Accomplishments
Over 30 years, CNT has been able to research, measure, implement and invent new approaches to urban challenges. We have developed innovative tools that help individuals to make better choices and communities to make better plans. Here are just a few of our highlights of 2011!
By the numbers
18: Number of non-profit car organizations, including I-GO– from Sydney to Halifax to Minneapolis to Sao Paolo, representing approximately 100,000 members—that founded the CarSharing Association (CSA), whose goals include reducing the number of cars on the road, relieving congestion and increasing transportation options.
22: The number of policy recommendations for strengthening the region’s economic and environmental sustainability that CNT delivered to every candidate in the city’s historic mayoral and City Council races.
25%: Average percentage that 11,000+ customers in CNT Energy’s Ameren Smart Power Pricing program saved on utility bills compared to a standard rate plan.
33.3: Years old that CNT was when we celebrated our anniversary in September.
75: Number of jobs created through the Energy Savers program that puts people to work retrofitting apartment buildings with energy efficiency upgrades.
$1,700: Amount of incentives that Cook County employers were eligible to receive for enrolling employees in a pre-tax transit benefit program administered by CNT.
1741: Address on N. Western where CNT has expanded its operations and will eventually include a rain garden education facility and state-of-the-art energy efficient building renovation.
1766: Number of Facebook fans
$1,850: Rebate Chicago homeowners had the opportunity to receive for participating in an air sealing and insulation program that included a home inspection, combustion and radon testing, and construction oversight by auditors from CNT Energy.
2,600: Number of additional homes that the Energy Savers program will be able to retrofit, using funding awarded by Bank of America.
3426: Twitter followers
$8,500-25,000: Range of money that a typical DC household spends on transportation costs per year, according to a CNT study.
$10,000: Average amount of money that building owners have saved annually on utility bills through CNT Energy’s Energy Savers program.
11,919: Views of our Flickr photos
“A billion”: Times that CNT’s green infrastructure demonstration projects should be replicated, according to Nobel Laureate, Wangari Maathai, who passed away this year.
At the Forefront of Sustainable Community Planning
Recognition as Innovators. Urban planning website Planetizen recognized CNT President Scott Bernstein in its list of 25 leading thinkers and innovators in the field of urban planning and technology. The U.S. Green Building Council–Illinois Chapter awarded CNT its Natural Leaders Award for our ideas and tools in promoting urban sustainability, and the Chicago Innovations Awards honored CNT for our ground-breaking H+T Affordability Index.
Oberlin, Ohio, Plan for Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050. Designed a road map to bring the town of Oberlin, OH to its goal of completely eliminating its greenhouse gases produced by transportation by 2050.
I-GO’s Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Project. Launched an electric vehicle project that will add 36 all-electric vehicles to I-GO’s fleet and 18 solar charging stations providing clean power to its cars, making I-GO the largest carrier of electric vehicles in the Midwest, using more solar power to charge electric vehicles than anywhere else in the country.
Uncovering Hidden Economic Development Assets in Ohio Cities. Found that Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, OH possess the transportation infrastructure and urban form to spark new and sustainable investment that will keep each region economically competitive as the economy recovers.
Tree Asset Management in Portland. Conducted a study that showed Portland is well-positioned to pilot a tree asset management program that would lay the groundwork for turning its tree canopy into a bondable asset.
Tools and Information that Save People Money
The Abogo Gas Cost Widget. We unveiled a new tool on our Abogo® website that shows how rising gas prices could affect household transportation costs at a given location, further illustrating how choosing to live in walkable, transit-connected neighborhood can lower household expenses.
Kane County Energy Plan. CNT provided data and analysis on current energy use in Kane County, Illinois, and projected various energy use scenarios between today and 2040, potentially saving the County between $1 billion and $3.4 billion in avoided energy costs over the next 30 years.
Equity Express Green Financial Education. Led community leaders in “train-the-trainer” workshops, CNT’s Equity Express Green Financial Education series, where participants discussed how families can save money by reducing their carbon footprint.
MyHomeEQ. Launched MyHomeEQ.com, a unique and customized web tool that gives users real, up-to-date information on their home energy usage.
The Value of Green Infrastructure. Brought together current research on green infrastructure performance and presented methods for calculating related benefits in water management, energy, air quality, climate, and community livability in the “The Value of Green Infrastructure.”
Policy Analysis and Development
H+T Index a Model for Federal Government’s Affordability Index. Our H+T Index, which has expanded the view of housing affordability, is now a national model for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as the agency creates its own affordability index.
Obama’s Transportation Budget Gets It Right. Reviewed President Obama’s transportation budget and found that it could position the federal government as the visionary of the transportation infrastructure modernization while relying on local and regional governments to generate the location-specific transportation solutions that could help communities become more economically and environmentally resilient.
Mayor Emanuel’s Transition Team. Participated on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s transition teams that set priorities for his administration’s policies around sustainability, energy, and transportation.
How to Scale Up Dynamic Electricity Pricing in Illinois. Published four recommendations for bringing residential real-time electricity pricing to scale in Illinois, which identified barriers that could be removed and amendments to current legislation.
Past years:
