Happy first week of spring! As we say goodbye to the cold winter temperatures and transition to warmer weather, it’s a great time to think about ways you save energy and money in your home during the spring and summer months.
Landscaping can help keep your home cool – Creating shade for your […]
Click here for more →Cook County will turn off its non-essential lights March 25 to commemorate Earth Hour and call attention to climate change. The Cook County Department of Facilities Management will save energy – and send a message about the role all of us can play in cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions – by turning […]
Click here for more →January is Radon Awareness Month and the Cook County Department of Environmental Control reminds you to be aware of the health risks of radon. Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that comes from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium in the soil. It can enter homes and buildings through small […]
Click here for more →New report shows 22 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
For the third year in a row, Cook County has exceeded its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) reduction goals, the County’s Annual Sustainability Report shows.
GHGs from County buildings have decreased by 22 percent since they were calculated in 2010, an achievement that surpasses […]
Click here for more →The temperature outside is frosty, but your home shouldn’t be. Consider weatherizing your home in order to save energy and money and to keep your home toasty. Weatherization focuses on finding the small leaks and holes in your home’s building envelope (otherwise known as the separation of the interior from the exterior of your home) […]
Click here for more →Want to save money on your utility bills? Join Cook County’s Department of Environmental Control, Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Elevate Energy to learn about ways to save money and energy with your smart meter, home weatherization and energy efficiency programs. Experts will also discuss rebated and free in-home devices and appliances. Please come […]
Click here for more →Holiday decorations make this time of year a treat, but those twinkly lights come at a price. Holiday lighting in the United States alone uses enough electricity to power 200,000 homes for up to a year. If all the decorative lights sold in the US this year were ENERGY STAR® certified, the energy cost […]
Click here for more →BuiltWorlds is a multi-platform media network committed to fostering a better built future. Their SmartWorlds video series explores the development of smart cities — from sustainability in infrastructure and building design to the implementation of innovative products and technologies. In the latest episode on SmartWorlds, they look into the large waste and […]
Click here for more →Thanksgiving is around the corner and the Cook County Department of Environmental Control has compiled a few tips to help save you money and energy while you prepare your turkey dinner. Approximately 15 percent of energy used in the average American home is used in the kitchen—most of that energy is used during cooking […]
Click here for more →Cook County is a leader in building material reuse. Its landmark Demolition Debris Diversion Ordinance mandated recycling and reuse of demolition debris to reduce landfilled material, promote safety and environmental quality and build the nascent building material reuse economy. Cook County asked the Delta Institute to do a market analysis of opportunities to further these […]
Click here for more →A Message from the President
I believe that Cook County should be a world-class model of sustainability. We are working not only to boost sustainability practices throughout County government, but also to join forces with local governments, nonprofits and business, to accomplish more than we could separately in making each of Cook County’s communities sustainable. To further this work, I appointed Deborah Stone as the County’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, and as Director of the Department of Environmental Control. I also recognize that Cook County needs to share ideas and collaborate with a diverse group of community leaders and sustainability experts. In March 2012, I appointed the Cook County Sustainability Advisory Council to help lift our vision higher and give us access to best practices. You can meet the Council members and read more about their mission in the “Advisory Council” section of this website. Toni Preckwinkle,Cook County Board President
Contact Us
Cook County Chief Sustainability Officer
69 W Washington
Room 1900
Chicago, IL 60602
312-603-8200 (o)
312-603-9828(f)
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