A Letter from our Executive Director – Celebrating 2023
Brian Imus • December 22, 2023
Dear valued partner,
The progress this past year makes me more excited than ever about our big bold vision to decarbonize every building in Illinois. There has been unprecedented momentum in making Illinois a recognized national leader in net zero building design, technology, and operations.
My optimism is rooted in the amazing community of members, partner organizations, allies, and volunteers that make Illinois Green’s work possible every year. Thank you!
A few of my favorite highlights from this past year
- The Getting to Zero Illinois Summit included over 200 attendees. The program allowed for dialogue with owners, operators, and designers of net zero buildings and concluded with a standing room only Emerald Awards Ceremony recognizing trailblazers advancing net zero in Illinois.
- The Building Energy Resource Hub was launched. With the support of partners like Elevate, BOMA Chicago, the Illinois Finance Authority, ComEd, and the City of Chicago, this new project will better serve building professionals and owners with the resources and tools they need to meet our region’s climate goals.
- Over 250 building professionals voiced support for decarbonization policy. The call to action has encouraged Mayor Johnson to consider new policies like a building performance standard for existing buildings and an all-electric policy for new construction. Meanwhile, Oak Park passed the first-of-its-kind building decarbonization policy in Illinois with implementation support from Illinois Green’s Building Energy Resource Hub.
- 30 schools enrolled in the latest cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project.Schools from Carbondale to Libertyville are participating and will implement a sustainability project with support from Illinois Green mentors.
- The Auxiliary Board hosted the third annual Race to Net Zero 5K. The event, organized by our young professional leaders within our membership, was successful in raising nearly $10,000 to support this coming year’s green schools sustainability projects.
- Over 3,600 people attended an Illinois Green event this year. With the help of our volunteer-led Programs Committee and support of our partners, we provided education on the latest trends and technologies and networking with other professionals.
Reflecting on this work, I’m reminded that Illinois Green is a community. You make this work possible, and I’m grateful for your dedication, support, and partnership.
I’m looking forward to the year ahead and the opportunity to build on the success and momentum from this past year.
With Appreciation,
Brian Imus
Executive Director
Illinois Green Alliance
P.S. — This year we were thankful to add three new staff members to our team. Miranda Wright (Education & Engagement Manager) in April, Ryan Wilmington (Policy & Communications Associate) in July, and Kindy Kruller (Senior Program Manager) just last week! It has been truly an inspiring year of growth for our staff and our community.
Five years ago, Illinois Green Alliance launched a new strategic plan with a bold north star to guide our work: to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and so commonplace that every building in Illinois was net zero by 2050. Mainstreaming the technology and building methods, whether new or existing, is no easy feat. But we realized no one was better positioned to make it happen than green building professionals.Our focus over the last five years have been about laying the foundation necessary to meet our long-term vision and I’m excited to share the progress we’ve made. These past five years have been guided by three pillars: ● Educating industry professionals to ensure they have the expertise to use net zero building methods in their work and can help us raise awareness about their value with building owners and policy makers. ● Removing barriers by providing information about the technical, financial, social and policy roadblocks to net zero adoption and passing new laws that help to overcome these barriers. ● Demonstrating it can work everywhere by collaborating with building types in historically underinvested communities that are considered difficult to implement net zero methods. That focus has paid off, allowing us to meet many of the goals we set for our work across all of our strategies. For example:
At the start of 2025, I told our members that we can build a movement of green building advocates that can continue the progress made in Illinois for high-performance building, regardless of what happens in Washington D.C. Over the last year, you’ve proven me right. While elsewhere green building and clean energy goals have been put on pause, Illinois has continued the fight and won three huge victories that usher in historic investment in clean energy and green buildings and raise the bar for building performance, completely changing the landscape for what is possible in this industry.
he mission of the Illinois Green Schools Project (IGSP)—our year-long school sustainability action and recognition program--is to empower educators, school administrators, students, and school communities to create healthy, sustainable learning environments. This work requires passion, collaboration, and informed support, and as an IGSP program coordinator, I’m always on the lookout for opportunities that help schools build the knowledge and connections needed to drive meaningful, lasting change in their buildings and districts. The Green Schools Conference has long been one of the most impactful gatherings in this space. Its focus on the intersection of environmental health, sustainability, and education makes it a uniquely valuable event for anyone working to make schools healthier and greener places for students to learn and grow. From educators, administrators, and district representatives to facilities managers, students, and community organizations, the Green Schools Conference is a powerful space to learn, collaborate, and fuel your next big idea. This year’s conference promises a rich lineup of workshops, education sessions, and networking and recognition events that speak to the needs and realities of today’s school sustainability landscape. Districts across Illinois are navigating shrinking budgets, aging infrastructure, and a newly passed state-wide law requiring the inclusion of climate education in public school curriculum starting in 2026. Therefore, I’m particularly excited to see sessions on the agenda exploring climate action and resilience planning, opportunities to connect students to sustainability career pathways, and environmental literacy in classrooms. These conversations are essential as programs like the Illinois Green Schools Project continue evolving to support schools in setting goals, tracking progress, and engaging diverse communities in sustainability work. If you’re considering attending this year, I encourage you to take a look at the agenda and explore the sessions that could support your school or organization’s goals. You’ll find no shortage of practical insights, creative ideas, and meaningful connections. I know those who attend will come away with the same clarity, inspiration, and sense of comradery that have made past conferences so influential for myself and others in the Illinois school sustainability community.
