Energy Efficiency

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has committed to reducing 80% of greenhouse gas emissions in Cook County by 2050. Based on this commitment, the Department of Environment and Sustainability promotes energy efficiency throughout the County, and is now educating residents on the new Smart Grid.

In 2011, the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, also known as the “Smart Grid bill,” was passed by Illinois legislature to enable electric utilities ComEd and Ameren to modernize the electric grid. The new Smart Grid is an important part of infrastructure modernization, and will provide high-tech electricity distribution while helping reduce our carbon footprint. It is a more efficient delivery system that will reduce the length and amount of power outages, provide more detailed information on individual energy usage to customers, enable new pricing programs for customers interested in saving money by using energy smarter, and increase the availability of renewable energy.