Fact sheet supporting Chicago's energy benchmarking program.

This study examines equity and smart mobility in ten U.S. counties and their central cities to understand the extent that smart mobility services and assets are equitably available, and impact accessibility, employability, livability, and mobility. For this study, “equitable smart mobility” is defined as transportation systems that incorporate technology while increasing access to mobility options, enhancing opportunity in low-income communities of color, and supporting a clean environment.

A guide to reduce flooding in Riverdale, IL in a way that strengthens neighborhoods and businesses, and brings new life to vacant areas of town. A RainReady Riverdale would be a community where all residents and businesses benefit from flood relief in a way that also brings neighborhood beautification, retail activity, jobs, recreation, and habitat conservation. In this community, public investment is transparent and fair.

Chicago’s Central Manufacturing District (CMD) was the first planned manufacturing district in the United States. A century ago, 252 firms operated in its huge six-story buildings. Tenants ranged from small manufacturers to big names like Wrigley, Ford, United (Rexall) Drug, Pullman, and Westinghouse Electric. With outstanding rail connections and a broad variety of shared services, the CMD became one of the largest industrial parks in the world. Today, the CMD is empty, but the site retains many advantages, including central location, rail connections, expressways access, and robust fiber optic capacity, that may make it a hub of sustainable manufacturing. Potentially the CMD can be redeveloped as a new industrial ecodistrict.

This report explores the prevalence and cost of flooding to property owners—such as homes and businesses—in urban and suburban areas. Urban flooding is caused by too much rain overwhelming drainage systems and waterways, and making its way into basements, backyards, and streets. The critical findings of this study include: (1) Urban flooding in Cook County, IL is chronic and systemic, resulting in damage that is widespread, repetitive and costly; (2) There are multiple social and economic impacts on residential property owners; (3) There is no correlation between damage payouts and the floodplains; (4) Insurance claims were made across income groups, but low income groups were overrepresented; (5) Flood insurance payouts represent a minority of insurance payouts; (6) There are few good solutions available for individual homeowners.

Urban flooding is caused by climate change, aging infrastructure, and diminishing permeable space in cities. This examination of data for the city of Chicago was undertaken to determine the prevalence, cost, and impact of flooding on communities of color in Chicago. In total, the 229,743 claims amounted to $433 million in payouts. 87% of flood damage insurance claims were paid in communities of color.

The southern suburbs of Chicago (the Southland) grew up in the nineteenth century with a dual identity: as residential communities from which people rode the train to downtown jobs and as industrial centers that rose around the nexus of the nation’s freight rail network. Over the last two generations, many of these communities endured economic hardship as residents and businesses left for sprawling new suburbs and international pressures eroded the industrial base. The environment of the Southland and the entire Chicago region suffered as farmland was paved over at ever accelerating rates, vehicle miles traveled climbed steadily, and thousands of acres of prime industrial land decayed into brown fields.

Understanding the effect of flooding on Great Lakes cities and identify strategies to manage the problem of urban flooding. The effects of urban flooding—sewer backups, basement seepage, property damage, and street ponding—collectively cause millions of dollars of damage each year, the survey encourages collaboration among utilities and municipalities, partners and investors in Great Lakes cities.

Unchecked water loss within water supply systems is a public concern: it wastes public money, hinders the economy, and risks long-term water scarcity. Previous studies and surveys about water loss demonstrate the long-held belief that maintaining robust water service infrastructure is key to an efficient and sustainable water system. This survey report constitutes a first step, by providing a baseline of current water loss practices and policies among water supply utilities that can be used to support collaboration in developing strategies for improvement. This report also acts as a case study in data collection and benchmarking that can be used to develop water loss control solutions and improve public reporting.

Recognizing that urban flooding problems are generated by stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots, yards, and roofs across neighborhoods, the RainReady Community program takes a neighborhood-scale approach to addressing urban flooding. Participating neighborhoods receive an in-depth, community-wide RainReady plan. In addition to home upgrades, the plan proposes flood prevention measures that extend to streets, parkways, forest lands, and public spaces. These preventive measures include the use of porous paving, rain gardens, bioswales, and trees. These plans highlight the considerable effort already made toward community resilience in Midlothian, Illinois. Solutions are being explored that emphasize speedy implementation and community-driven action.