Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) Guide
Many organizations are considering adding solar to their electricity mix. This guide discusses power purchaseagreements (PPA) for the procurement of […]
2021 IECC Significant Changes
Updates to the International Energy Conservation Code (2018 to 2021) aim to improve building energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases. […]
Zero Code
In 2018, the non-profit organization Architecture 2030 created the Zero Code with the goal of reducing overall building sector emissions […]
Passive House
Do you know Passive House certified homes use about 90% less energy than the average home? Passive House building standards […]
Electric Lawn Mowers
It’s a great time to electrify your lawnmower! With high gasoline prices, it is practical to investigate the benefits of […]
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Every year US Colleges and Universities spend almost 10% of their energy use on water heating. By implementing energy efficient […]
Lift Station Optimization in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Lift stations move wastewater from lower to higher elevation, particularly where the elevation of wastewater sources is not sufficient for […]
Illinois Home Energy Code Checklist & Energy Certificate
For Homeowners and Realtors. Are you interested in buying an energy efficient home? Do you want to learn how to make your home more energy efficient? This checklist can help you quickly assess a home's energy performance and construction.
Making it Easier for Businesses to Go Green & Track Impact
SEDAC and the the California Green Business Network, one of the largest and longest running green business programs in the country, […]
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
To address the challenges of rising gas prices, climate change, and dwindling fossil fuel resources, policymakers point to electrification as […]
Energy Code Benefits for Architects & Engineers
Energy codes provide an opportunity for architects and engineers to serve the public good by creating buildings with low environmental […]
Energy Code Benefits for Homeowners and Realtors
For over 25 years, building energy codes have played a significant role in saving American homeowners money on utilities while […]
Using SCADA to Improve and Assess Operations
A Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is an assemblage of computer and communications equipment that gathers, monitors, and […]
Public Schools Carbon Free Assessment Program
On September 15, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2408, forming the Illinois Energy Transition Act. This landmark legislation puts […]
Efficient Nitrogen and Phosphorous Removal
Wastewater treatment facilities are commonly required to implement treatment processes that reduce effluent nutrient concentrations to levels that regulators deem […]
Energy Code Benefits for Communities
How do energy codes benefit communities? Energy codes lower utility costs, increase resilience to climate events, reduce pollution, place less […]
Act Now on Hydrogen Energy
Read the latest Midwestern Hydrogen Partnership publication about how the hydrogen economy can support a healthy environment, economic development, and […]
Downers Grove Net Zero Wastewater Treatment with Bio-gas
Innovative leadership and collaboration with the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation has allowed the Downers Grove Sanitary District WWTP to become a net-zero energy plant. Read how the district has reduced costs and increased resiliency by running their plant with bio-gas produced on site.
John A. Logan College Pool Cover Case Study
John A. Logan College (JALC) has a history of implementing energy efficiency improvements to reduce energy costs and to demonstrate […]
Increased Ventilation
Overview: Increasing the amount of outdoor air and cleaned filtered air introduced to educational spaces is one of the key […]
Improved Filtration
Overview: Increasing filtration of recirculated air improves indoor air quality and reduces airborne pathogens by capturing finer particles in the […]
Improving IAQ: Low-Concentration Hydrogen Peroxide
Overview: Technologies based on the use of low concentrations of gaseous or ionized hydrogen peroxide have been employed in hospitals […]
Growing the Energy Efficiency Workforce: Crafting Effective Job Postings
In the current job market where job seekers have a multitude of different options, how do you craft a job […]
Chemical Filters
Overview: Chemical filters are a means of trapping gaseous air pollutants such as VOCs to improve indoor air quality. The […]
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI)
Overview: Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has been used for decades to purify air in hospitals and labs that need to […]
Ionization Technologies
Overview: Ionization technologies have been in use for air purification since around 2000 when Sharper Image released the Ionic Breeze […]
Heartland Community College Net Zero Plan
Heartland Community College has an impressive sustainability record. Their accomplishments include the installation of a 1.65 MW wind turbine, geothermal […]
Energy Code Benefits for Contractors
A common myth is that energy codes are bad for the construction industry. In fact, energy codes have many benefits […]
Technologies to Improve Indoor Air Quality
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the importance of indoor air quality. While there are many strategies and technologies […]
Why Hydrogen May be Renewable Energy’s Best Bet
Read Tim Lindsey's latest article, published in Industry Week, about why Hydrogen may be renewable energy's best bet.
