Cleanest 50 Buildings by Greenhouse Gas Intensity
The median building in our dataset emits 6.5 CO2 kg / square foot, but these buildings are Chicago's best in class and emit way less! Some, like Marina Towers , are large residential buildings, but other buildings in this list include offices, hotels, and even schools like King College Prep . Most buildings in this list have an Energy Star score over 90, which means they are typically officially certified as being energy-efficient.
Note: Data only includes large Chicago buildings from 2020
Note: This data only includes buildings whose emissions are reported
under the
Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance
. According to the City “As of 2016,
this list includes all commercial, institutional, and residential buildings larger than
50,000 square feet.” This dataset is also then filtered to only buildings with
reported emissions > 1,000 metric tons CO2 equivalent.
This data is also from 2020, but when new benchmark data is available, we'll update the site.
| Property Name / address | Primary Property Type |
Greenhouse Gas Intensity (kg CO2 eq./sqft) |
Total Greenhouse Emissions (metric tons CO2 eq.) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
016910 - Old Town Square
🏆
424 W DIVISION ST
| Strip Mall | 0.3 kg/sqft 
#1 Lowest in Chicago*
| 28 tons
#2 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Ridgemoor Estates 1 Condominium
🏆
4106 N NARRAGANSETT AVE
| Multifamily Housing | 0.4 kg/sqft
#2 Lowest in Chicago*
| 24 tons
#1 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
6200 N Hiawatha Ave
🏆
6200 N HIAWATHA AVE
| Office | 0.4 kg/sqft
#2 Lowest in Chicago*
| 45 tons
#3 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
116 S. Michigan Ave.
🏆
116 S Michigan Ave
| College/University | 0.5 kg/sqft
#4 Lowest in Chicago*
| 53 tons
#6 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
U.S. Cellular Plaza - 8420 _ Goby LLC
🏆
8420 W Bryn Mawr Ave
| Office | 0.5 kg/sqft
#4 Lowest in Chicago*
| 114 tons
#12 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Cambria Hotel
🏆
32 W RANDOLPH ST
| Hotel | 0.7 kg/sqft
#6 Lowest in Chicago*
| 166 tons
Lowest 1%
|
|
Bucktown Park Condominium Association
🏆
1830 N WINCHESTER AVE
| Multifamily Housing | 0.8 kg/sqft
#7 Lowest in Chicago*
| 54 tons
#7 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
6160 N Cicero
🏆
6160 N CICERO AVE
| Office | 0.8 kg/sqft
#7 Lowest in Chicago*
| 51 tons
#5 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
ACE Technical Charter High School
🏆
(CPS)
5400 S State St
| K-12 School | 0.9 kg/sqft
#9 Lowest in Chicago*
| 59 tons
#9 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Devon Executive
🏆
4001 W Devon Ave
| Office | 0.9 kg/sqft
#9 Lowest in Chicago*
| 47 tons
#4 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Marketplace At Six Corners
🏆
4612 - 4730 W Irving Park Rd
| Other - Mall | 1.0 kg/sqft
#11 Lowest in Chicago*
| 80 tons
#10 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
2130-2140 W Fulton
🏆
2130 2140 W Fulton St
| Office | 1.1 kg/sqft
#12 Lowest in Chicago*
| 57 tons
#8 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
MAYNARD AT ELAINE PLACE - CLK
🏆
3426 N Elaine Place
| Multifamily Housing | 1.2 kg/sqft
#13 Lowest in Chicago*
| 368 tons
Lowest 15%
|
|
1033 Van Buren
🏆
1033 W VAN BUREN ST
| Office | 1.4 kg/sqft
#14 Lowest in Chicago*
| 119 tons
#14 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
860 West Evergreen
🏆
860 W Evergreen Ave
| Office | 1.4 kg/sqft
#14 Lowest in Chicago*
| 151 tons
#24 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
309-The Breakers at Edgewater Beach
🏆
5333 N Sheridan Rd
| Senior Living Community | 1.5 kg/sqft
#16 Lowest in Chicago*
| 2,537 tons 
Highest 17%
|
|
Six Corners Plaza
🏆
3970 - 3982 N Milwaukee Ave
| Strip Mall | 1.6 kg/sqft
#18 Lowest in Chicago*
| 129 tons
#17 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Stratford at South Commons Condo
🏆
2605 S Indiana Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 1.6 kg/sqft
#18 Lowest in Chicago*
| 1,319 tons
Highest 35%
|
|
Goldblatts Building
🏆
1609 W Chicago Ave
| Office | 1.6 kg/sqft
#18 Lowest in Chicago*
| 263 tons
Lowest 6%
|
|
Trailhead
🏆
1744 N Western Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 1.6 kg/sqft
#18 Lowest in Chicago*
| 215 tons
Lowest 3%
|
|
4611 South Ellis LLC
🏆
4611 S ELLIS AVE
| Worship Facility | 1.7 kg/sqft
#21 Lowest in Chicago*
| 85 tons
#11 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Circle Park
