Energy Impact Illinois is an alliance of CMAP, utility companies, government agencies, and citizen advocacy groups. Together, they are working to create a long-term market for improving the energy efficiency of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Visit energyimpactillinois.org for a wealth of resources to help residents, businesses, and contractors save energy and money.
The effort is made possible througha $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create a regional marketplace for improving the energy efficiency of buildings within the seven-county CMAP region, including Rockford. Awarded to CMAP inpartnership with the City of Chicago, City of Rockford, and other regional stakeholders, the grant is one of 25 that were announced on April 21, 2010, through the U.S. DOE Better Buildings Neighborhood Program. The primary goal is to build a comprehensive, sustainable energy efficiency retrofit program that aggressively targets commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. Over the initial three-year effort, Energy Impact Illinois looks to:
- Leverage the federal investment with over $125 million in private investments.
- Create more than 2,000 jobs (e.g., construction contractors, installers, energy auditors).
- Retrofit more than 8,000 units, with at least 15-percent energy savings per retrofit.
Energy efficiency retrofits of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings can include installation of high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, installation and lighting, weatherization activities, and window or door replacement.