Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) Coordinator Staci Drouillard came before the city council on January 25 with a request for the city to contribute $2,000 to be used toward CCLEP general operating funds.
“CCLEP is working hard to create a local response to address climate change, fossil fuel consumption, and the reduction of air and water pollution from coal-fired power plants,” said Drouillard. “With your help, we’ve made significant progress on home energy efficiency, exploring biomass heating for homes and businesses, brought some solar energy and renewable energy programs to Cook County and helped experts to our area to share the latest in best building practices with our local builders and contractors.”
Describing some of CCLEP’s successes, Drouillard said since 2013, CCLEP’s Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP) has conducted 36 home or business energy audits.
“Nineteen of these audits have been completed, which equals an energy investment of $148,200,” Drouillard said. “Furthermore, the amount of CO2 saved annually for these 19 audits is 36,487 pounds or the equivalent of 17-1,200-squarefoot homes. As more audits are completed, these numbers will continue to grow.”
Solar power is also growing fast in the county, said Drouillard. “There are 64 solar photo-voltaic systems in Cook County, 10 times the statewide average.”
In the Cook County Energy Plan, Drouillard pointed out that 71 percent of respondents said they were very concerned about energy issues, and 65 percent put climate change at the top of their concern. “We hope the city will include energy efficiency, climate change and renewable energy in the 30-year comprehensive plan,” she added.
Mayor Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux lauded the work by CCLEP, citing the $148,000 saved in energy because of the audits, and the increase in value in real estate once a house or business has been made more energy efficient. Drouillard said the property owner must pay for the energy audits, but once the work has been completed to fix the structure, the homeowner or business owner will receive 75 percent of their energy audit fee back.
“We have a saying at CCLEP,” said Drouillard “The cheapest energy is the energy you save.”
Councilor Tim Kennedy made a motion to approve the CCLEP request, which was seconded by Councilor Traci Benson and approved by council unanimously to give $2,000 to CCLEP.
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