🏆
1111 S ASHLAND AVE
| Multifamily Housing | 1.9 kg/sqft
#22 Lowest in Chicago*
| 757 tons
Lowest 44%
|
|
540 Surf Building
🏆
540 W SURF ST
| Multifamily Housing | 1.9 kg/sqft
#22 Lowest in Chicago*
| 120 tons
#15 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
CA 23
🏆
15 23 N ABERDEEN ST
| Multifamily Housing | 2.0 kg/sqft
#24 Lowest in Chicago*
| 237 tons
Lowest 5%
|
|
CICERO ANNEX
🏆
8101 8141 S CICERO AVE
| Strip Mall | 2.0 kg/sqft
#24 Lowest in Chicago*
| 130 tons
#18 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
1000 West Washington Lofts Condo
🏆
1000 W Washington Blvd
| Multifamily Housing | 2.1 kg/sqft
#27 Lowest in Chicago*
| 694 tons
Lowest 41%
|
|
Polaris Charter Adademy
🏆
(CPS)
620 N Sawyer Ave
| K-12 School | 2.1 kg/sqft
#27 Lowest in Chicago*
| 190 tons
Lowest 2%
|
|
Renaissance Saint Luke
🏆
1501 W Belmont Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 2.1 kg/sqft
#27 Lowest in Chicago*
| 156 tons
#28 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Tech South
🏆
3450 S State Street
| College/University | 2.1 kg/sqft
#27 Lowest in Chicago*
| 170 tons
Lowest 2%
|
|
Much-Musikantow Co.
🏆
8001 - 8007 S Cottage Grove Ave
| Other - Public Services | 2.2 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 118 tons
#13 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
240 N. Ashland
240 N Ashland Ave
| Office | 2.2 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 179 tons
Lowest 2%
|
|
Hayden/1109 W. Washington
1109 W Washington
| Multifamily Housing | 2.2 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 227 tons
Lowest 4%
|
|
Tech Central
3424 S State Street
| College/University | 2.2 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 180 tons
Lowest 2%
|
|
Fulton-Loomis-Carroll Condominium Association
🏆
1400 W FULTON ST
| Office | 2.3 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 147 tons
#21 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
2144 N. Lincoln Park Condominium Association
2144 N Lincoln Park West
| Multifamily Housing | 2.3 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 667 tons
Lowest 40%
|
|
420 W. Ontario Residential Condominium Association
420 432 W ONTARIO ST
| Multifamily Housing | 2.4 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 199 tons
Lowest 2%
|
|
Drexel Parc Lofts
4537 S DREXEL BLVD
| Multifamily Housing | 2.4 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 336 tons
Lowest 12%
|
|
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
200 N COLUMBUS DR
| Hotel | 2.4 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 1,654 tons
Highest 28%
|
|
Atrio Apartments (md104)
1926 1960 W HARRISON ST
| Multifamily Housing | 2.4 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 591 tons
Lowest 34%
|
|
641 W Lake
641 W Lake St
| Office | 2.4 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 255 tons
Lowest 6%
|
|
4801 W. Peterson Ave
4801 W Peterson Ave
| Office | 2.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 226 tons
Lowest 4%
|
|
Horizon House (159812)
5733 N Sheridan Rd
| Multifamily Housing | 2.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 682 tons
Lowest 40%
|
|
FULLERTON PARKWAY TOWERS
415 W FULLERTON PKWY
| Multifamily Housing | 2.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 567 tons
Lowest 32%
|
|
The Darien
3100 N Lake Shore Dr
| Multifamily Housing | 2.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 891 tons
Highest 49%
|
|
Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship
🏆
3137 S FEDERAL ST
| College/University | 2.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 178 tons
Lowest 2%
|
|
SANS SOUCI CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION
🏆
4825 4835 N CENTRAL AVE
| Multifamily Housing | 2.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 132 tons
#19 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Medinah Temple
600 - 820 N Wabash St
| Retail Store | 2.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 344 tons
Lowest 13%
|
|
StStan_School
1255 N Noble St
| K-12 School | 2.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 248 tons
Lowest 5%
|
|
Holland Apartments
🏆
240 W 107th Pl
| Multifamily Housing | 2.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 154 tons
#27 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
MissionofOurLadyoftheAngels_School
🏆
3814 W Iowa St
| K-12 School | 2.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 142 tons
#20 Lowest in Chicago*
|
Data Source:
Chicago Energy Benchmarking Data