Put Your Talents to Work Improving Buildings

The transition to high performing, all-electric buildings will result in a lot of jobs for engineers, contractors, building operators, consultants, and other service providers.



Use this hub to learn about changing policies, find technical support, and connect with possible clients.

Resources for Contractors & Service Providers

Playbook for Contractors

• The Hub's Playbook for Contractors helps general contractors leverage knowledge about construction costs, material availability, and the expertise of their trusted tradesman to help the design process and to help building owners meet their project performance targets and budget goals.

Implementation Guides

• The Hub’s Building Performance and Decarbonization Guide  provides building owners and facility managers with practical strategies and step-by-step guidance for improving energy efficiency, reducing operational costs, and meeting state benchmarking requirements through building retrofits and system upgrades.
• USGBC, ASHRAE, and NYSERDA developed their Guide to Strategic Decarbonization Planning, which integrates planning, budgeting, and implementation in order to enable deep reductions in operational greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Solutions Center provides building owners and facility managers collection of proven energy efficiency solutions, financing tools, technical resources, and case studies to help implement building improvements that reduce energy costs while meeting state benchmarking and performance requirements.
• The William J. Worthen Foundation’s Building Decarbonization Practice Guide provides building owners and facility managers with practical, case study-based strategies for achieving zero carbon buildings, covering everything from design and construction considerations to specific guidance for multifamily, commercial, and institutional buildings.

Benchmarking & Performance Standards Compliance 

• The Hub's Energy Benchmarking Guide provides building owners with details of benchmarking policies in different Illinois jurisdictions, compliance resources, including step-by-step guides, reporting tools, and energy efficiency solutions to help them meet state benchmarking requirements.
• Reach out to the Hub if you offer benchmarking and verification services and would like to be featured on the Hub's Directory.

Financing Resources and Incentives

• The Hub's  Funding and Financing Guide curates grants, financing and rebate/incentive programs available in Illinois that can help offset upfront costs of building performance improvements. Explore funding opportunities curated for contractors.