Plan establishes a network of 114 miles of on-street bike lanes, 50 miles of trail and 10,000 bike racks in Chicago

1993: The Chicago Brownfields Initiative is adopted. To date, nearly 900 acres of brownfields have been returned to productive use

1995: Greencorps, Chicago’s green collar jobs initiative, is launched to support the city’s community gardens and provide job training in environmental fields

1997: The Cityspace Plan is adopted leading to the Campus Parks program to convert asphalt play lots to green space

1998: Working with 270 mayors in the metropolitan region, the City initiates Clean Air Counts,” a voluntary program to improve air quality

1999: The City installs its first alternative fueling station to power its municipal fleet. Since then, the City continues to increase the number of alternative fueling stations

2000: The Historic Chicago Bungalow Initiative is introduced to provide homeowners with assistance in conducting energy retrofits; The City completes energy retrofits of more than 15 million square feet of City buildings

2001: The City Hall Rooftop Garden officially opens. To date, more than 7 million square feet of green roofs have been completed or are under construction in Chicago

2002: The Chicago Center for Green Technology opens, the first municipal renovation LEED Platinum building in the world

2003: The Chicago Water Agenda introduces a series of initiatives and policies to protect and conserve freshwater and manage rainwater to improve Chicago’s overall water quality; Chicago joins the Chicago Climate Exchange as a charter member, committing to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 6 percent by 2010

2004: Millennium Park opens as one the city’s premier outdoor entertainment venues, the same year the Green Building Agenda is launched

2005: Chicago is the only city in the world to have four LEED Platinum buildings. To date, Chicago has 134 LEED certified buildings – more than any other city in the nation;

The Green Building Permits Program is introduced; The City’s first Environmental Action Agenda is released

2006: Chicago Conservation Corps is started, offering an opportunity for individuals and Chicago Public Schools to become environmental leaders

2007: The Green Alley Program is implemented, offering residents a better way to manage stormwater in city alleys; The City and Chicago Manufacturing Center launched the Waste to Profit Network to divert waste from landfills and turn it into a resource. To date, more than 180,000 tons of solid waste diverted from landfill

2008: The Chicago Climate Action Plan is launched

2009: To date, nearly 15,000 residential units and 400 businesses have been energy efficiency retrofitted as a part of the Chicago Climate Action Plan

Looking Forward:

The past two decades have seen a tremendous growth in our understanding of climate change and the important role that cities can play in addressing it. This worldwide threat to our planet demands an encompassing plan from every city, state and nation and action from every resident and business to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases and to build a sustainable environment for future generations. With that in mind the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) was launched as the City’s blueprint to a more sustainable future in September 2008. CCAP outlines how Chicago will achieve its mid-term goal of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) below 1990 levels by 2020 and its ultimate goal of an 80% reduction in GHG below 1990 levels by 2050, while adapting to climate to climate changes that are already occurring.

As we move forward, our next steps will include taking action in the five strategies of the Chicago Climate Action Plan (see initiatives tab).

Initiative info

Web www.chicagoclimateaction.org

Overview and aims of initiative:

 

 

·      Expand 2009 pilot programs utilizing $900 million in public and private funds earmarked for energy efficiency

·      The Energy Action Network, a collaborative initiative that brings together community organizations, utility companies and not-for-profit groups, will work to decrease utility services disconnections and increase the financial assistance provided to those in need

·      Develop and launch the Chicago Information System

·      Establish strategic commercial and industrial trade partnerships

·      Partner with retailers to reach small Commercial and Industrial and residential customers

 

In Chicago, buildings account for approximately 70 percent of all city greenhouse gas emissions, making them the primary target for greenhouse gas reductions. The need for more households to become energy efficient is greater than ever. Hard working families are hampered by rising energy costs. Many homes lack proper insulation and therefore require greater usage of heat and cooling systems to maintain comfortable living conditions, which results in higher utility bills for renters and homeowners alike.

 

For years, the City of Chicago has worked with the Community and Economic Development Agency of Cook County (CEDA), with federal and state governments and with many partners from the private and not-for-profit sectors to provide support for those who need help paying their heating bills. In November 2009, the City launched its Energy Action Network (EAN), a collaborative initiative that brings together government agencies, community organizations, utility companies and not-for-profit groups who are committed to creating communities of energy efficient homes throughout Chicago.

 

EAN consists of 21 existing organizations from across the City that have expanded their support to thousands of Chicago families, offering a full suite of services at each location - essentially creating a one-stop-shop for residents in need.

