October 2026 Newsletter
Happy Heat Pump Hot Water Heater Week!
Join us in celebrating all things heat pump water heaters (HPWHs). There are virtual sessions, hands on trainings, live events, new technologies, and conversations with the people moving the HPWH market forward. Whether you work with HPWHs every day or are ready to learn what all the excitement is about, there's a place for you. Join the events and learn more below.
ComEd Custom Incentive for Your Business
Get tailored incentives for your unique energy-saving projects. Qualifying projects could earn up to $0.18 per kWh saved in the first year of operation, which could cover up to 100% of project costs. We’ve incentivized new construction lighting, HVAC upgrades, HVAC controls, compressed air sequencers, commercial refrigeration upgrades, process equipment retrofits, and more! ComEd experts are ready to assist with the engineering to maximize your savings.
Eliminate the guesswork and learn how to get your Custom energy projects moving today!
Our New Challenge for Existing Buildings
The Illinois Building Energy Challenge is a NEW annual recognition and award program celebrating energy use reduction that is open to all commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings across the state. The Challenge invites building owners and operators across the state to put energy-efficient practices into action—and to have a little fun doing it, with a spirit of friendly competition among peers. Participating is free, and every qualifying building is encouraged to join.
Check out how the Challenge works and sign up below!
U.S. Department of Energy Low Carbon Technology Strategies Toolkit
DOE has developed Low Carbon Technology Strategies guidance documents to support owners and operators of existing buildings in planning retrofit and operational strategies to achieve energy use reductions. Low Carbon Technology Strategies, including lighting, space conditioning, water heating, controls, building envelope, plug loads, refrigeration, renewables, and battery storage, are currently available for 10 building types:
- Large office buildings
- Small to medium office buildings
- Stand-alone retail and strip mall
- Supermarkets
- Midrise apartments
- Secondary schools
- Primary schools
- Small hotels
- Outpatient healthcare
- Kitchens
New on The Building Energy Pod
In this episode, Jessica Miller, Chief Program Officer at the Institute for Market Transformation, discusses the translation work at the heart of decarbonizing buildings: turning policy into something local partners can actually use, building trust with community organizations, and designing rules that work for owners, tenants, and government at the same time.
Get Recognition for Environmental Impact
Award opportunity for environmental entrepreneurs in Illinois. Recipients of the Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award receive a non-recourse grant of $25,000, 12-months of business mentorship from Nicor Gas and Evergreen Climate Innovations, and heightened exposure to both investors and potential customers. Applications close on November 30, 2026.
Upcoming Hub Events
So You Have Benchmarking Data, Now What?
This session helps building owners and managers in Chicago, Evanston, and Oak Park put their benchmarking data to work. Staff from each jurisdiction will kick things off with important local program updates, followed by a look at the BEAM platform and the data summary and analysis options available through it.
Upcoming Partner Events
2024 Illinois Energy Conservation Code: Additional Efficiency, Renewable and Load Management Requirements
Hosted by EnergySenser
November 10 | Virtual
This webinar will cover the sections of the Illinois Energy Conservation Code related to Additional Efficiency, Renewable and Load Management, including both residential and commercial provisions (Sections C406 and R408). A Q&A session will follow. The training provides 1.0 LU|HSW through the AIA and 0.10 ICC CEU.
