ELPC is working to make green building practices the norm. Our new LEED Platinum eco-office puts our values into practice, combining innovative technology and forward-thinking design to create a workspace that protects the environment, is healthier for our staff and makes economic sense.

ELPC has the first LEED Platinum office in a Historic Landmark building in Chicago, creating a model they hope others will follow. “We’ve transformed space in a historic building into a cutting-edge green modern office with high environmental performance that makes economic sense.” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of ELPC. “With smart design, this downtown office space saves money with state-of-the-art energy efficiency technology, uses local, recycled materials, reduces waste and is an attractive, great place to work.”

“ELPC is showcasing modern green office design and technologies that can easily be replicated by businesses, law and consulting firms, governmental agencies and other conventional downtown office tenants in ways that are good for the environment, good for employee productivity and good for the bottom line,” said Learner.  “By demonstrating how this can be done, ELPC is inspiring others, advancing policy and moving the market forward so that what’s cutting edge today will be commonplace tomorrow.”

ELPC’s new office preserves the building’s historic façade while maximizing the green features of the interior.  Photo sensors control the LED and fluorescent lighting system to cut energy use in half, and maximize “daylighting” as interior windows and frosted glass spread natural light throughout the office. Electrical outlets, heating and cooling are all controlled with state-of the-art occupancy sensors that monitor CO2 to use power only where it’s needed, dramatically cutting utility bills and avoiding pollution.

During construction, ELPC diverted more than 75% of waste from landfills and used locally sourced, recycled and recyclable materials. Natural surfaces and finishes without toxic chemicals and VOCs improve the office’s air quality. A private shower encourages employees to bike to work, and solar panels on the building’s façade will directly supply the office with clean energy.

ELPC opened its first green office more than a decade ago and combined that example with advocacy to promote green building and enact green building policies in Illinois and around the region. The new green office is the latest effort by ELPC to create environmental progress and economic development together.

By employing innovative technology and forward-thinking design, the office creates a new green space in an old building. It’s a valuable example because in coming years the vast majority of building will occur as renovations of existing space, rather than new construction.  “The real success of this project will come five years down the road when other offices around the region have followed this example,” said Learner.

“Building operations are nearly 40% of the solution to the global climate change challenge,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “While climate change is a global problem, innovative organizations like the Environmental Law & Policy Center are addressing it through local solutions.”

ELPC has recently moved into a new, state-of-the-art green office. At every stage of the process, we have taken steps to maximize efficiency, minimize waste and create a safe, healthy work environment.  Click here to read more about our green office. 

“We’ve created a highly efficient workspace that’s healthy for our staff and makes economic sense.” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of ELPC. “We’ve also created an example that can push the market toward a higher standard for green office design.”

ELPC’s new office maximizes the green features of the interior to create a sustainable, high-tech space while preserving the building’s historic facade.  An efficient lighting system uses half the power of a conventional system while interior windows and frosted glass spread natural light throughout the office. Lighting, electrical outlets, heating and cooling are all controlled with state-of the-art sensors that use power only where it’s needed, dramatically cutting ELPC’s utility bills and avoiding pollution.

During construction, ELPC diverted more than 75% of waste from landfills and used locally sourced, recycled and recyclable materials. Natural surfaces and finishes without toxic chemicals and VOCs improve the office’s air quality. A private shower encourages employees to bike to work, and solar panels on the building’s façade will directly supply the office with clean energy.

ELPC opened its first green office more than a decade ago and combined that example with advocacy to promote green building and enact green building policies in Illinois and around the region. The new green office is the latest effort by ELPC to create environmental progress and economic development together.

By employing innovative technology and forward-thinking design, the office creates a new green space in an old building. It’s a valuable example because in coming years 80% of building will occur as renovations of existing space, rather than new construction.   “The real success of this project will come five years down the road when other offices around the region have followed this example,” said Learner. “If we can inspire others and move the market forward, what’s cutting edge today will be commonplace tomorrow.”

More information is available at www.elpc.org/greenoffice.

“The good news is that consumers are taking environmental performance into account when making buying decisions,” said Howard Learner, executive director of the Chicago-based Environmental Law and Policy Center, which is starting to look at which wireless service providers might be truly green. “But if people pay good green dollars to get green performance, the environmental results should justify the investment.”

Read the full article.

“We now call for the EPA to implement strong and fair standards that will reduce global warming pollution if Congress does not step up with legislation.  Implementing effective global warming solutions, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy development and high-speed rail development can create job growth, spur economic development, and help to solve our global warming problems.”

- Statement from Howard Learner, Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center

The “Intent to Matter” award will be presented to ELPC at the Emerald Gala, USGBC’s annual celebration of the sustainable building movement, on May 16, 2009.

Read the press release here

ELPC’s Green Building Track Record

Why Build Green?

The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity. Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are available to designers, builders and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance. Green building:

• Enhances Productivity - Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a determining factor in employee productivity. If air quality is compromised, employee health is in jeopardy and absenteeism increases. Studies show that employees are more productive when working in an office that incorporates environmentally preferable design elements. In fact, productivity can increase by 6-16% with improved lighting and ventilation and the use of daylighting (Rocky Mountain Institute). Companies typically spend 70 times as much per square foot on salaries as on energy. “If you make changes in your workplace that cause employee productivity to rise by just 1% by square foot, you will save more money than you pay for all other per square foot costs combined (rent, heat, lights, etc).”
• Protects the Environment – Activities associated with operating commercial office buildings significantly contribute to environmental and health problems. Buildings consume 30% of total energy and 60% of electricity generated in the U.S. Lighting consumes 40% of the electricity used in buildings, with an additional 10% used just to cool the heat generated. Computers and office-related equipment use almost half of all energy used in buildings. Designing green can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and their associated air emissions that cause global warming, acid rain and smog. On average, every $1 invested in energy efficiency prevents the release of 6.7 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
• Achieves Financial Gains – Economic benefits of green buildings include: reduced capital costs; reduced operating costs; reduced long-term costs by designing for adaptability for future modification; increased net operating income and increased value through energy efficiency savings; and reduced costs related to energy, water, maintenance and disposal. The savings flow directly to the bottom line by providing more net operating income for the owner/developer and leading to higher building valuation.
• Creates a Competitive Advantage -Building owners and tenants prefer energy-efficient buildings that lower utility bills. Marketing the environmental components in an office space may give a tenant an advantage when recruiting candidates or differentiating itself from other businesses in the same industry. Green buildings often lease faster than their traditional counterparts. Nationally recognized awards, such as the EPA’s Energy Star® Award and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Rating System, are used as effective marketing tools to attract tenants and building owners.

ELPC’s Green Building Track Record

ELPC waged a successful public advocacy campaign for energy efficiency building codes in Illinois.

In 2004, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act, HB 4099, which requires all new construction or substantial rehab of existing buildings to meet energy efficiency standards established by the International Energy Conservation Code. It covers all commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential properties.

In 2009, the General Assembly passed HB 3987, which amends the energy efficient building code to include all residential and commercial buildings.

In 2011, ELPC’s new green office earned a LEED Platinum designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Chicago office space is a case study of how environmental protection and economic development go hand-in-hand.