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Case Studies & Best Practices

Though the amount of energy efficiency activity in the Midwest is constantly increasing, there is a general lack of publicly-available energy efficiency data and program results available to help guide the adoption of new programs.  As the Source on Energy Efficiency, MEEA has developed clearinghouse of energy efficiency case studies and project impacts throughout the Midwest.  This Case Studies & Best Practices database will capture the successes of the region and provide best practices examples for program implementers, project managers, and the public.

We encourage the voluntary contribution of case studies and best practices from utilities, program implementers, contractors, funders, and evaluators in the Midwest region for inclusion.  We welcome contributions in the Residential, Commercial/Institutional, and Industrial sectors.  Please email MEEA's webmaster for information on including your case studies in the list.  We want this resource to continue to grow, and we will be happy to work with you to help show off your successes and share the lessons you have learned!

The case studies that MEEA has added to our database are listed below.

Energy Efficiency Best Practices in the Midwest

Project Namesort icon State Link (PDF) Description Customer Class Measures Annual Savings Annual $ Savings Program Funding / Assistance Contact Address
500 Hyacinth Place IL Infill development, affordable green rental/townhouses. Residential
Building Envelope
HVAC
Lighting
Whole House
NA Various Highland Park Illinois Community Land Trust
Highland Park, IL


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Center for Neighborhood Technology IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Chicago, IL


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Chicago New Homes IL Single family homes and 2-Flats; new affordable housing Residential
Building Envelope
HVAC
Lighting
Plug Load
Whole House
NA Various Claretian Associates
Chicago, IL


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Children’s Discovery Museum IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Normal, IL


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Christy Webber Landscape IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Chicago, IL


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Church of the Open Door MN Energy-efficient design assistance in developing building envelope, mechanical, and electrical systems Commercial/ Institutional
Building Envelope
Infrastructure
Lighting
6060 therms 90,873 kWh $10K ConservationWise by Xcel Energy (Energy Design Assistance program) Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy
1-800-481-4700
MN


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City of Oshkosh WI Replacing traditional incandescent traffic signals with ENERGY STAR® LED signals Commercial/ Institutional Lighting 708,452 kWh $40K Wisconsin Focus on Energy (Rebate program) Wisconsin Focus on Energy
1-800-762-7077
WI


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Datacard Group MN Installation of an Energy Management System (EMS), or building automation system (automatically controls and monitors building systems) Commercial/ Institutional
HVAC
Lighting
Ventilation
260 kW Peak Demand Savings $50K > 4-year payback ConservationWise by Xcel Energy (Efficiency Controls program) Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy
1-800-481-4700
414 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN, 55401


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Eastern Illinois University IL Operator training at public university Commercial/ Institutional Operations 33% of energy use $15k IL DCEO; Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation; MEEA Building Operator Certification
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
645 N Michigan Ave Ste 990
Chicago, IL, 60611


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Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Glenview, IL


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Farr Associates IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
645 N Michigan Ave Ste 990
Chicago, IL


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HUB Housing Cooperative IL Renovation of limited-equity cooperative housing. Residential
Building Envelope
Water
NA Cooperative Housing Loan-Chicago Community Loan Fund HUB Housing Cooperative
Chicago, IL


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Iowa Judicial Branch IA Pre-construction energy assessment for public building Commercial/ Institutional
Building Envelope
HVAC
Lighting
Potential 760 MWh, 12,000 Therms Potential $40K Energy Advantage® For Your Business, Commercial New Construction Program MidAmerican Energy
Dick Walker, Product Manager MidAmerican Energy
563-333-8841
Davenport, IA


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Kalahari Resort and Convention Center IL Energy and water efficiency retrofit of resort hotel & indoor waterpark Commercial/ Institutional
HVAC
Lighting
Water
294,000 kWh; 2.46 million gals $65K Alliant Energy; Wisconsin Focus on Energy; Steffest True Value Hardware Midwest Buildings Technology Application Center
Energy Resources Center University of Illinois at Chicago
312-996-4382
1309 S. Halsted Street (MC 156)
Chicago, IL, 60607


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Kelko Real Estate Development Services MN Energy-efficient design assistance in developing building envelope, mechanical, and electrical systems Commercial/ Institutional
Building Envelope
Infrastructure
Lighting
170,000 kWh 5,530 therms $10K ConservationWise by Xcel Energy (Energy Design Assistance program) Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy
1-800-481-4700
MN


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Logan Square Kitchen IL Reconstruction of commercial shared-use kitchen and 75-seat event space Commercial/ Institutional
Building Envelope
HVAC
Lighting
Plug Load
Water
NA Various Zina Murray / Logan Square Kitchen
Chicago, IL


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Merchandise Mart IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Chicago, IL


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Polk County Jail IA Lighting retrofit at county jail Commercial/ Institutional Lighting 78,000 kWh $3K Energy Advantage® For Your Business, Lighting Equipment Program MidAmerican Energy
Carol Parker, Product Manager MidAmerican Energy
563-333-8836
IA


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Rubloff Hall, Saint Xavier University IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Chicago, IL


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The Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago IL Post-Occupancy Performance of LEED Building Commercial/ Institutional Building Envelope NA NA USGBC Chicago Chapter
Glenview, IL


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Wentworth IL 51 affordable rental apartments with social services for building occupants and the Roseland community Residential
Building Envelope
HVAC
Lighting
Water
NA Various Mercy Housing Lakefront
Chicago, IL


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Whistler Crossing IL Mixed use historic preservation/rehab of affordable rental housing and new retail space Residential
Building Envelope
Plug Load
Water
NA Various Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation
Riverdale, IL


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