Hub October 2025 Newsletter
Building Energy Hub October 2025 Newsletter
Greetings -
Fall is here, and the Hub is excited to keep supporting Illinois building professionals with new tools, resources, and events that make energy efficiency more accessible.
If you missed the launch of our Building Retrofit Series for Owners and Operators, check out the first episode on the Business Case for Decarbonization. Whether you’re planning retrofits, exploring funding, or getting ready for the next code updates, the Hub is here to help you stay on track.
We are planning our 2026 programming, so if you have any suggestions or would like to see specific resources, email us at info@buildingenergy.hub.
Thanks,
Katie, Kindy, Matt, Rimjhim & Kieran
The Hub Team
Savings and Service with ComEd Retro-Commissioning (RCx)
Energy efficiency isn’t just good for your bottom line—it’s a powerful way to support your community and protect the environment. Since the program began in 2008, the ComEd Retro-Commissioning (RCx) offering has helped over 2,400 customers save $184 million on their energy bills while avoiding 865,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere.
RCx projects begin with a fully funded engineering study to analyze existing equipment and identify low-cost operational improvements. These projects can save an average of 5-15% on annual energy costs, all while maintaining occupant comfort.
Check out the webinar coming up on November 5th featuring ComEd RCx team, info below.
New Episode: The Building Energy Pod
A.J. Patton, founder and CEO of 548 Enterprise, recently sat down with us to discuss his journey in creating sustainable, affordable housing solutions and building workforce development programs. He also shares his perspectives on streamlining administrative processes to accelerate development and sharing best practices to ensure more building professionals can take part in the green economy.
In this episode of The Building Energy Pod, Joe Clair, Commercial Vice President at Windfree Solar sat down with us to discuss his journey in building sustainability, the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings, and the importance of stakeholder engagement. Tune in to learn how you can identify low-hanging fruit in energy efficiency, navigate historic retrofits, and more!
#ICYMI: SomerCor City of Chicago Small Business Financing Products
This month we hosted another Finance Friday webinar episode that featured Kim Brisky at SomerCor who gave an overview of three small business financing products such as the SBA 504 Green Loan, which provides below-market financing to purchase your building, refinance or renovate it, or access clean energy efficient programming. Check out the highlights above and watch the full webinar below!
Upcoming Hub Events
Building Retrofit Series: Planning for Action—From Awareness to Strategy
November 5 @ 12PM
Join the Building Energy Hub for a practical and hands-on discussion about turning awareness into action through assessments, benchmarking, and strategic planning. Speakers will share how to evaluate your building’s current performance, set baselines, and align emissions reduction goals with your organization’s mission and financial priorities.
Finance Fridays: Energy Efficiency Future Grant
October 17 @ 12PM
Join the Hub for a free overview of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity's Equitable Energy Future Grant Program. This program provides upfront capital to support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that benefit businesses, community organizations, and the workforce in historically disadvantaged communities.
Upcoming Partner Events
Illinois Stretch Energy Codes Training
Hosted by Illinois Green Alliance and Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
November 13 @ 12:00 PM
Join our partners at Illinois Green and MEEA for an in-depth look at Illinois’ Energy Stretch Code - what it is, how it works, and what it means for your community or business. We’ll break down the code’s goals, highlight key changes from the base energy code, and discuss how adopting the Stretch Code can improve building performance, lower energy costs, and support Illinois’ climate goals. Whether you’re a municipal official, builder, architect, or energy professional, this session will provide practical guidance and resources to help you prepare for implementation.
RE+ Midwest, Schamburg
Hosted by RE+ Midwest
December 3-4
RE+ Midwest is the premier forum for professionals dedicated to the integration of solar, storage, and additional renewable energy assets like wind energy and electric vehicle infrastructure in the region.
