Green Building Standards
Cook County operates all buildings sustainably and prioritizes decarbonization of operations with all construction and renovation projects. These practices reduce energy, greenhouse gas emissions and operational expenses. To quantify and outline these practices, Cook County issued a Clean Energy Plan in 2020 with the following goals for County-owned buildings:
1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 from a 2010 baseline.
2. Achieve carbon neutral operations by 2050.
3. Use 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
The County later joined the US Department of Energy (DOE) Better Climate Challenge which requires a 50% Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions reduction for County-owned buildings by 2033 from a 2018 baseline. This also requires an EUI (Energy Use Intensity) reduction of 20% by 2033 from a 2018 baseline.
All projects completed by Cook County should keep these goals in mind. The Cook County Clean Energy Plan highlights specific energy reduction plans, actions and policies, and the Cook County Green Building Standards support these goals on the County's path toward decarbonization. The previous version of the Green Building Standards was last updated in 2020 and aimed to standardize practices in construction and renovation projects to ensure energy savings and sustainable practices were implemented. Along with the specifics outlined in the Green Buildings Standards, the County implemented the Green Buildings Program to support and deliver on these goals. The Green Buildings Program looks holistically at the design, space utilization, operations and life cycle impact of County owned properties to become a model for sustainable asset management that minimizes environmental impacts, improves the health and wellness of communities, and increases the value of County assets to optimize taxpayer dollars. This document provides an update to the Green Building Standards for Cook County owned-and-operated buildings. Click on the link below to view the Green Building Standards.