• Posted: June 17, 2019
• Illinois Green Alliance, Renewable Energy

There’s a push across the country to incorporate more sustainable projects and more green energy into new construction in an effort to fight the growing threat of climate change. To achieve this goal in Illinois, it has taken a broad collection of individuals and organizations like the Illinois Green Alliance to set in motion the necessary steps to make this ambitious goal a reality.

According to its website, the Illinois Green Alliance’s mission is to be a “non-profit that works to promote green buildings and sustainable communities. We believe that green infrastructure is key to strengthening neighborhoods and improving the quality of life for everyone,” but if you were to ask its Executive Director Brian Imus, it goes beyond that.

“What’s important is to make sure the work we’re doing is impactful,” Imus said. “When I think of climate change, what does that mean to everyday lives? What can our members do to impact people’s lives?”

For Imus and his members, it’s not just enough to teach others about green energy and sustainability, the work they’re doing needs to have a real impact on people’s lives.

“I do this work because I believe in it and I believe what we’re doing can have an impact on people’s lives. That’s what drives me,” Imus said. “Our members are in this organization because it matches what they’re doing professionally and what they believe personally. That’s why they contribute so many resources and so much of their time.”

The member-driven organization — which is made up of a number of professionals like architects, product manufacturers, engineers, and local policy officials — hosts 75 events a year in an effort to facilitate educational discussions about the hot new topics in green building or sustainability.

Each year, the organization puts on the Green Apple Day of Services, where members dedicate their time on a weekend to work with an area school to implement new technology or tools to make the building more sustainable.

“We had over 5,000 volunteer hours last year,” Imus explained. “That’s a big commitment from our members.”

To continue its commitment from its members, the organization has implemented an Impact Map as part of its five-year strategic plan approved in 2016 to push for a carbon free Chicago by 2050. To date, according to the map, the organization has engaged 158 buildings throughout 35 different community areas in Chicago and have has 7,947 attendees participate.

The plan calls for an engagement with 3,500 buildings, partnering with 77 local communities, and training 33,000 people. They have a way to go, but Imus isn’t going to slow down or stop thinking about ways to engage his members and the community.

“What sorts of events and community initiatives should we be doing to make sure the industry is growing and also having an impact on everyone in Illinois?”

If the Illinois Green Alliance stays on its current path, pretty soon we’ll all be thinking green.