Sustainable Strategies Table
Energy Efficiency
Strategy |
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both | Initial Cost Premium | Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium | Benefits and Cost Savings | Difficulty | Maintenance Considerations | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building integrated wind turbine | Both | $$$ | IL DCEO grants and loans |
|
Difficult | Moderate routine/preventive maintenance. | Wind Energy |
| Building orientation and passive solar design | Construction | 0-$ |
|
Moderate | N/A | Site Planning | |
| Compact light bulbs (CFLs or LEDs) | Both | $ | Rebates |
|
Easy | Less frequent light bulb replacement. | Lighting Upgrades |
| Double-paned ENERGY STAR windows | Both | $$ | IL DCEO grants |
|
Easy | No different from conventional | Energy Star Windows |
| ENERGY STAR appliances | Both | 0-$ | Tax credits |
|
Easy | Preventive maintenance will result in highest energy efficiency benefits | Energy Star Appliances |
| ENERGY STAR Rating | Both | $$ | Tax credits |
|
Moderate | Various | Energy Star Appliances, Energy Star Windows |
| Energy-efficient building envelope | Both | $-$$ | Tax credits |
|
Moderate | N/A | Building Envelope |
| Energy-efficient HVAC system | Both | $$ | Tax credits |
|
Moderate | Preventive maintenance will result in highest energy efficiency benefits. | HVAC |
| Geothermal Electricity Generation or Heat Pumps | Both | $$$ | Federal tax incentive; IL DCEO grants and loans |
|
Moderate | Moderate routine/preventive maintenance. | Geothermal |
| Photovoltaic system for electricity generation | Both | $$$ | Federal tax credits; IL Clean Energy Community Foundation grants and DCEO grants and loans |
|
Moderate | Moderate routine/preventive maintenance. | Photovoltaic Systems |
| Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating | Both | $-$$ | Federal and IL tax incentives; IL DCEO grants and loans |
|
Moderate | Moderate routine/preventive maintenance. | Solar Water Heaters |
Materials and Waste Reduction
|
Strategy |
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both | Initial Cost Premium | Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium | Benefits and Cost Savings | Difficulty | Maintenance Considerations | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction and demolition waste recycling | Both | 0 | Potential income source |
|
Moderate | Low maintenance. | Waste Recycling |
| FSC certified wood | Both | $$ |
|
Easy | Same as conventional. | Renewable Materials | |
| Occupant recycling | Both | 0 |
|
Moderate | Low maintenance. | Recycling | |
| Rapidly renewable materials | Both | $$ |
|
Easy | Varies, typically same as conventional | Renewable Materials | |
| Recycled-content products (postconsumer or postindustrial) | Both | $-$$ |
|
Easy | Same as conventional. | Recycled Content Products | |
| Salvaged materials | Both | 0-$ | Potential income source |
|
Moderate | Same as conventional. | Salvaged Materials |
Planning, Predevelopment, and Site Selection
|
Strategy |
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both | Initial Cost Premium | Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium | Benefits and Cost Savings | Difficulty | Maintenance Considerations | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to amenities (e.g., grocery stores) | Both | 0 | Higher sale price |
|
Easy | N/A | Site Planning |
| Adaptive reuse of existing building | Rehab | $-$$ | Tax credits |
|
Moderate | N/A | Restoration |
| Good Design Features | Both | $$$ | Design Awards and Recognition |
|
Easy-Difficult | Varies | Integrated Design |
| Infill development in dense urban area | Both | 0-$ | Tax credits |
|
Moderate | N/A | Infill Development |
| Integrated design process | Both | 0-$ | Green Communities planning grant |
|
Moderate | Should result in a better system design and easier maintenance. | Integrated Design |
| Proximity to public transportation | Both | 0-$ | Location-efficient mortgage |
|
Easy | N/A | Transit Oriented |
Water Efficiency and Stormwater Management
|
Strategy |
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both | Initial Cost Premium | Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium | Benefits and Cost Savings | Difficulty | Maintenance Considerations | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graywater reuse | Both | $$$ |
|
Moderate | Moderate routine/preventive maintenance. | Water Conservation | |
| Low-flow/water-saving plumbing fixtures | Both | 0-$ |
|
Easy | Same as conventional. | Water Saving Fixtures | |
| Native landscaping | Both | 0-$ |
|
Easy | Low maintenance. | Native Landscaping | |
| Permeable paving or concrete | Both | $$ | Reduced design/build cost of engineered curb and gutter drainage systems |
|
Moderate | Varies with technology, low to moderate. | Permeable Driveway |
| Rainwater harvesting | Both | $-$$ |
|
Moderate | Moderate routine/preventive maintenance. | ||
| Vegetative roof | Both | $$$ |
|
Moderate for new construction; difficult for Rehab | Routine inspection and maintenance; minimal for extensive roofs, moderate for intensive roofs. | Vegetative Roof |
Indoor Environmental Quality
|
Strategy |
Applicable to Rehab, New Construction, or Both | Initial Cost Premium | Opportunities to Offset Initial Cost Premium | Benefits and Cost Savings | Difficulty | Maintenance Considerations | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ductwork covered during construction | Both | 0 |
|
Easy | Insulation | ||
| Filtration media with high MERV rating | Both | $ |
|
Easy | Less or same as conventional. | Indoor Air Quality | |
| Formaldehyde-free products | Both | $ |
|
Easy | Same as conventional. | Formaldehyde Free Products | |
| Low VOC paints, sealants, caulks, adhesives | Both | 0 |
|
Easy | Same as conventional. | Low VOC Products |
