Cook County Garners State Rebates from its Energy Efficiency Projects

Board approves grant agreements following work done on Stroger Hospital campus

Cook County will realize $956,686 in rebates related to energy efficiency projects on the Stroger Hospital campus following action by the Cook County Board today.

County Commissioners approved grant agreements related to the Illinois Energy Now program, which is managed by the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DECO). The program provides millions of dollars in rebates to public facilities that make large-scale equipment improvements to their electric and natural gas systems.

Each year, Cook County spends more than $25 million on energy for County-owned buildings,” said County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “Illinois Energy Now provides incentives for projects that increase the energy efficiency of local government facilities located in the service territories of ComEd and Peoples Gas. The County is now realizing the benefit of this program.”

Projects undertaken by the County which led to the rebates included:

• Installation of high-efficiency air filters at Stroger and at the Institute of Forensic Medicine.


• Chiller Plant optimization at Stroger Hospital.


• Installation of new high-efficiency condensing heat recovery system on six high-pressure steam boilers in the Stroger Powerhouse.

As required under program guidelines, rebates of more than $150,000 require a grant agreement with DECO. The County’s Bureau of Asset Management has applied for and received approval for incentives for energy efficiency upgrades at Stroger Hospital campus buildings (Stroger Hospital, Hektoen Building, CORE Center and the Stroger Hospital Powerhouse) completed between June 1, 2014, and May 31, 2015. Of the $956,686 total, $554,878 is for the electric rebate incentive and $401,808 is for the gas rebate incentive.

Energy efficiency and sustainability are key components of President Preckwinkle’s “green” agenda. With the advice of her Sustainability Advisory Council, Preckwinkle has committed the County to a substantial reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions now and in the future, and has established a Green Leadership Team of County officials to further introduce sustainable practices in County operations.