Projects don’t build themselves.

At Canopy, we not only understand this, we embrace the opportunity each project creates to work cooperatively with others to realize a collective vision.

Always collaborative and transparent, our approach is also investigative and continually reveals sources, potentials and information that we find useful in sharing. The following is an evolving list of resources in sustainability, financing, housing/community development, and key building industry partners.

sustainabilitySUSTAINABILITY

Elevate Energy

Elevate Energy provides assistance with energy efficiency evaluation and assessment for residential and commercial projects throughout the region.

Basic, No-Cost Green Building Strategies

This brief Best Practices document published by the American Institute of Architects outlines a few basic green building strategies that can be implemented with no added construction cost.

Green Permit Program

Based on the LEED rating system for green buildings, The Green Permit Process offers qualifying projects an expedited permit process and possible reduction of the permit fees.

REGREEN Residential Guidelines

A series of green guidelines for the most common types of residential remodeling projects from the American Society of Interior Designers and the U.S. Green Building Council.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Guidelines for the DCEO’s Office of Energy programs to promote the efficient use of energy resources through a variety of technical and demonstration programs.

Rebuilding Exchange Chicago

The Rebuilding Exchange is a non-profit social enterprise with a mission to create a market for reclaimed building materials. They divert materials from landfills, making them accessible for reuse through our retail warehouse and provide related education and job training programs.

Chicago Building Energy Benchmarking Report

The City of Chicago’s Building Energy Benchmarking report represents results from the first round of city-wide energy benchmarking for large buildings.  The findings are presented in a detailed, data-driven fashion, showing how building managers are unlocking the economic potential of energy efficiency management.

financingFINANCING

Green Illinois Funding Opportunities

green.illinois.gov contains a number of resources and links for Green Illinois Funding Opportunities.

DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency)

DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Enterprise Green Communities

Enterprise Green Communities provides grants, loans and LIHTC to assist with the development of green or sustainable affordable housing.

Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation’s Program Priorites and Grant Application Guidelines.

Chicago Community Loan Fund

Chicago Community Loan Fund provides financing for not-for-profits doing affordable housing and other community development projects.

Community Investment Corporation

Chicago Investment Corporation provides financing for acquisition and rehabilitation of 5+ unit multi-family buildings throughout the metropolitan Chicago area.

housingHOUSING

Illinois Housing Development Authority

IHDA works as a bank with a public mission: To finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing across Illinois.

Cook County Land Bank

The Cook Count Land Bank provides methods for acquisition and transfer of real estate throughout Cook County for vacant, abandoned, foreclosed or tax-delinquent properties.

Illinois Facilities Fund

A mission-driven lender, real estate consultant, and developer that helps communities thrive by creating opportunities for low-income communities and people with disabilities.

Chicago TOD Calculator (MPC)

The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) provides research and advocacy resources throughout the Chicago metropolitan region. MPC has launched a transit-oriented development (TOD) calculator to provide a quick tool for considering new TOD opportunities.

Illinois Housing Council

The Illinois Housing Council (IHC) is a statewide non-profit organization created to promote the stabilization of Illinois communities through the construction and preservation of affordable housing.

industry-partnersINDUSTRY PARTNERS

United States Green Building Council (USGBC – Illinois)

The U.S. Green Building Council – Illinois Chapter is the local affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a national non-profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

American Institute of Architects (AIA – Chicago)

The American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago) is the largest chapter of licensed architects, architectural interns, and allied professionals within AIA Illinois, and the second largest AIA chapter in the country.

Arquitectos

Arquitectos is a Chicago-based organization that provides a wide range of professional and community-based resources for architecture related professionals in and around Latino communities.

National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB)

A nonprofit corporation comprising the legally constituted architectural registration boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as its members.

Greater Good Studio

Greater Good Studio is a design firm focused on social impact. Their mission is to build capacity for innovation across the social sector.

Emergent Design

Emergent Design uses deep immersion, design and business strategy to help clients bring human centered innovations to life. They specialize in industries that aspire toward a more intimate connection to their customers including Education, Consumer Goods, Health Care, Non-profit, Public sectors, etc.

Ali Sandifer

Ali Sandifer is a design studio and workshop with a particular fondness for furniture.