Sustainability

Green Scene: Wondering how other businesses are using renewable energy? Get a sneak peek
Thu, 09/29/2011
A handful of Chicago-area business owners with renewable-energy systems on their premises are inviting anyone curious enough to stop by on Saturday for a firsthand look at how they work.Fifteen businesses are participating in the Illinois Solar Tour, a daylong event of free, self-guided tours where individuals can get a close-up look at solar...

Green Scene: Celebrating an anniversary, and looking ahead
Thu, 08/18/2011
  This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Green Scene column’s debut, so I thought I’d take a moment for a quick look back and an eager eye ahead.   The local green economy cuts such a wide swath across so many sectors of business, government, non-profits, and various combinations of the above, that there has been no...

Green Scene: Chicago's chief sustainability officer reaching out to new partners
Thu, 08/11/2011
Karen Weigert has only been the city of Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer since June, but she’s already forging partnerships across city departments and reaching out to the business community. Mayor Rahm Emanuel created the position to push green efforts throughout city government beyond the Department of Environment and focus on creating...

Green Scene: 11 wealthy families team up to invest in clean tech
Thu, 07/28/2011
Eleven wealthy families are now scouting for investment opportunities in the clean-energy sector – and the investment syndicate they’ve formed has already inked some deals. The Cleantech Syndicate was created in 2010 but only announced its formation late last month after it accumulated a large enough membership and demonstrated some investment...

Green Scene: How one neighborhood is pushing the sustainability mantra
Thu, 07/14/2011
About 40 businesses in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood are participating this week in the North Side neighborhood’s Green Week festivities. Local retailers, restaurants, and other businesses in the area are organizing, sponsoring and running many of the 50-plus events and activities taking place July 12-18. Events include local chefs...

Green Scene: Germans eye Chicago for renewable energy expansion
Thu, 07/07/2011
 Chicago and the Midwest could see an uptick in renewable-energy business with a German flavor if goodwill forged at a recent gathering translates into real deals. That optimism was shared by many among the 120 attendees at a recent daylong meeting in Chicago between business executives, policy experts and government officials from...

Green Scene: Engineering firm grows via projects to shrink cities' carbon footprints
Thu, 06/23/2011
A relatively new Chicago sustainability engineering firm is in expansion mode to help shrink the carbon footprint of cities and existing buildings around the globe. PositivEnergy Practice LLC was formed about 18 months ago by the three partners of architectural firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) and Roger Frechette III, who...

Mayor Announces Commitment to Double the Number of LEED Certified Buildings
Mon, 06/20/2011
     The City of Chicago currently leads the environmental sustainability movement in the United States, owning and operating 41 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facilities, more than any other city in the nation.  Mayor Emanuel, who is also the newly elected Chair of the Public Buildings Commission of...