Chicago’s blueprint for a greener tomorrow: What’s new in sustainability?

Being ranked the ninth greenest city in the U.S. by insurance company Battleface, Chicago is continuing to make strides and initiatives toward a more eco-friendly future.

When it comes to the city’s buildings and construction, Chicago has become a leader in energy efficiency. According to Knight Frank Intelligence Lab, about 70% of Chicago’s commercial space is LEED or Energy Star certified, meaning the city is mitigating a considerable contributor to carbon emissions by incorporating and maintaining energy-efficient buildings.

Not only will green buildings shape Chicago’s clean electricity consumption, but so will the state’s recent solar farm project. According to Energy News Network, Illinois’ largest solar farm is currently being built in downstate Illinois, containing a 600-megawatt capacity, with about half of that devoted to Chicago.

The project will also provide energy to Loyola University and State Farm insurance company. When it reaches completion in late 2024, it may offset about 70% of electricity use by municipal operations.

Chicago’s public transportation is also changing for the better. The Chicago Transit Authority announced they are trying to electrify their entire bus fleet by 2040. Right now, they currently have two bus lines running all-electric, including #66 Chicago and #63 63rd route.

They currently have 25 electric vehicles in their fleet and are equipping charging facilities for these buses. They hope to purchase additional vehicles and expand to other routes and garages in the coming years.

In conjunction with this new emerging clean-transportation project, the City of Chicago has also released a statement on its website announcing that Divvy bikes are now available to the entire city. Its service area spans 234 square miles, with new stations on the Northwest, Southwest, and Far South Sides. This change now services all 50 wards.