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Green Business Assessment
The Green Business Assessment is a win-win for your business and the environment! Created in partnership with the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center, the Green Energy Assessment helps businesses become more sustainable while reducing costs.
It’s simple: First, we visit your business and take a closer look at your operations. Then, we give you a free Green Action Plan, a custom report that outlines ways to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and take advantage of sustainability incentives and other programs.
View our Green Business Assessment Case Studies
We are actively recruiting businesses of all sizes to participate by scheduling their Green Energy Assessment today. Email info@ChooseDuPage.com to get started!
SUSTAINABLE DUPAGE PROGRAM SERIES
Choose DuPage hosts a series of sustainability-focused events featuring fresh topics at the intersection of business, economic development, life and sustainability. By bringing together local thought-leaders and influential members of the community, we hope to spark new connections and fresh thinking as we all work toward a brighter future – for our plant and for DuPage County.
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Food and packaging/containers account for almost 45% of landfill materials in the US. In an effort to reduce this waste, Public Act 103-0524 was enacted by the IL General Assembly allowing consumer owned reusable containers to be filled at food establishments, if the establishment decides to allow them.
If you are interested in talking with food establishments about how they can participate, contact Go Green Glen Ellyn, Organizing for Plastics Alternatives and Upstream have developed more information. If you are a food establishment seeking guidance, visit IDPH for guidance and the section on reducing food packaging waste.
The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program offers incentives to help businesses and facilities reduce energy use by improving the efficiency of their equipment. Click here for a list of all incentives. Click here for a list of ComEd Standard Incentives.
Apply online, here.
View ComEd's business sustainability webinar held on July 30, 2024 with Choose DuPage.
ComEd offers a Distributed Generation (DG) Rebate program to help businesses offset the out-of-pocket costs of installing a qualified renewable energy generating system. The DG Rebate program is available to ComEd commercial and industrial customers that take net metering service as well as community supply projects.
DuPage County invites residents, businesses and government agencies to join the Cool DuPage effort to reduce energy consumption. By working together, we can help DuPage County reduce greenhouse gases through big and small changes.
In 2012, DuPage County approved the Cool Counties Initiative as a way of accepting new environmental challenges. The Cool Counties plan set goals of reducing greenhouse gases from 2007 levels by 10 percent by the year 2020 and by 20 percent by 2030. To move these goals forward, the County brought together the DuPage Green Government Council (GGC). An entity comprised of utility and energy efficiency experts and community members to draft this plan of action. This project will continue to put the County at the forefront of saving energy through the continued pursuit of newer technologies.
DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
Read their 5 Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting.
Programs for renewable energy and energy efficiency exist across the state of Illinois across a range of technology types and are available for utility-scale, commercial, and residential customers. Businesses can use the DSIRE database to find programs available to them.
DuPage County is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. The DuPage County Environmental Division works to inform the public about environmental issues impacting their health, well-being and safety and provide recycling opportunities to both residents and businesses. Read more information about sustainability in DuPage here.
The Green Building Incentive Program enables private sector developers or property owners who implement green design standards into their projects to receive the following incentives:
- Expedited building permit review (25%-time reduction)
- Expedited storm water review for both incorporated and unincorporated projects (25%-time reduction)
- Reduction of building permit, zoning and plat application fees (10% fee reduction)
- Expedited zoning (ZBA) and plat process.
All types of construction and development projects that meet the USGBC criteria for Platinum or Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification would qualify for the incentives.
Learn more about the DuPage County Green Building Incentive Program.
GO GREEN GLEN ELLYN is a community environmental organization with a mission to make it easier for residents and businesses in Glen Ellyn to be greener through education, advocacy and volunteerism.
- They educate and advocate on local environmental issues through community events, presentations, written newsletters, social media and their website.
- They aim to serve the community by providing a hub of information for local environmental resources and amplify the work of other sustainable organizations and businesses in the community.
- They provide volunteer opportunities for community focused environmental projects, and help connect residents on new initiatives, serving as a catalyst for community awareness and activation.
