Chicago — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas have recognized 12 local business and public sector customers for their achievements in energy efficiency. The companies reduced energy usage, lowered emissions, improved business operations, and drove innovation for environmental sustainability.

The public and private sector companies and organizations were honored at the 2025 Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Forum, which was held at The Art Institute of Chicago 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 decarbonized energy future.

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

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

“Partnerships like this are helping the Chicago region take big steps towards achieving climate goals while also maintaining safe, reliable and affordable energy delivery,” says Maria Bocanegra, president — Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. “This approach threads the needle for success. We’re working with businesses and public-sector offices to leverage the best energy solutions for their operations and budgets, and for the environment.”

Since the start of the Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Programs, approximately 7,000 business and public sector customers have received $62 million in rebates. Energy use has been reduced by 70 million therms — in turn reducing heating bills — and 371,000 tons of carbon emissions have been prevented. The work also has supported the Chicagoland workforce, adding more than 500 jobs that support the energy and cost saving upgrades.

The Chicago organizations earning Featured Awards at the 2025 Energy Forum are:

Rush University Medical Center

 Rush University Medical Center is one of Chicago’s largest medical campuses. With dozens of buildings on the near west side using five million therms of energy annually, Rush consistently looks to take advantage of energy efficiency opportunities.  Rush has completed multiple projects throughout their facilities, including steam trap testing and replacement, retro-commissioning and monitoring-based commissioning. To support these projects, Rush completed a gas optimization study that led to the installation of new steam pipe insulation and completed a condensate study that uncovered an additional 103,000 therms in savings. Rush’s relentless pursuit of sustainability sets an example for innovation and impact, inspiring a greener future for Chicago and beyond.

Mount Sinai Hospital

Mount Sinai Hospital is located in Chicago’s Douglass Park neighborhood and has provided medical services to its community since 1919.  Working closely with the Peoples Gas energy efficiency team, they have performed multiple upgrades to the hospital, including steam trap surveys and replacements, new steam pipe insulation, boiler tune-ups, and the use of low-flow water-saving devices. Recently, they installed two new high efficiency boilers in their main facility that feature waste-heat recovery.

Mount Sinai continually looks to the future and has just completed a successful condensate recovery study that will yield more projects and savings in 2026. These projects include regularly surveying and replacing steam traps and water saving devices like aerators and showerheads across multiple floors of the hospital, as well as steam-pipe insulation and insulated jackets.

Work completed has achieved energy savings of 479,000 therms since 2013.  The hospital consistently works with Peoples Gas to find ways to make key projects possible.  It has utilized approximately $615,000 in program incentives to make the improvements happen.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Located in the heart of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute has consistently partnered with Peoples Gas on energy efficiency projects across four properties. Project planning begins with annual discussions to identify potential efficiencies that support the school’s sustainability goals. Projects have included boiler tune-ups, steam trap testing, gas optimization studies, retro-commissioning, and monitoring-based commissioning projects. The School has been a leader in art education for 150 years, fostering critical thinking and creativity. The School of the Art Institute’s ongoing focus on sustainability benefits the environment and Chicago’s art community.

Chicago organizations earning Honor Roll recognition at the 2025 Energy Forum are:

CBRE Chicago has provided a range of real estate and facility management services to buildings across the city since 1975. Their team has assisted Northwestern Medicine in its participation in our programs for more than a decade, and this past year took a new step to participate in our small and midsized business program with the completion of a steam trap project at 125 S. Clark Street.  Future projects like new burners and linkageless controls are in consideration to further expand on their efforts.

Swedish Hospital has been an active participant in energy efficiency projects since 2012, with a focus on operational efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. Recurring projects include annual steam trap testing and replacement, as well as boiler tune-ups every two to three years to ensure systems are running effectively and efficiently. Other projects at Swedish have included implemented monitoring-based commissioning and installing pipe insulation, insulated removable valve jackets and digital boiler controls.  Swedish’s commitment to efficiency continues, with plans for an engineering study to implement a Micro Combined Heat and Power (mCHP) system that will supply supplemental electricity to the facility from reclaimed waste heat.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) includes 634 schools throughout the City of Chicago that serve more than 325,000 students. For CPS, energy efficiency is an important tool to enhance students’ learning environments. Their focus on efficiency has led to dozens of steam trap tests and replacements, boiler tune-ups, boiler replacements and pipe insulation installations across many of the schools. The CPS team continually seeks innovation in their projects, such as the demand-controlled ventilation installed at Tanner Elementary School that covers 30,000 square feet and reduces heating and loads during off-peak periods. CPS has made a sustained commitment to reduce energy consumption and shrink their carbon footprint across Chicago. They are a role model for their students, teachers and staff in how to work toward a cleaner environment.

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

United States Navy – Naval Station Great Lakes 

The Naval Station Great Lakes has collaborated with North Shore Gas’ Energy Efficiency Program to complete many key projects at their expansive campus. In 2024, they replaced an old high-volume dishwasher with a high-efficiency warewasher designed for high-volume cleaning.  That project, combined with a boiler replacement and a steam trap project, saved over 185,000 therms of energy. The Naval Station Great Lakes continues to build on their efforts by embracing cutting-edge technologies such as gas heat pumps and dual-energy heat pumps. The Naval Station works hand-in-hand with North Shore Gas to explore new options and push boundaries on energy efficiency.  We are proud to support our nation’s Navy and the Naval Station that houses thousands of our service men and women.

University of St. Mary of the Lake

Based in Mundelein, University of St. Mary of the Lake opened in 1844 and has been in continuous operation since 1910.  It includes Mundelein Seminary and the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization, a seminary and school of theology for the Archdiocese of Chicago. The University has partnered with the North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Program since 2014, and has completed 14 energy efficiency projects across its campus. Their work has encompassed chiller upgrades, pipe insulation enhancements and fan control improvements. In 2024, St. Mary saved 266,000 therms of energy through steam trap testing and replacement.

Vantage Specialty Chemicals, Inc.

Based in Gurnee and encompassing 15 acres, Vantage Specialty Chemical includes 19 reactors, 21 mixing vessels and more than 90 storage tanks​ that produce approximately 120 million pounds of products annually for personal care, pharma, agriculture and other consumer and industrial markets.  Vantage has collaborated with North Shore Gas since 2012 to complete multiple projects throughout these facilities. Their 2024 initiatives included steam trap testing and replacement, and boiler tune-ups that helped Vantage save more than 309,000 therms of energy in a single year. In addition to saving energy and supporting their sustainability goals, the measures have enhanced operational efficiency and delivered cost savings.  Vantage is an example of how large manufacturers can include energy efficiency in an overall commitment to environmental stewardship.

North suburban organizations earning Honor Roll recognition at the 2025 Energy Forum are:

 Beach Park School District #3 completed its first energy efficiency project in partnership with the North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency program in 2024. This initial project included boiler tune-ups at five locations. The success signifies a first step to continued energy efficiency work at their facilities. North Shore Gas along with its energy advisors and trade allies continue to collaborate with Beach Park School District #3 to support future energy efficiency projects.

Waukegan School District 60 has showcased its dedication to energy efficiency through active participation in the North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Program since 2018. They recently completed boiler tune-ups at 23 locations, and steam trap testing and replacement at seven sites. The district also recently installed an innovative carbon capture technology that removes carbon from boiler exhaust. The system, overall, operates as an economizer that reclaims heat from the boiler, and uses it to pre-heat water in other spots.

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.