Chicago — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas have recognized 15 local business and public sector customers for their achievements in energy efficiency. The honored companies’ accomplishments reduce energy usage, lower emissions, improve business operations, and drive innovation for environmental sustainability.

The public and private sector companies and organizations were honored at the 2024 Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Forum, which was held at Wrigley Field and attended by more than 70 Chicagoland customers. The forum included presentations providing updates on natural gas supply and emerging technologies that are leading the way toward a clean energy future.

Each organization has partnered with Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency teams to take advantage of everything from free energy assessments and customized equipment rebates to operations and maintenance support, and advanced engineering studies.

The organizations’ award-winning efforts helped them cut energy use, reduce emissions and lower costs.

“We know that achieving ambitious climate goals, while delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy requires partnerships like this,” says Bill Mastoris, Interim President of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. “Our energy efficiency programs are one of the most effective and least expensive pathways to decarbonization and environmental sustainability. These companies are leading the charge and making a difference.”

Since the start of the Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency programs for businesses and the public sector, customers have received $55 million in rebates, energy use has been reduced by 62 million therms — in turn reducing heating bills — and 327,000 tons of carbon emissions have been prevented. The work also has supported the Chicagoland workforce, adding 471 jobs that support the energy and cost saving upgrades.

The Chicago organizations earning recognition at the 2024 Energy Forum are:

Ogden Avenue Materials, Inc. — Most Innovative Project

Ogden is known for its innovative use of “green” asphalt, which utilizes recycled material that is porous so water draws through the pavement, making the pavement more durable.  Ogden extended its innovative mindset to energy efficiency, utilizing nearly $50,000 in Peoples Gas incentives to modernize its burner and improve its asphalt drying process, which is core to its business. Ogden installed a new, high-efficiency burner and combined it with controls to automate the process, driving components to the correct temperature and humidity to create the desired asphalt product. Ogden is now able to better measure and control heat in order to save energy, money and time. The upgrade also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Golub & Company — Commitment to Efficiency

Golub & Company manages a 29-story building that occupies an entire city block along Lake Shore Drive. It started working with Peoples Gas’ Energy Efficiency Program in 2016 by exchanging untested steam traps. When they experienced the ease and economic incentives of participating in the program, their participation took off. Seven years later, they have completed 25 projects to save energy and ensure the comfort of the building’s tenants and residents.

The Golub team remained focused on program offerings like steam trap incentives, conducting testing across the property in the mechanical rooms, common areas and in one of the condominium sections of the building.  These improvements greatly increased the efficiency and lengthened the life of the building’s heating equipment and reduced chemical use.

In 2023, the Peoples Gas energy efficiency program provided Golub with $28,879 in economic incentives.

 Chicago Hilton — Partner of the Year

This iconic hotel has set a standard of excellence for nearly 100 years, this time in energy efficiency.  In 2023, its new Director of Facilities was looking for energy-savings that could make a big impact. The result was three projects that earned the Chicago Hilton $119,112 in economic incentives and reduced energy use by a whopping 286,000 therms. This included an insulation project that saved 119,000 therms by itself. A large steam trap project and tune ups of all boilers were completed for additional savings.

The north suburban organizations earning recognition at the 2024 Energy Forum are:

Grayslake Community High School District 127 — Most Innovative Project

Grayslake Community High School District 127 is pioneering the use of carbon capture as part of high-efficiency heating. It is the first school district in the country to install the cutting edge CarbinX system that maximizes heating system efficiency while capturing any related carbon.

CarbinX is an economizer that is installed on boiler exhaust pathways, diverting some of the heat out of the exhaust stack and using it to preheat boiler water. It reduces carbon emissions by capturing CO2 before it is released into the atmosphere. The CO2 is sequestered through a chemical reaction and converted into Potassium Carbonate, which is then sold to a vendor for the creation of everyday products like soaps and detergents. In addition to that stream of revenue, the work earned the district $80,000 is economic incentives.

The CarbinX system also is a fantastic educational opportunity for teachers, students and the entire school community. An educational program is being developed around the school’s innovative work in the energy efficiency and decarbonization space.

Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center — Commitment to Efficiency Award

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is part of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs system, and every dollar saved through energy efficiency initiatives can be redirected to critical hospital services for the health and well-being of military service members.

In 2023, the Center worked with North Shore Gas to complete a facility steam survey, replacing all of its failed steam traps in one year to ensure the system worked to its maximum potential.  This approach decreased system maintenance needs, energy usage, and saved thousands of dollars. It also earned the facility $95,000 in economic incentives.

 Roquette Corporation — Partner of the Year

Roquette is a family-owned global organization based in Gurnee that completed four energy saving projects in 2023. The work includes steam trap testing and replacement, process pipe insulation, and process stack economizers on steam boilers. This work saved 160,000 therms, plus the related reduction in energy costs and carbon emissions.

Roquette also just completed a Gas Optimization Study that identified opportunities to save hundreds of thousands of additional therms. Steps are underway to initiate that work in 2024.

Roquette’s work in 2023 earned it $161,000 in economic incentives.

The Chicago organizations earning Honor Roll recognition at the 2024 Energy Forum are:

  • The Merchandise Mart
  • Lincoln Park Zoo
  • The University of Chicago Medical Center
  • South Chicago Packing
  • Columbia College Chicago
  • Cook County Department of Corrections

The north suburban organizations earning Honor Roll recognition at the 2024 Energy Forum are:

  • College of Lake County
  • Ivanhoe Industries
  • Zion School District 6

Each of these organizations has taken a leading role alongside Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas to move the Chicago region toward a decarbonized energy future while achieving  cost savings and operational efficiencies.