 

At these sites, Chicagoans are able to apply for a range of financial services for assistance with paying their home heating, cooling and gas bills to prevent their utilities from being disconnected.  They are also offered assistance with weatherizing their home to make energy usage more affordable.  Those in need receive information and assistance to help them get through the winter safely.

 

By linking and using community organizations to coordinate and deliver weatherization and utility assistance to City residents, the Network aims to:

 

o      Decrease the disconnections of utility services

o      Increase the number of homes that receive weatherization assistance

o      Build capacity within key community-based organizations to engage residents

o      Leverage partnerships to more effectively and efficiently deliver City and partner services

o      Develop climate action leaders and citizen stewards by building relationships with trusted community organizations and helping them link energy efficiency to their core work

o      Establish a network that engages residents and businesses to save money and improve quality of life through energy efficiency and other work year-round

 

The idea for EAN was born from the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) as part of an overall goal to engage the residents of Chicago in reducing their energy consumption, thus lowering greenhouse gas emissions. EAN sites include faith-based institutions, housing organizations and other community-based organizations that have experience working in and serving their communities.

Initiative info

Aims and overview of initiative: 

·      Transform the region into a clean technology manufacturing hub. Research shows considerable potential with Chicago’s current manufacturing base

·      Catalyze high-profile “Marquee” projects

·      Target high-impact sectors

·      Lay the groundwork for mass market penetration

·      Advocate for development of policies such as Solar Ramp Up and Net Metering

The City of Chicago, a nationally recognized leader in municipal air quality innovation and environmental stewardship, was awarded almost $15 million for the “Chicago Area Alternative Fuels Deployment Project”, which will result in the deployment of 554 alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles in public and private fleets and the installation of 153 alternative fuel fueling and electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Chicago region.

The grant was awarded from the United States Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Increasing the number of fuel-efficient vehicles on the road will lead to a significant reduction in heat-trapping gases. This project will provide easy access to alternative fueling stations will increase the adoption of these technologies, which will lead to improved air quality and reduced fuel usage.

The project will result in expanded availability of alternative fuels through the installation of:

 

153 Alternative Fuel Fueling and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

·      8 public access Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations

·      9 shared-access CNG & Ethanol-85 sites

·      136 public access and fleet dedicated charging stations

 

Participating fleets that will transition to fuel-efficient vehicles include local taxi companies, utilities, municipalities, refuse haulers and car sharing. These fleets will benefit by the grant providing funding to reduce the incremental cost for these cleaner vehicles.  The grant will deploy 554 Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles including: 

 

·      250 gasoline hybrids in the private taxi fleet

·      232 CNG vehicles

·      68 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle conversions

·      2 hybrid-electric diesel trucks, and 2 electric all terrain vehicles

 

The combined benefits of these projects will reduce harmful vehicle emissions by an estimated 448 metric tons per year, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 7,600 metric tons per year, displace 3.08 million gasoline gallon equivalents of petroleum per year, and result in 77 created and/or retained jobs.

 

The greenhouse gas emissions benefits of this project are equivalent to removing 1,390 cars per year.

 

Initiative info

Aims and overview of initiative: 

·      Deploy 554 alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles in public and private fleets and install 153 alternative fuel fueling and electric vehicle charging stations

·      Install Bus Rapid Transit Corridors and/or Bus Lanes

·      Install Transit Signal Prioritization Systems

·      Increase the availability of real-time transit Information

·      Explore fare incentives

·      Expedite developers' approval process for Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

·      Develop voluntary No Driving Day program

·      Develop and expand bike sharing network

·      Develop employee commute trip reduction program

·      Expand fleet of hybrid vehicles

·      Implement eco-driving programs

·      Switch to bio-diesel blends

·      Implement traffic signal retiming program

 

The City of Chicago has embraced bicycling as a budget-friendly means of transportation that can reduce congestion and pollution and promote healthy lifestyles.

In 1992, the City’s initial efforts to increase bicycling led to the development of the Bike 2000 Plan, which created more than 150 miles of bike lanes and paths and resulted in Chicago being named the best “big” city for bicycling in North America by Bicycling Magazine (2001). 

 

Now, Chicago is taking the next step to enhance bicycling conditions with the ambitious Bike 2015 Plan, which aims to raise the profile of bicycling as a mode of transportation and to make bicycling safer and more accessible.  Transportation is responsible for 30% of regional greenhouse gas emissions and, like in every large city, roadway congestion hinders regional competitiveness.  Bicycling is a solution for both of these issues.  The Bike 2015 Plan has aggressive, but achievable goals: for Chicagoans to use bicycles for 5% of all trips of five miles or less by 2015, and to reduce bicycle-related injuries by 50% from current levels.

