Through its partnership with the Peoples Gas Energy Efficiency Program, the Art Institute of Chicago implemented 14 energy efficiency projects to improve system performance and reduce natural gas consumption — all while maintaining the precise environmental conditions required to preserve its collections. Supported by Peoples Gas and engineering partners, the initiative included pipe insulation improvements, steam trap testing, removable insulation jackets, a heat exchanger study, and a gas optimization study.
The projects are delivering annual savings of nearly 270,000 therms. By prioritizing opportunities with strong energy-saving potential and practical payback periods, the museum is expected to save more than $151,000 annually in energy costs while advancing its long-term efficiency strategy.
Register Now for Free Webinars
Selecting Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Systems
Wed. Sept. 30, 2026 • 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT
Customers in the Midwest’s colder climates are increasingly adopting heat pumps as their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) solution. Join this free webinar to learn about all the variables involved in heat pump selection, so you can make informed decisions on each of your projects.
Elevate Your Skills With On-Demand Webinars
Stay current on new technology with on-demand webinars at www.TradeAllyCenter.com. Earn free Building Performance Institute (BPI) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) on your schedule, whenever it’s convenient.
Summer Webinar Recap
- June: Boiler Room Heat Recovery: Condensate, Blowdown, and More
- July: Gas Heat Pumps — What You Need to Know
- August: Super Size Me? Impacts of Oversizing Heating and Cooling Systems
Visit Trade Ally Learning Center to watch webinars on demand.
Trade Allies are essential to achieving our energy efficiency goals, and we’re always looking for ways to make the program more beneficial to you. Please share your feedback by taking this anonymous survey.
Many customers can achieve significant energy savings without replacing major equipment. During service visits, look for opportunities such as:
- Pipe insulation upgrades
- Removable insulation jackets
- Heat recovery applications
- Boiler controls optimization
These lower-cost measures can deliver meaningful savings and may qualify for Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Energy Efficiency Program incentives. Recent projects at the Art Institute of Chicago show how targeted system improvements can generate substantial energy and cost savings.
We are pleased to recognize three companies that showed their commitment to advancing in the clean energy industry by completing the Business Academy energy efficiency training.
New City Development, a construction company, completed the Women-Owned Small Business application process and the Business Academy training, and became a qualified Trade Ally.
MLP Electric is an electrical contracting business with a sizable HVAC arm. The company completed Business Academy training and registered to become a Trade Ally.
Gardner & Gardner Consulting works extensively in construction management. Now a qualified Trade Ally, the company completed the Minority/Women Business Enterprise application process and Business Academy training. Here’s what Gardner & Gardner’s founder and CEO, Tasharia Gardner, had to say about the process:
“I appreciated the self-paced nature of the energy efficiency training, and the check-ins with my coach were very useful. This academy was well-timed for me… and it was helpful being able to talk through the certification process as I was applying.”
Learn more about these Business Academy graduates or find qualified job seekers here.
The Business Academy Is Accepting New Participants
If you are a diverse-owned business seeking certification, our Business Academy may be an ideal fit for you. This self-paced program offers guidance, energy efficiency training, connections, and assistance in applying for diverse business certifications. Learn more at the Business Academy website.
Upcoming Webinar: Collaboration with IHCC
The Business Academy is partnering with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) to host an upcoming webinar that will introduce the program to IHCC members. Through its APEX Accelerator, IHCC has already provided valuable technical support to participants as they navigate the diversity certification process. This collaboration will help expand the Business Academy’s reach and connect more businesses with these resources. Watch your email for details.
All registered Trade Allies are automatically enrolled in our no-cost, job sourcing and management service, designed to connect you with qualified local talent. With this service, you can:
- Post open roles on our clean energy resource board.
- Receive screened candidates with matching skills — conveniently sent to your careers page or hiring manager.
- Receive periodic summaries of candidate matches and applications for your job postings.
- Receive emails from our team when we identify prospective candidates for your open positions.
To learn more about this no-cost service or to request additional support, please visit our website.
Contact Us
Glenn Maxam, Business
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Kenneth Hill, Residential
(Weatherization)
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Andy Gorecki,
Multi-Family
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Cristina Lopez, Residential (HVAC/Water Heating)
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These programs are funded by Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas customers in compliance with state law.
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