Hub July 2026 Newsletter

In this month's issue: 

• Funding Opportunities for Contractors
• Energy Equity Futures Grant Opportunity
• New on the Podcast: Paul Sambanis & Sachin Anand
• ComEd Energy Efficiency Program
• Fundamentals of Energy Efficient Building Operations
• Hub Events: An Intro to Micro Combined Heat & Power Systems
• Partner Events: 2026 Midwest Cogeneration Conference & More!
  

The Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund (CEJJF) is connecting Illinois contractors with financing solutions, including FairPath—offering access to a vetted lender network, lines of credit, and homeowner financing options, especially in underserved communities. CEJJF is also surveying contractors on financing gaps tied to federal tax credit changes to help shape future policy and tools.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Energy and Business Utility anticipates releasing the next Energy Equity Futures (EEF) Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) during the third quarter of 2026. Organizations and individuals interested in future funding opportunities, program updates, and other CEJA-related announcements are encouraged to sign up for email updates to stay informed as additional information becomes available.

Whether you're a facility manager looking to improve building performance or a contractor helping customers identify energy-saving opportunities, The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program can help move projects from planning to implementation with valuable financial incentives for commercial, industrial and public facilities of all sizes. 

The program covers more than just lighting. HVAC and refrigeration enhancements, automated controls, and dozens of other energy efficiency measures qualify for incentives, with the potential to lower energy use and operating expenses for years to come. ComEd provides a streamlined process, with resources to help you maximize savings and bring energy efficiency projects to life. The result? Smarter investments that deliver immediate value and long-term benefits. 

Get started on those improvements you’ve been delaying. Follow the link to learn more about available incentives.

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance offers FEEBO, an 18-hour course covering the principles of energy efficiency and preventative maintenance in commercial buildings. Topics include HVAC fundamentals, lighting, energy conservation, and indoor environmental quality — delivered over three full days or six half days. 

The course is designed for those entering building operations, existing facilities personnel, and professionals whose work intersects with the built environment. 



In this episode, we sat down with Paul Sambanis, PhD, Vice President of Sustainability at Sloan, to dig into the water-energy nexus, smart plumbing retrofits, and water's overlooked role in building performance. He walked through the fixture retrofit at Wrigley Field—one of Chicago's oldest and busiest venues—and showed how older buildings can cut water use, energy, and risk without major structural changes.



Sachin Anand, Principal at dbHMS, joined us to explore innovative approaches to green building design, code compliance, and energy efficiency. He recalled his experience working on the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC)—Chicago’s first Living Building Challenge certified school—and used the project as a case study to highlight how a project team can integrate the building systems into the school's curriculum.



An Introduction to Micro Combined Heat & Power

Join the Building Energy Hub for a virtual session on micro combined heat and power (mCHP) — an on-site energy solution that reduces costs and improves resiliency, offered through the Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Programs. Whether you manage a multifamily property, commercial building, healthcare facility, campus, or any site with simultaneous electrical and heating demands, mCHP can help you save energy while boosting resiliency.