Wind turbines whir atop Mercy Housing’s 96-unit single-residency Near North Apartments situated near the corner of Division Street and Clybourn Avenue in Chicago.
Wind power is running the coolers at the organic farm at the Prairie Crossing development in north suburban Grayslake.
Wind power is part of the plan for a development at 1313 W. Ohio St. in the River North neighborhood and will help generate electricity to light the hallways and other common areas if a proposed 30-unit mixed-use building in East Garfield Park by Kedzie-GreenLife Development is approved.
“We’ve had about a dozen inquiries” about using such systems, said Richard L. Rodriguez, commissioner for Chicago’s Department of Buildings.
Not all of those inquiries have received permits, but Rodriguez sees interest growing in alternative energy devices as homeowners and businesses have become aware of the benefits of energy efficiency.
Most wind systems are used in combination with other kinds of technology, often solar, he noted, and most such such sytems are used in commercial buildings.
Rodriguez traces public awareness in part to the active role city government has played in promoting environmental initiatives from the first “green” roof on City Hall in 2000 through the establishment of the Center for Green Technology. Additionally, there was the kick-off of the Green Permit building program in 2005.
Those well-publicized efforts, while worthy, still are only a small part of most urban construction. But for environmentalists, the trend is in the right direction.
There were 19 Green Permit projects, including the Mauceri home, approved in 2005. This year 100 Green Permit projects will be approved, Rodriguez said.
In addition, the Department of the Environment has unveiled a Green Home certification to rate energy efficiency for new and existing homes.
The new rating was a joint project of the city’s departments of environment and building according to Rodriguez, who says it represents “a continuum” of where local green building is going.
