A new initiative to encourage residents to make green lifestyle choices was launched by the City of Chicago in November.
Select multifamily properties in Chicago will participate in a competition which will track energy efficiency over six months to see which community can conserve the most water, gas and electric, according to a city news release.
The Chicago Neighborhood Energy Challenge is being conducted at seven properties in the Humbolt Park and Logan Square neighborhoods and will include about 750 residents living in about 500 units.
“The Chicago Neighborhood Energy Challenge is an innovative way to engage Chicago’s residents and empower them to have a direct impact on the environment,” says Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a news release.
The program is aiming to reduce usage of electricity, gas and water by about 5 to 10 percent and educate tenants about eco-friendly conservation.
The building that saves the most energy will be rewarded with about $25,000 to be reinvested in the property. Second prize is $7,500 and third place will receive $3,500.
The competition is being launched by the City of Chicago in partnership with the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation and will be used as a pilot for future programs and contests, the release states.
One of the recent goals of the HHDC has been working through a partnership with Affordable Community Energyto help bring clean energy to affordable housing in Chicago.
The University of Chicago is also getting involved with the data portion of the project and will evaluate the pilot once completed.
Individual metering will be monitored by Enterprise Community Partners and the Delta Institute, according to the release. A local digital design and marketing agency, Clique Studios, will be working on a website for residents to compare their efforts with one another.
For more information, go to Chicago’s website.
Lindsay Machak is an Associate Editor for Multifamily Executive. Connect with her on Twitter @LMachak.