Their focus areas include nurturing and creating usable green space, at home and in our community, and sustainable use of resources at home and business.
Go Green Illinois was established in the Spring of 2013 to encourage and support the establishment of citizen’s environmental groups in every community in Illinois. There are currently over 30 communities actively participating. Go Green Illinois provides a forum to share best practices among the groups and to collaborate on addressing environmental challenges that cross municipal boundaries.
The Illinois Green Business Program provides businesses with high quality technical assistance and assessments that drive environmental and economic savings. They are Illinois' one-stop shop for small business sustainability.
The Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) is the state resource that promotes the widespread application of solar and other forms of renewable energy through our mission of advocacy and education. They provide renewable energy-related policy developments, educational classes, events, access to local renewable energy businesses, and more.
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center's Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is offering free sustainability assessments for eligible Illinois manufacturers, processing facilities, their direct suppliers and supporting industries.
TAP’s sustainability assessment can reduce your business costs, energy costs, water consumption, wastewater generation, hazardous materials, and emissions.
The Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force is a group of Naperville citizens working together for clean energy in Naperville. They are an official Task Force of the City of Naperville. Learn more at SustainableNaperville.org.
Nicor Gas provides the education, resources and financial rebates you need to make energy use in your facility more efficient and affordable. Smart businesses have an energy strategy that reduces overhead and boost profits.
Property Assessed Clean Energy financing is an innovative tool that provides low-cost, long-term funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects in commercial buildings.
Commercial property owners can obtain 100% upfront financing from private capital providers for up to 30 years for improvements such as HVAC, lighting, and solar photovoltaic systems in both existing building and new construction projects. Funding is secured by a special assessment lien on the property and is repaid as a line item on the property tax bill.
The Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) recommend that companies purchase cleaning supplies that are either EPA Safer Choice or Green Seal certified cleaning solutions. A description of each certification type is listed in the document below, as well as items that can be purchased that meet these criteria, with comparisons to everyday cleaning solutions found in businesses. SEDAC does not recommend one product over another but provides sample items to demonstrate the cost competitiveness of green cleaning solutions to their non-certified counterparts. Also included is language on how to communicate your green cleaning preferences to your building management or contracted cleaning service.
SEDAC has developed two websites to help educate businesses and consumers on the dangers of PFAS or PFAS, or (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, that are used in disposable foodware coatings. These resources were developed through our work with the U.S. EPA Pollution Prevention Grant Program to promote the widespread adoption of alternative, safer single-use foodware without harmful chemicals. PFAS can migrate into food through coatings in single-use or disposable foodware, exposing customers and employees to harmful chemicals.
The first online resource highlights “How to Protect Yourself from PFAS in Foodware: Health Risks and Smart Tips for Consumers.” Current research indicates that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to: developmental delays in children; reproductive problems; cancer risk; hormone disruption; and immune system suppression. This webpage highlights how consumers can reduce PFAS exposure through transferring takeout food promptly from restaurant containers to reduce contamination risk and to avoid reheating food in its original packaging. Purchasing glass food storage ware for home use can also reduce risks to PFAS exposure through food cooked at home.
The second resource Choose PFAS-Free: A Commitment to Food & Customer Safety! explains the many benefits of why food businesses should transition to PFAS-free disposable foodware to reduce exposure for customers and employees. For instance, restaurants can use non-coated foodware and purchase foodware with BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) or GreenScreen certified foodware, who have done the work to identify disposable foodware that is PFAS-free. For instance, restaurants can use non-coated packaging, conduct research to discover foodware that has PFAS-free third-party certification and work with these sustainable suppliers.
Check out our websites for more information and steps you can take to reduce your exposure to PFAS!
Rheaply's mission is to build a connected community with transformative technology where every workplace resources finds its next use. With total resource efficiency, you can reallocate, sell, or decommission your resources for their next, best use.
SEDAC, the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center, is an applied research program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a public-private partnership with 360 Energy Group in Chicago.
