Scaling High Performance: Our 2026-2030 Strategic Plan is Here

Matt Watson • February 12, 2026

Strategies for Leveraging Net Zero Practices of Statewide Impact

We are thrilled to release our next five-year Strategic Plan, “Scaling High Performance”! At Illinois Green Alliance, our vision is to create a future where all buildings in Illinois are high performance. To get there, our new Strategic Plan builds on the strong foundations we've forged with our dedicated members—who represent every facet of the building industry.


Since the inception of our last five-year Strategic Plan in 2021, we have educated thousands of building professionals annually, supported landmark policies like the Clean and Equitable Jobs Act, and demonstrated that high-performance buildings are achievable in every market.



This new plan reflects a shift from proving what's possible to scaling what works and reaching more people. Rather than growing alone, Illinois Green will expand impact through network growth, shared leadership and collaboration across sectors, building types, and regions of the state.

Four Strategic Priorities

Over the next five years, Illinois Green will focus on four interconnected strategies that together accelerate progress toward net zero buildings in 2050. 


1: Champion High-Performance Building Practices

Illinois Green will expand education, partnerships, and statewide reach to equip building professionals, policymakers, and communities with proven tools and strategies. By increasing access to reliable knowledge and cutting-edge technologies, we will support deep transformation of both new construction and existing buildings.
 

2: Support Green Building Policies

Policy is a critical pathway for expanding demand for high-performance buildings. Illinois Green will mobilize building industry expertise to inform, advance, and implement local and state policies that reduce emissions while supporting economic growth and community benefits. 

3: Promote Sustainable Investment Strategies

Illinois Green will demonstrate that high-performance buildings deliver strong financial returns alongside environmental and social benefits. By sharing information about incentives, real-world case studies, and best practices, we will help overcome cost misconceptions and align sustainability with long-term value. 


4: Engage All Building Professionals Across Illinois

To ensure high-performance buildings are a fixture in every community, Illinois Green will broaden engagement across regions and sectors—especially outside Chicagoland and among owners, operators, and contractors. Our strength lies in our network and the trust it places in us. 

Illinois Green Alliance’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan reflects the organization’s evolution from a hub of innovation to a platform for statewide impact. It is ambitious, practical, and grounded in the belief that people—working together—are the key to transforming Illinois’ built environment. 



Download the Strategic Plan

Illinois Green's Impact Over the Last 5 Years

By Ryan Wilmington • January 23, 2026
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:

The New Momentum for Green Building Policy

By Ryan Wilmington • January 16, 2026
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. 

Why We're Attending the 2026 Green Schools Conference

By Twyla Neely-Streit • December 16, 2025
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.
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