Environment Committee Meeting on 4-15-25: Code Enforcement and Adoption for Sustainability
Presentations:
- Codes Overview to Frame the Issue – Cheryl Scott, Senior Sustainability Specialist, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
- State Building Codes: Recent Legislation to Move Municipalities to More Current Codes slides – Matt Paul, Senior Technical Specialist, Illinois Capital Development Board; one-page Presentation Summary
- Providing Support on Stretch Codes, Benchmarking, and Building Performance Standards – Jeannette LeZaks, Director of Research & Innovation, Slipstream
- Grant Opportunities for Going Above and Beyond – Anne McKibbin, Vice President, The Accelerate Group
Resources:
- Illinois Capital Development Board:
- Building Codes and Regulations webpage
- Municipal Code Directory – shows the code editions each community is on, if they have reported this to the Capital Development Board (CDB)
- Submission Form – to report your local building codes to the Capital Development Board – Reporting Walkthrough Guide from the CDB
- Illinois Codes FAQ webpage
- Questions? Contact Matt Paul, Illlinois Capital Development Board Senior Technical Specialist, at: CDB.BuildingCodes@illinois.gov
- For Cook County municipalities: If you need assistance updating to newer National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) editions, contact Matt Stolspart of Local 134’s Codes and Standards Committee at: mstolspart@local134.org
- Map showing what electrical code Cook County municipalities are on, based on Matt Stolspart’s data
- For assistance enforcing the current state Energy Code, contact Slipstream Director of Research & Innovation Jeannette LeZaks at: jlezaks@slipstreaminc.org Slipstream, along with the Caucus and other partner organizations, can also support municipalities that are considering the stretch code. Go to the Caucus’ Advanced Building Energy Efficiency Policies (ABEEP) Task Force webpage to find out more, view fact sheets, and other materials. To join the ABEEP Task Force, email Caucus Senior Sustainability Specialist Cheryl Scott at cscott@mayorscaucus.org.
- The Building Energy Hub – The Hub is an objective resource from Illinois Green Alliance for building professionals of all levels of familiarity with energy efficiency. The Hub serves Illinois area stakeholders with critical training and resources, ensuring that the region can meet aggressive climate action goals within the buildings sector, while building an inclusive green economy.
Grants:
- Illinois Climate Bank stretch code adoption grants of up to $200,000 per municipality – applications due May 23, 2025
- These grants may also be used for a phased approach to updating base codes that lay the groundwork for future adoption of the stretch code.
- Notice of Funding Opportunity: Stretch Code Adoption NOFO
- Application Link
- Guide: How to Apply
- SolarAPP+ residential solar permitting software adoption and implementation grants of up to $30,000 each – applications due May 11, 2025
- These Illinois Climate Bank grants may also be used to update residential electrical codes, where that effort is necessary to adopt and implement SolarAPP+.
- Notice of Funding Opportunity: SolarAPP+ NOFO
- Application Link
- Guide: How to Apply
- Residential solar outreach grants of up to $500,000 per awardee – applications due May 19, 2025
- The Illinois Climate Bank is offering these grants to municipalities and nonprofits to:
- Provide intensive outreach and assistance to low-income residents applying for the Illinois Solar for All’s (ILSFA) Residential Solar (Small) program
- Provide funding for shared services to outreach and assistance grantees.
- Notice of Funding Opportunity: Residential Solar Outreach NOFO
- Application Link
- Guide: How to Apply
- The Illinois Climate Bank is offering these grants to municipalities and nonprofits to:
Return to the Environment Committee webpage.