The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association has partnered with Mayor Emanuel’s Retrofit Chicago initiative in helping residents make their homes energy efficient.

By Carlo Calma

Chicago-based non-profit organization Historic Chicago Bungalow Association (HCBA), has announced their partnership with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Retrofit Chicago initiative, according to an issued press release.

Retrofit Chicago’s Residential Partnership will bring together various organizations to, “accelerate the number of retrofits being completed in single family and multi-unit apartment buildings.”

The release further states that residential buildings consume almost half of the city’s total energy, and that the average age of residential buildings in Chicago is 83 years old. Because of this, many city residents aren’t sure of how to make their homes or buildings energy efficient.

The initiative will help owners retrofit their homes or buildings by providing, “access to financial incentives […] a one-stop-shop to access programs and coordinated and targeted outreach in designated energy zones.”

One such program, called the Multi-Family Home Energy Savings Program, for example, will provide free installation of energy saving measures like faucet aerators and compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs, according to the initiative’s website.

In addition to HCBA, the partnership will bring together ComEd, Peoples Gas, CNT Energy, the Community Investment Corporation and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

The initiative, overall, is expected to retrofit more than 6,700 apartments, 1,000 single family homes and create over 200 jobs, according to the press release.

“Retrofit Chicago will impact communities that need the help the most, and nearly 8,000 homes and apartments will soon be able to realize hundreds of dollars in annual savings,” said Mayor Emanuel.

To learn more about Retrofit Chicago’s Residential Partnership, and to apply for their programs, visit their website.