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Benefits: Energy Conservation

Reduces energy use (from car travel, home energy demand, materials production, or landfilling), thereby reducing pollution and utility costs.  The following sustainable strategies result in this benefit.

Access to amenities (e.g., grocery stores)

EL
Initial Cost Premium: 
0
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
N/A
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Higher sale price

Adaptive reuse of existing building

EMN
Initial Cost Premium: 
$-$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Rehab
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
N/A
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Tax credits

Building integrated wind turbine

ET
Initial Cost Premium: 
$$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Difficult
Maintenance Considerations: 
Moderate routine/preventive maintenance.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
IL DCEO grants and loans

Building orientation and passive solar design

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
0-$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Construction
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
N/A

Compact light bulbs (CFLs or LEDs)

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
Less frequent light bulb replacement.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Rebates

Construction and demolition waste recycling

EMT
Initial Cost Premium: 
0
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Low maintenance.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Potential income source

Double-paned ENERGY STAR windows

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
No different from conventional
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
IL DCEO grants

ENERGY STAR appliances

EW
Initial Cost Premium: 
0-$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
Preventive maintenance will result in highest energy efficiency benefits
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Tax credits

ENERGY STAR Rating

EW
Initial Cost Premium: 
$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Various
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Tax credits

Energy-efficient building envelope

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
$-$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
N/A
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Tax credits

Energy-efficient HVAC system

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Preventive maintenance will result in highest energy efficiency benefits.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Tax credits

Geothermal Electricity Generation or Heat Pumps

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
$$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Moderate routine/preventive maintenance.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Federal tax incentive; IL DCEO grants and loans

Integrated design process

EHILMNPSTW
Initial Cost Premium: 
0-$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Should result in a better system design and easier maintenance.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Green Communities planning grant

Low-flow/water-saving plumbing fixtures

EW
Initial Cost Premium: 
0-$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
Same as conventional.

Occupant recycling

EMT
Initial Cost Premium: 
0
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Low maintenance.

Photovoltaic system for electricity generation

E
Initial Cost Premium: 
$$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Moderate routine/preventive maintenance.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Federal tax credits; IL Clean Energy Community Foundation grants and DCEO grants and loans

Proximity to public transportation

EL
Initial Cost Premium: 
0-$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
N/A
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Location-efficient mortgage

Recycled-content products (postconsumer or postindustrial)

EMT
Initial Cost Premium: 
$-$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Easy
Maintenance Considerations: 
Same as conventional.

Salvaged materials

EMT
Initial Cost Premium: 
0-$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Same as conventional.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Potential income source

Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating

ET
Initial Cost Premium: 
$-$$
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both: 
Both
Difficulty: 
Moderate
Maintenance Considerations: 
Moderate routine/preventive maintenance.
Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium : 
Federal and IL tax incentives; IL DCEO grants and loans
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