COVID Safe Space Calculator
Check out Ty Newell's COVID Safe Space Calculator, a helpful tool that calculates how the risk of virus transmission decreases […]
Manual J Load Sizing
Check out SEDAC's Energy Code Smart Tip on Manual J Load Sizing. Learn about why modern buildings need Manual J […]
Safe Schools During COVID
Read our latest factsheet on Safe Schools During COVID-19 for the top strategies to reduce the risk of virus transmission […]
The Emerging Hydrogen Economy and the Quest for Faster Horses
By Dr. Tim Lindsey From Faster Horses to Model Ts: Shortcomings of Today’s Energy System Legend has it that when […]
Domestic Hot Water Recirculation
Can Domestic Hot Water Recirculation Systems Conserve Energy? The US Department of Energy estimates that more than 400 billion gallons […]
Governors State University COVID-19 Risk Assessment
What measures can help buildings be as safe as possible during the pandemic? Governors State University (GSU) has taken proactive […]
Below-grade Insulation
Check out our new Energy Code Smart Tip for below-grade insulation! What insulation is required for below-grade walls? On the […]
SEDAC Year in Review: 2020
2020 has been a crazy year for all of us! Despite the many challenges, the SEDAC team has pressed forward […]
Beyond 2020: Net Zero Planning
At SEDAC, we're looking forward to putting 2020 behind us and moving towards a more hopeful future! As you set […]
Safety Tips for Buildings during COVID-19
Click on our flyer for simple recommendations facilities can follow to reduce the risk of airborne pathogen transmission, including COVID-19. […]
COVID-19 Checklist for Improved Air Quality
With winter approaching and COVID-19 cases increasing rapidly, it's time to reevaluate building safety precautions. Investing in solutions to reduce […]
Energy Efficiency Workforce: Lessons Learned from Past Crises
Growing the Energy Efficiency Workforce Research Series In Illinois, nearly 10,000 energy efficiency jobs have been lost since the beginning […]
Slab Insulation
Slabs can be big culprits for energy loss from heat that is conducted outward and through the perimeter of the […]
Caseyville Wastewater Treatment Plant Case Study
Recently, the Caseyville Township Water Reclamation Facility received a free facility assessment from Illinois EPA's Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Assessment […]
Building a Resilient Energy Efficiency Workforce
The economic effects of the pandemic have devastated many job sectors, including the energy efficiency sector. In Illinois, there are […]
Q&A: Healthy Buildings During COVID-19
This Q and A contains responses to questions that were raised at a webinar SEDAC delivered on August 18, 2020: […]
Energy Burden and COVID-19
Low-income households, minority households, and rental households have a higher energy burden on average. That is, they spend a larger […]
Energy Efficiency Workforce Diversity
There are many benefits to a diverse workforce. Diversity can drive competition, improve culture, foster innovation and economic growth, and […]
Best Practices for Building Operations During COVID-19
Our understanding of how the coronavirus spreads is evolving at a rapid rate. What does this mean for HVAC systems […]
Our Commitment to Racial Justice
SEDAC stands in solidarity with people around the world in mourning the death of George Floyd and countless other victims […]
Protect Net Metering for Solar Development
SEDAC’s mission is to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint—through energy efficiency, good building design, renewable energy systems and […]
Collecting Green Business Metrics
In October 2019, SEDAC received a grant from the U.S. EPA National Environmental Information Exchange Network with the California Green […]
Energy Rating Index
Newly constructed residential buildings in Illinois have three paths for compliance. This energy code smart tip explores the basics of […]
Why the Cannabis Industry Needs Energy Efficiency
Recreational and medical cannabis programs are spreading rapidly throughout the U.S. There are 33 states that allow medical cannabis and […]
COVID-19 and HVAC: Your Questions Answered
As shut-down restrictions are being lifted and unoccupied buildings are being opened up, there are many questions about the spread […]
Midwest Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Partnership
SEDAC, in collaboration with the Illinois Grainger College of Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, and the College of Liberal Arts and […]
How COVID-19 is Affecting Code Officials
How is the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the work that code officials do? Will the pandemic impact compliance with the Energy […]
COVID-19 and HVAC
Are you wondering if COVID-19 can be transmitted through HVAC systems? Afraid to go back to work thinking that you […]
Village of Annawan Wastewater Treatment Plant
Most energy assessments identify energy efficiency measures to save facilities between 10% and 30% on annual energy costs. Sometimes the […]
Opinion: Energy Efficiency is More Important Than Ever
By Patrick Sullivan, SEDAC Program Manager Working to become more energy efficient always makes sense – now more than ever. […]