Energy Efficiency

The Issues
Recent Developments
What Delta is Doing
Where Do You Want to GO Next?

The Issues
Approximately 70% of U.S. energy is consumed by our homes and businesses, and much of that energy is generated from non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal or petroleum. Unfortunately, a lot of that energy is wasted. But retrofitting our homes and businesses to use energy more efficiently can reduce pollution and carbon emissions associated with the burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity. In an average year, a typical coal plant generates 3.7 million tons of carbon dioxide – roughly equivalent to the carbon dioxide emitted annually by approximately 650,000 cars (using EPA passenger car emissions figures). Energy efficiency promotes economic development, as well, as it helps businesses become more competitive by lowering operating costs; helps governments conserve limited resources; creates jobs and business opportunities that build the local economy; and helps homeowners reduce energy bills.

Recent Developments
In recent years, various local, state, and federal policies and incentives have been developed to promote energy efficiency, including billions of dollars in federal stimulus funding. Such policies drive local investment in the energy efficiency market and curtail out-of-state spending on coal and natural gas.  Many of these investments help home- and business-owners make existing buildings more energy efficient by providing them with discounts and rebates for lighting and appliance upgrades, heating and air conditioning tune-ups, home weatherization, and industry-specific equipment improvements.

Companies are voluntarily investing in energy efficiency as a way to improve their bottom line, in particular by adopting green building practices and seeking LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Consumers are weatherizing their homes and installing more efficient lighting and appliances.  Energy efficiency is a growing sector of the Green Economy that is putting thousands of Americans to work, and is one of the fastest growing sectors of the “Clean Energy Economy,” accounting for approximately 9.5% of green jobs.

What Delta Is Doing
Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of Delta’s strategy for creating 50 cutting-edge sustainable models for community economic development and generating $250 million in investments for pollution prevention, remediation, and reuse. Specifically, Delta is:

•    Administering two energy efficiency programs for homeowners: the Delta Weatherization & Energy Efficiency Program, which works with a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) to audit homes and determine what can be done to reduce wasted energy and utility bills for low-income homeowners; and the Delta Institute Appliance Program, which helps replace existing older and inefficient appliances with newer, more energy efficient EnergyStar appliances in eligible dwellings.

•    Through our Green Business Development Center, administering Cook County’s Energy Efficiency Block Grant allocation, which provides investment-grade audits and technical assistance to commercial and industrial facilities in eligible communities.

•    Achieving energy efficiency goals through green building and LEED certification of several iconic commercial buildings in the Chicago region.

•    Designing and managing energy efficiency retrofit financing programs for residential and business markets that provide the capital needed to implement energy efficiency strategies. See Cook County Energy Efficiency Program.

•    Helping train the energy efficiency workforce by developing and delivering workshops and trainings for contractors, building professionals, and facilities managers, often providing CEUs toward professional certifications.

•    Participating in Great Lakes United, a consortium of groups that support clean energy and conservation programs that lessen dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

•    Offering energy-efficient building products at discount prices through Buying Better, Delta’s green purchasing program.

Where Do You Want to GO Next?
•    Delta's Weatherization Programs
•    Green Business Development Center
•    BuyingBetter
•    Green Building

To explore additional green opportunities, visit our Green Economy Navigator.