The Bike 2015 Plan has 150 initiatives that are divided into 8 key strategies:

•                Establish a bikeway network with 500 miles of bike lanes and paths to serve all Chicago residents and neighborhoods

•                Install special signage, change street designs to reduce motor vehicle speeds, and create conditions to encourage more people to bicycle more often

•                Install 5,000 bike racks and 1,000 long-term bike parking spaces to provide convenient and secure bike parking

•                Provide bike parking at transit stations and permit bikes on trains and buses to increase the number of bike-transit trips by 10 percent

•                Use driver education, public workshops, and school and park programs to educate 250,000 people per year about bicycle safety and the benefits of bicycling

•                Create a Health and Transportation Task Force to design marketing and health promotions and organize special events to encourage an additional 150,000 people per year use bicycles

•                Educate police officers and update and enforce the City’s municipal code to target specific behaviors that endanger cyclists

•                Expand the use of bicycle messengers and develop programs to improve their workplace safety and public image

 

To ensure that the Bike 2015 Plan has both public support and the attention from City agencies, the City has asked public interest groups, such as the Active Transportation Alliance, to serve with key City departments on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council, which oversees the Plan. Bicycling has been incorporated into the transportation strategy of the Chicago Climate Action Plan and will continue to be a prominent focus of Chicago’s efforts, even after the Bike 2015 objectives are achieved.

 

 

Initiative info

In 2008, an estimated 3.7 million tons of Chicago’s waste ended up in landfills. To decrease this large amount, the City has implemented ground-breaking initiatives to “reduce, reuse and recycle” waste.

Looking for opportunities to identify and implement partnerships that not only reduce waste and emissions, but also deliver positive economic and socials impacts, the City worked with the Chicago Manufacturing Center to launch the Waste to Profit Network in 2007. Additional partners include the State of Illinois, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency - Region.

The Waste to Profit Network  facilitates the conversion of one company's waste, or by-product, into an industrial input for another company. Synergies formed between more than 200 Chicago area participants turn costly waste streams into productive revenue streams while reducing the impact on the environment by fostering material reuse opportunities.

To date, the results have been significant:

• More than 180,000 tons of solid waste diverted from landfill
• More than 115,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions reduced
• More than $17 million in economic impact to local companies

Three example projects illustrate the benefits:

Goose Island Goes Green.

Through the Network, the Goose Island Beer Company identified an opportunity to profitably recycle polystyrene festival cups while diverting two tons of plastic from landfills and save over $1,150 per event in disposal costs. All the cups used to serve Goose Island beer are sent to East Jordan Plastics to make plastic plant pots. Goose Island’s cup recycling program has eliminated more that 1,700 pounds of greenhouse gases.

Glass to Tile

Engineered Glass Products, makers of specialty glass for appliance doors, has partnered with Gilasi/Innerglow Surfaces to develop a green home kitchen surface that reuses the previously wasted tin-oxide coated glass cullet created when sheets of Gilasi’s tempered glass are damaged or broken. Together, these companies have created a high-end green home product from a previously un-recyclable byproduct. This process has diverted more than 5,000 tons of glass from the waste stream, has mitigated 400 tons of greenhouse gases, and has saved $35,000.

Schulze Burch Biscuit Company

Schulze Burch Biscuit Company, one of Chicago’s largest commercial bakeries, implemented a recyclable materials collection program. The vast majority of materials they were able to remove from their regular waste collection stream created a cost savings of $82,000 in the first year and $94,000 in the second year. The management team created an internal “Waste to Break Even Network” to reinvest the savings in ongoing sustainability work. By reinvesting in their own sustainability practices, Schulze Burch continues to see annual cost savings and improvements in their own infrastructure. Their achievements also include the diversion and reuse of 1,200 tons of plastic and cardboard and 163.56 tons of greenhouse gases avoided annually.

Initiative info

In 1837, the City of Chicago incorporated with Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden) as its motto. Chicago’s early planners demonstrated an understanding of the value of natural areas in a growing metropolis by establishing forest preserves, the world’s first official land protection effort. Since then, in light of its rapid growth and urbanization, Chicago’s unprecedented strides to preserve green space have been an example to the rest of the world.