SEDAC provides technical assistance to help businesses save energy at their facilities and become more sustainable. Through phone calls, emails, face-to-face consultations, site visits, and reports, they provide recommendations that are adoptable, affordable, and tailored to the needs of our clients. SEDAC offers economic analysis and financing guidance to help their clients develop strategies to implement our recommendations. They also periodically offer workshops and webinars to educate businesses about sustainable practices.
The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) aims to assist Illinois patrons, primarily Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) and Very Small Businesses to spur economic growth and job creation in their local township/community, all while addressing the impact of climate change.
Applicable Borrower Criteria:
- No more than 750 employees
- Must operate in the State of Illinois
- Be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State
- Clear of any back taxes
- No bankruptcies, judgements, or liens in the past 5 years
Eligible Projects:
- Clean air/clean water projects and wastewater treatment
- Production/installation/servicing of wind/hydro/solar power equipment
- Production/installation/servicing of electric vehicles and EV charging stations
- Clean energy generation, alternative fuels, and new battery technologies
- Energy conservation
- Biomaterial production and sustainable agricultural practices
- Broadband expansion for rural and other underserved communities
- Other efforts providing environmental benefit/counter the impacts of climate change
The 179D commercial buildings energy efficiency tax deduction primarily enables building owners to claim a tax deduction for installing qualifying systems in buildings. Tenants may be eligible if they make construction expenditures. If the system or building is installed on federal, state, or local government property, the 179D tax deduction may be taken by the person primarily responsible for the system’s design. The 179D tax deduction does not apply to other non-tax paying entities, including but not limited to NGOs or churches, unless there exists an energy-as-a-service agreement that is owned by a tax paying company.
Learn more about the 179D Commercial Buildings Energy-Efficiency Tax Deduction.
Product Certifications
Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA, helping you save energy and money while protecting our climate by making choices that count for a clean energy future. Find all the information you need to choose ENERGY STAR certified products.
The EPEAT ecolabel is the leading global Type 1 ecolabel covering products and services from the technology sector. It identifies more products from a broader range of manufacturers than any other comparable ecolabel.
Products currently meeting EPEAT criteria, known as “active” EPEAT-registered products, are listed on their Registry. Purchasers can then search for products based on product category, manufacturer, where the product is expected to be used or by EPEAT rating.
GreenScreen Certified™ products are independent non-profit certified, free of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and thousands of other chemicals of concern. GreenScreen Certified products promote the use of preferred chemistry by using the globally recognized GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals suite of tools.
Green Seal certification is a process that ensures that a product or service meets the rigorous performance, health, and environmental criteria in Green Seal's environmental leadership standards.
UL ECOLOGO® Certified products and services are verified for reduced environmental impact. ECOLOGO Certifications are voluntary, multi-attribute, life cycle-based environmental certifications that indicate a product has undergone rigorous scientific testing and exhaustive auditing to prove its compliance with stringent, third-party environmental standards.
Products that have achieved GREENGUARD Certification are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.
The UL GREENGUARD Certification Program has established test methods and emission limits for building materials, furniture and furnishings, electronic equipment, cleaning and maintenance products, and medical devices for breathing gas pathways.
Certifications & Awards
B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.
Learn more about ENERGY STAR for Products.
Green C Certification recognizes organizations for being in compliance with industry and government standards for environmental sustainability, as well as promoting environmentally responsible products and practices and helping to create a “culture of Green” within their industry.
The purpose of the GRA standards is to provide a transparent way to measure each restaurant’s environmental accomplishments while providing a pathway for the next steps each restaurant can take towards increased environmental sustainability.
Green Shield CertifiedSM offers certification and evaluation services for pest management professionals, services and public buildings that are dedicated to effective pest management practices with the least risk to people and the environment.
Green Shield Certified is an independent, award-winning, third-party certification program.
The Illinois Green Business Certification program is a verifiable framework that helps businesses determine best green practice opportunities to save money, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.
