Sweet Green Chicago

With its eco-incentives, Chicago is turning more than just the river green

By Althea Legaspi
Published: Feb 15, 2008

Chicago is renowned for many amazing things—deep dish, steakhouses, sports teams, summer festivals, frigid winters—being green, however, probably doesn’t spring to mind. But it will soon enough: The Windy City is a leader in its efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

Since 2000, Mayor Richard Daley has launched a variety of eco-initiatives in Chicago, beginning with the installation of a “green roof” at City Hall. From 2004 onward, Daley also required all newly erected municipal buildings to be constructed with green roofs; Thirty-five city buildings boast them. Green roofs provide a variety of eco-friendly features including keeping buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer, as well as combat greenhouse gas effects while improving air quality.

“The key is the Mayor wants the city to lead by example...so the city proves that green roofs technology can exist in a city like Chicago, and then the private sector has really picked up on it,” explains Chicago Department of the Environment spokesperson Larry Merritt. From the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue, to the Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s in the Gold Coast, and many residential buildings in between, Chicago leads the nation in green roof projects, with more than 300 in existence. Since 2004 the city has been issuing green roof grants. This year, Chicago launched the Cool Roof Grant Program where $185,000 of grant money will be distributed to qualifying residential and commercial building projects.

More than two years ago the city launched the Green Permit Program to encourage future green building. “People basically get financial breaks on your permits,” says City of Chicago Media Liaison Bill McCaffrey. “It is the oldest and most comprehensive program of that nature in the country.” As an added incentive, Green Permits are expedited before regular building permits.

Additionally, the Chicago Green Homes Program, which was launched this year, certifies homes that meet a number of ecologically sound requirements.

Smog Veil Records owner Frank Mauceri benefited from a Green Roof grant, and has applied for Green Homes certification. He and his wife Lisa own the Wis Tavern Building (1825 W. Wabansia) in Wicker Park. After 14 months of renovation, their refurbished live/workspace is the first and only LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) residential building to use wind, solar and geothermal technologies in the United States. While eco-friendly, the building is also aesthetically gorgeous. From its beautiful terrazzo flooring that incorporates composite recycled glass and pulverized vinyl records from the label’s old inventory, to its wind turbines—the first of its kind permitted in a residential setting—it is a well-appointed space. Located on their green roof, wind turbines feed unused energy directly into the Chicago electrical grid, and also resemble sculptures. The turbines were commissioned from local company, Aerotecture.

Going green is not just beneficial for the environment, it positively affects the bottom line. “We generate a large portion of our daily electricity needs. We don't pollute the environment. We didn't pollute when we remodeled the building. These are benefits of green construction not found in conventional structures,” contends Frank. “Plus, much of what we did was free, from the landings and stairways made from floor joists and trusses reclaimed from the building demolition to the repurposed vinyl records in the terrazzo floor.”

The Mauceri’s implement green practices throughout their business as well. The record label has eliminated plastic jewel cases and uses recycled digipacks and paperboard packaging, with printing that utilizes soy/vegetable-based inks. They also advocate digital downloads as a means to reduce paper product usage in general, and they employ other recycling practices and products.

Chicago is also home to the first and only bakery in the country to be certified organic by the USDA. Owned by husband/wife team Valentine and Michelle Garcia, The Bleeding Heart Bakery (1955 W. Belmont) opened in 2005. In late 2007 the bakery moved into a larger space from its original 2018 W. Chicago location, and the former space housed the couple’s second green business, The Painted Lady Organic Eatery, for a short period. The eatery has recently closed, but they plan to open a new green business there soon. Meanwhile they have expanded their menu options at The Bleeding Heart Bakery. In addition to their organic mission, the couple implements a number of environmentally-sound practices such as using a hybrid delivery truck, soy-based paints, and recycled materials within their businesses. They practice composting, serve organic and fair trade coffee, use natural cleaning products and carry products that give back to the community. “We have very high standards and our goals are out there,” says Michelle. “We hope to one day have an entire self sustainable group of businesses...in the meantime [we] enjoy our new bakery space...We want everyone to feel free in our space and all are welcome. We know that our customers have a lot of questions about organics and about the ‘green’ lifestyle. We welcome questions and love talking about what we are doing.”

From its residents and business owners who emphasize the importance of ecologically valuable practices to officials leading the charge, Chicago is well on its way to being known as the greenest city around.

Althea Legaspi has called Chicago home for more than a decade. She makes her living eating, breathing, and writing about music for publications such as the Chicago Tribune and Paste and can be heard on-air during NPR-affiliate Chicago Public Radio's "848" program. Yes, her life does not suck.

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