- Home
- Living & Visiting
- Environmental Sustainability
- Energy Conservation Initiatives
Energy Conservation Initiatives
Solar Energy Systems
The Village of Northbrook has received Silver designation from the national SolSmart program for making it faster, easier, and more affordable for homes and businesses to go solar. This designation recognizes the Village for taking bold steps to encourage solar energy growth and remove obstacles to solar development. For companies looking to expand, a SolSmart Silver designation is a signal that the Village of Northbrook is “open for solar business.”
Village of Northbrook Solar Renewable Energy Potential Study
In September 2020 paleBLUEdot, LLC presented the Village with a draft Solar Renewable Energy Potential Study. The goal of the Study is to establish community-wide rooftop solar PV potential throughout the Village. Detailed in the report are Solar Financing and Incentives, Village-wide Solar Potentials, Methodologies and Data, Technical and Generational Capacities, Market History and Projections, Summary of Benefits, and Community-wide Solar Recommendations. View the full report here.
Local Resources
- Introduction to Rooftop Solar, provided by Citizens Utility Board
- Calculate the Solar Potential of your Property
- Individual residence or facility: ComEd solar calculator or use Google Project Sunroof
- Estimate Solar Potential of your Community: Project Sunroof Data Explorer
- State Incentives for Renewable Energy: DSIRE Renewable Energy Incentives in Illinois
- Installers:
- How to Choose a Qualified Installer: Illinois Solar Energy Association
- Installer Search: Illinois Commerce Commission
- Locate Residential Installers: Illinois Solar Installers
- Certified Installer Lookup: North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Installer Locator
- Webpage - Village of Northbrook Alternative Energy
- Residential Application - Residential Solar Permit
- Commercial Application - Commercial Solar Permit
’Greening’ your Home or Business
Get a FREE Home Energy Assessment
ComEd residential customers who also have Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas or Peoples Gas can sign up for a free Home Energy Assessment. During the assessment, an Energy Advisor will do a walk-through of your home, finding ways to make it more energy efficient. The advisor also will install the following free energy-saving products:
- ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs
- Programmable thermostat
- WaterSense® certified showerheads
- WaterSense® certified faucet aerators
- Hot water pipe insulation
- Advanced power strips for televisions and desktop computers (to be installed by the customer)
- Smart thermostats are available for purchase at a discount (must be purchased during the assessment for free installation)
Weatherization Discounts: If you are interested in further energy savings, you may request a list of licensed and insured contractors who provide discounted weatherization services through the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program. Weatherization services are free for Income Eligible customers. Visit this page to find the community action agency nearest you or call the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) at 1-877-411-9276 for more information.
Take Advantage of Rebates & Discounts
In addition to tax credits for energy-efficient purchases, utility companies such as ComEd and Nicor Gas offer rebates and discounts.
Alternative Green Energy Providers
Residents have the option to purchase “green” energy from alternative providers servicing the area. The “green” label is given to denote Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) purchased by the provider. In Illinois, most REC’s are purchased through investment in wind, solar, and geothermal energy. Green Energy Providers offer both fixed and variable rates competitive with current Electric Utility pricing. For current Electric Utility pricing and an updated list of Alternative Energy Providers, please visit the Citizens Utility Board Web page.