While the Green Business Certification program touches on some building attributes, it focuses on opportunities inside the building - the operations of the business. The program is designed to identify savings, engage staff in green practices, and increase operational efficiency - helping your business keep more money in its pockets every day.
ISO 14001 Certification is the most widely used Environmental Management System (EMS), with over 360,000 certificates issued. ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system. It is suitable for businesses of any size and industry due to its generic nature.
Companies can become certified under this standard or just use it to help manage sustainability at the organization. It maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system. ISO 14001 provides requirements with guidance for use that relate to environmental systems. Other standards in the family focus on specific approaches such as audits, communications, labelling and life cycle analysis, as well as environmental challenges such as climate change.
Implementing ISO 14001 can bring various advantages to your organization, such as reducing environmental impacts and risks, saving resources and costs, enhancing reputation and credibility, gaining a competitive edge, and improving performance and compliance. By doing so, you can identify and control your significant aspects and impacts, implement operational controls and efficiency measures, demonstrate your commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability to stakeholders, customers, and regulators, meet the expectations of your market and industry, access new opportunities that require environmental credentials, set environmental objectives and targets, and conduct regular audits and reviews.
While ISO 14001 is a great standard for environmental companies, it does take a lot of assessment, planning, tracking, employee education and documentation (Steps to Certification). Regular audits are also required to maintain documentation that the company has met the ISO 140001 standards. Certification is performed by a 3rd party entity and is valid for 3 years once approved. It can be a time-intensive process to get certified, but following the framework may give your company a strong environmental program. More information about ISO 14001 can be found here.
LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.
To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).
Show your dedication to protecting the environment by earning a SCARCE Earth Flag, Ecology Flag, and/or Water Quality Flag.
Earth Flag Requirements
- Host an employee training session
- Complete a Green Audit
- Sponsor a waste or energy reduction activity
- Implement a comprehensive recycling program
- Participate in a community event that benefits the environment
- Create a Powerpoint presentation with photos to document your actions
- Learn more
Ecology Flag Requirements
- Earn an Earth Flag
- Create a program that conserves resources or reduces pollution on a large scale
- Host an employee training session
- Create a power point with photos to document your actions
- Learn more
Water Quality Flag Requirements
- Host an employee training session
- Install a rain barrel at your building
- Participate in two activities that improve water quality
- Create a power point with photos to document your actions
- Learn More
SEDAC is recruiting businesses of all sizes and organizations (public sector, NPOs, etc.) to participate in the Illinois Green Business Certification Program. Becoming a green business is easy – there are three key steps to being certified: Assess performance, implement your custom action plan and confirm progress. Businesses who participate in the program reduce operating costs, attract new customers, reduce environmental impact, engage employees and are able to promote themselves as an environmental leader in their community. As part of the green business certification process, SEDAC will help participants measure their impact on the environment and take steps to reduce that impact, providing support to help organizations reach program recognition. Click here for more information.
TRUE certified spaces are environmentally responsible, more resource efficient and help turn waste into savings and additional income streams. Certification is available for any physical facility and their operations, including buildings owned by businesses, property managers, schools, government agencies and nonprofits.
The UL waste diversion validation program focuses on monitoring and measuring material flows that are not part of an organization’s final product. UL offers four landfill waste diversion claim validations to recognize companies that handle waste in environmentally responsible and innovative ways — from energy production via incineration to reuse, recycling and composting. Materials that are not diverted are considered disposed and go to the landfill or incineration without energy recovery.
UL requires at least 90 percent diversion through methods other than waste to energy to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill (Silver 90-94 percent, Gold 95-99 percent and Platinum 100 platinum) designations.
UL 880 is a comprehensive enterprise-level sustainability standard and certification program and helps companies measure their sustainability activities and assess how much their sustainability objectives and performance have become part of their overall enterprise goals, business, and functions.
We Compost is a FREE recognition program that promotes businesses and institutions that participate in a compost program. Our goals are to highlight entities that compost and encourage more people to patronize businesses that are managing their food scraps responsibly.