Business Sustainability

Want to Green Your Business?

DuPage County is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and so we encourage businesses to pursue sustainability certifications, awards, and other programs. This information is provided as a service to businesses and is updated intermittently or when changes are brought to our attention. Inclusion on this page is not an endorsement of any of these companies/certifications, nor has the County purposely excluded any parties that provide sustainability programs and/or certifications.

Sustainable DuPage

Cool DuPage in partnership with Choose DuPage created Sustainable DuPage in 2021 starting with a series of webinars that can be seen below. The program then expanded in 2023 with Choose DuPage partnering with the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) to develop a Green Business Assessment. 

Green Business Assessment

The Green Business Assessment was created in a partnership between Choose DuPage and SEDAC to offer small to medium businesses a free assessment of their site that starts with a site visit then builds into a Green Action Plan, a custom report outlining where improvements can be made, and a platform to record the progress all for free. See this link for how to apply.

Webinars

• Sustainable DuPage Program Series: A Cool DuPage and Choose DuPage Lunch 'N' Learn collaboration with recordings available below.
  • Sustainability in Commercial Construction: In this webinar learn best practices for reducing your environmental footprint in commercial construction and renovation projects.
  • Recognition In Sustainability: In this webinar learn how businesses can achieve recognition and accolades for sustainable practices. Also discussed are the opportunities that exist and the impact it can have on your business. 
  • Incentives & Resources For Sustainable Development: In this webinar, learn about the incentives and resources available for energy efficiency, HVAC improvements, renewable energy, and other sustainable development projects.

The Business of Going Green: A Webinar - DuPage County, IL: In this webinar SEDAC explains the Green Business Assessment program that is being done in partnership with Choose DuPage. This is a program offered to DuPage County businesses at no cost.

Available Certifications/Awards

• B Corporation - B Lab - Comprehensive certification of a company's social and environmental performance
• Energy Star - US EPA
  • Commercial
  • Buildings Industrial Plants
• Green Csm Certification - American Consumer Council - Three levels of certification: Lime, Jade, Emerald
• Green Restaurant Certification - Green Restaurant Association
• We Compost - Illinois Food Scrap Coalition
• Certified Green Business - Illinois Green Business Association
• UL 2799 - Landfill Waste Diversion Validation
• UL 880 - Overall sustainability certification for manufacturing organizations
• TRUE - Zero waste certification
• LEED - Four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum
• Green Shield - Certification for more environmentally friendly Pest control management practices.
• SEDAC Illinois Green Business Certification Program
• Choose DuPage Green Business Assessment
• US Department of Energy - Better Buildings Programs
  • Better Climate Challenge
  • Better Buildings Challenge
  • Better Plants Program
    
    

Product Certifications

• UL Ecologo
• Green Seal
• EPAT Ecolabel (electronics only)
• UL GreenGuard
• GreenScreen Certified

Resources

• C-PACE - Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy financing tool
• ComEd Ways To Save For Your Business: Programs and Tools - Main page that leads to all the incentives, worksheets on what is required for said incentives, and other programs at ComEd. 
• ComEd Standard Incentives
• ComEd rebate program for installed solar energy
• ComEd Fleet Electrification Roadmap A tool for understanding EV models, charging stations, and what mix is right for your business plus additional tips. 
• DSIRE is a database of energy-related policies and incentives in Illinois 
• DuPage County Green Building Incentive Program
• Industrial Assessment Center Free Energy and Waste Assessment - UIC and UW-Milwaukee are the two IACs closest to DuPage County.
• Nicor Gas Ways to Save for Businesses - Main page that leads to rebates, loans, free energy assessments, and more
• Alternative Fuels Data Center: Federal Incentives, Laws, and Programs Database - Provides a list of laws and incentives both at the federal and at the state level. 
• 179D - Commercial Buildings Energy-Efficiency Tax Deduction