 

Chicago’s urban forest is made up of over 3.5 million trees and occupies 17.2% of the city’s total area (25,800 acres). The benefits of the urban forest are well documented and range from improved air quality, to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, to stormwater management, to improved wildlife habitat. Expanding the forest’s canopy is an important mitigation strategy outlined in the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP).

 

Aligned with CCAP, the City strengthened its commitment to the urban forest by establishing the Chicago Trees Initiative in 2009. The Chicago Trees Initiative (CTI) is a city-wide, public-private initiative to significantly expand the tree canopy in the City of Chicago. In its first year, CTI led the production of the Urban Tree Canopy Analysis, the Urban Forest Effects Model Study, and the Urban Forest Agenda. 

 

The Urban Tree Canopy Analysis applied the latest geospatial tools to identify the current and potential canopy cover, which was used to develop a holistic city-wide strategy. The analysis revealed that residential areas have a significant percentage of potential tree planting opportunities in the city. An Urban Forest Effects Model Study quantified the benefits and health of Chicago’s urban forest. Results from this study show that the structural value of the urban forest is $2.3 billion and the total carbon sequestration rate is 25,200 tons/year equivalent to a value of $14.8 million/year. 

 

Informed by these significant research efforts, CTI set a goal of expanding the urban tree canopy to 20% by 2020 and launched the Urban Forest Agenda as a guide to reach this target. The Chicago Urban Forest Agenda outlines four central goals to align and increase the collaborative efforts made to protect, enhance, understand and expand our urban forest: (1) maintaining and conserving trees, (2) expanding the urban forest, (3) integrating green infrastructure, and (4) fostering stewardship.

 

Looking forward, CTI will engage residents and practitioners in a social and civic movement to meet Chicago's tree canopy goals. In 2010, CTI will publish a directory of discounted landscape contractors, wholesale and retail growers, and tree care companies to provide tree-planting incentives among Chicago residents and property owners. CTI will also continue to host educational tree-planting events across the city to raise awareness about the importance of Chicago’s urban forest.

 

Air quality in Chicago has transformed over the years. From our gritty industrial past, we have emerged as a leader in the urban environmental movement. By adding green space from thousands of new trees, creating new parks, and installing green roofs, we not only improve quality of life, but also contribute to cleaner air by decreasing the urban heat island effect. By providing world-class public transportation and more opportunities for safe bike riding, we not only increase convenience and savings for riders, but we also reduce automobile pollution in our air. By creating energy efficient buildings and retrofitting existing buildings, we decrease the demand for electricity, thus reducing the greenhouse gases that cause global climate change and local smog. 

 

Chicago is making important progress on its Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP) goals, many of which have air quality benefits.  More energy efficient buildings and renewable power decrease demand for natural gas and electricity from coal fired power plants; improved transportation options decreases vehicular trips and increases fuel efficiency; and adaptation to plan for extreme heat and to reduce local temperatures decreases negative short-term health impacts like asthma attacks. CCAP actions have already contributed to better air:

 

• The City, utilities, and non-profits together retrofitted 13,500 residential units with energy efficiency measures with a 20 percent average reduction in natural gas and electricity usage in 2008 and 2009
• Com Ed, the electric utility, is recycling inefficient appliances as part of the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard for electric utilities. Between 2008 and 2009, ComEd recycled over 14,000 appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners
• In 2009, the Chicago City Council passed an anti-idling ordinance that prohibits diesel-powered vehicles from idling for more than three minutes within an hour, with certain exceptions
•  Since 2008, the City has added 636 car share vehicles and 500 new bicycle racks and sold 383,000 gallons of alternative fuel
•  Since 2008, the Chicago Transit Authority has realized a five percent increase in ridership while adding 208 hybrid buses to its fleet
• The Department of Fleet Management currently manages six Ethanol-85, six Compressed Natural Gas alternative fueling stations, and 915 alternative and hybrid vehicles, and has retrofitted over 600 diesel-powered vehicles with plans to retrofit an additional 400
•  CCAP adaptation efforts, such as installing green roofs, reduce the urban heat island effect and thus minimized the conditions that trigger respiratory illness from ozone and particulate matter. The City has seen more than 400 projects and 7 million square feet of total green roofs installed over the last five years and has required 1.2 million square feet of green roof space through planned developments

The City is launching CCAP’s Air Agenda, a mission statement for continuing Chicago’s progress toward cleaner air for everyone with goals that include: Reaching attainment level for all six criteria pollutants covered by The US Environmental Protection Agencies National Ambient Air Quality Standards; reducing the number of Air Pollution Action Days; and reducing morbidity and mortality rates related to extreme heat.