Hub May 2025 Newsletter

Building Energy Hub May 2025 Newsletter

Join the Hub for Daylight Hour on June 20!

The Building Energy Hub is participating in Daylight Hour 2025. This is an annual social media campaign raising awareness about energy efficiency in the built environment. On June 20th, participants all over the world will turn off their lights for one hour (12 - 1 pm local time) and share their experiences via social media. Calculate your organization's energy savings here and join the #DaylightHour campaign to show your support. 

New Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Grants

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has released three new grants to fund clean energy projects across the state! Check out these opportunities below and sign up for an upcoming information session here. 

• Equitable Energy Future Grant Program: Provides pre-development funding to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects benefitting businesses, community organizations, and the workforce in Illinois, with a specific focus on historically disadvantaged communities.
• NOFO Information Session: Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
   
• Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Program: Provides pre-development funding to support the development of programs and entities to assist in the long-term governance, management, and maintenance of community solar projects, such as community solar cooperatives.
• NOFO Information Session: Monday, June 16, 2025 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
   
• Energy Transition Community Grant Program: Provides funding for the activities to help communities develop economic opportunities to replace the revenue/jobs lost due to plant/mine closures, and achieve environmental goals outlined in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).
• NOFO Information Session: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

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Benchmarking Deadlines are Approaching in Chicago and Evanston

If you own or manage a building in Chicago or Evanston that is covered by size requirements to submit your energy information in Portfolio Manager, remember: local benchmarking deadlines are coming up! The Hub can help walk you through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, data collection, and submission. Check out our Benchmarking resources below. 

Upcoming Hub Events 

Code Workshops: IECC 2024 Residential Stretch Code

June 16 @ 12PM

This webinar will familiarize building professionals with the amendments to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC) that comprise the 2023 Illinois Residential Stretch Energy Code. The session will focus on the key amendments in the residential provisions, reasoning behind the changes, and the impact these changes have on the implementation and enforcement of the energy code.

Code Workshop: IECC 2024 Commercial Stretch Code

June 19 @ 12PM

This virtual education session will focus on the key amendments in the 2021 IECC commercial provisions, reasoning behind the changes, and the impact these changes have on the implementation and enforcement of the energy code. Attendees will also receive links to resources and other support needed for stretch energy code adoption.

Upcoming Illinois Green Alliance Events