Cleanest 50 Buildings by Greenhouse Gas Intensity
The median building in our dataset emits 8 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.
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/sqft) |
Total Greenhouse Emissions (metric tons CO2) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
309-The Breakers at Edgewater Beach
🏆
5333 N Sheridan Rd
| Senior Living Community | 1.8 
#1 Lowest
| 3,180 
Highest 28%
|
|
200 N COLUMBUS DR
🏆
200 N COLUMBUS DR
| Hotel | 1.9
#2 Lowest
| 1,355
Lowest 22%
|
|
State Place Condominium Association
🏆
1101 S State St
| Multifamily Housing | 2.7
#3 Lowest
| 1,481
Lowest 28%
|
|
Marina Towers Condominium Association
🏆
📷
300 N State St
| Multifamily Housing | 2.8
#4 Lowest
| 2,167
Highest 46%
|
|
The Monadnock Building
🏆
📷
53 W Jackson Blvd
| Office | 3.0
#5 Lowest
| 1,476
Lowest 28%
|
|
King College Prep -CPS
🏆
📷
4445 S Drexel Blvd
| K-12 School | 3.3
#6 Lowest
| 1,031
Lowest 3%
|
|
Clinton Complex Condominium Association
🏆
📷
500 S Clinton St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.3
#6 Lowest
| 1,101
Lowest 7%
|
|
Ella Flagg Young Apartments
🏆
4645 N Sherdian Rd
| Multifamily Housing | 3.4
#9 Lowest
| 1,029
Lowest 3%
|
|
Park 1500 Lofts
🏆
1500 W Monroe St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.4
#9 Lowest
| 1,845
Lowest 43%
|
|
Saucedo Elementary Academy - CPS
🏆
2850 W 24th Blvd
| K-12 School | 3.4
#9 Lowest
| 1,002
#1 Lowest
|
|
Shoreland Apartments
🏆
5454 S Shore Dr
| Multifamily Housing | 3.5
#11 Lowest
| 2,231
Highest 46%
|
|
The ParkShore Condominium Association
🏆
195 N Harbor Dr
| Multifamily Housing | 3.6
#13 Lowest
| 3,634
Highest 24%
|
|
5252 S CORNELL AVE
🏆
5252 S CORNELL AVE
| Multifamily Housing | 3.6
#13 Lowest
| 1,219
Lowest 16%
|
|
329 W 18th St
🏆
329 W 18th St
| Other | 3.6
#13 Lowest
| 1,821
Lowest 43%
|
|
Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile
🏆
633 N St Clair St
| Office | 3.6
#13 Lowest
| 2,252
Highest 45%
|
|
Dearborn Tower Condominium Association
🏆
1530 S State St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.7
#16 Lowest
| 2,754
Highest 34%
|
|
Metropolitan Place Condominium Association
🏆
130 S Canal St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.7
#16 Lowest
| 2,152
Highest 47%
|
|
Wentworth Gardens
🏆
3770 S Wentworth Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 3.8
#19 Lowest
| 3,155
Highest 29%
|
|
401 465 E Illinois St
🏆
401 465 E Illinois St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.8
#19 Lowest
| 1,511
Lowest 30%
|
|
Auditorium Building
🏆
430 S Michigan Ave
| College/University | 3.8
#19 Lowest
| 2,248
Highest 45%
|
|
Phillips Academy HS -CPS
🏆
244 E Pershing Rd
| K-12 School | 3.8
#19 Lowest
| 1,094
Lowest 7%
|
|
Tilden HS -CPS
🏆
4747 S Union Ave
| K-12 School | 3.9
#24 Lowest
| 1,272
Lowest 18%
|
|
Wells Community Academy HS -CPS
🏆
936 N Ashland Ave
| K-12 School | 3.9
#24 Lowest
| 1,026
#29 Lowest
|
|
Bradley Business Center
🏆
2500 W Bradley Pl
| Other | 3.9
#24 Lowest
| 1,443
Lowest 26%
|
|
The Sexton Condominium Association
🏆
360 W Illinois St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9
#24 Lowest
| 1,537
Lowest 31%
|
|
3711 S VINCENNES AVE
🏆
3711 S VINCENNES AVE
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9
#24 Lowest
| 1,180
Lowest 13%
|
|
Ontario Street Lofts CA
🏆
411 W Ontario St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9
#24 Lowest
| 1,023
#27 Lowest
|
|
Chicago Vocational Career Academy -CPS
🏆
2106 E 87th St
| K-12 School | 4.0
#29 Lowest
| 2,718
Highest 34%
|
|
Lincoln Park 2550 Condominium Association
🏆
2550 N Lakeview Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 4.0
#29 Lowest
| 3,969
Highest 22%
|
|
Kelly HS -CPS
🏆
4136 S California Ave
| K-12 School | 4.0
#29 Lowest
| 1,206
Lowest 15%
|
|
Hanover House
🏆
11 21 W GOETHE ST
| Multifamily Housing | 4.0
#29 Lowest
| 1,008
#7 Lowest
|
|
Eddystone Condominium Homes
🏆
415 421 W MELROSE ST
| Multifamily Housing | 4.1
Lowest 3%
| 1,009
#10 Lowest
|
|
River North Commons CA
520 W Huron St
| Multifamily Housing | 4.1
Lowest 3%
| 1,152
Lowest 11%
|
|
3224 3244 N HALSTED ST
3224 3244 N HALSTED ST
| Multifamily Housing | 4.1
Lowest 3%
| 1,112
Lowest 8%
|
|
Lane Tech HS -CPS
2501 W Addison St
| K-12 School | 4.2
Lowest 3%
| 2,977
Highest 31%
|
|
Steinmetz Academic Center HS -CPS
3030 N Mobile Ave
| K-12 School | 4.2
Lowest 3%
| 1,692
Lowest 37%
|
|
Smith Senior Living
2320 W 113TH PL
| Senior Living Community | 4.2
Lowest 3%
| 1,557
Lowest 32%
|
|
Randolph Place Residences Condominium Association
165 N Canal St
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 3,187
Highest 28%
|
|
The Darien Apartments
3100 N Lake Shore Dr
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,504
Lowest 30%
|
|
Optima Signature Apartments
220 E Illinois St
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 3,753
Highest 23%
|
|
Oakley Square Apartments
2325 W JACKSON BLVD
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,203
Lowest 15%
|
|
The Blackstone, A Renaissance Hotel
636 S Michigan Ave
| Hotel | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,665
Lowest 36%
|
|
(IL296) - 1400 Museum Park Condo
100 E 14th St
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 2,343
Highest 42%
|
|
Lake Shore Condominium Association
1440 N LAKESHORE DR
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,325
Lowest 20%
|
|
15th Place
811 - 833 W 15th Pl
| Multifamily Housing | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,094
Lowest 7%
|
|
311 W Monroe
311 W Monroe
| Office | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,845
Lowest 43%
|
|
131 S Dearborn 3
131 S Dearborn
| Financial Office | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,170
Lowest 12%
|
|
TransUnion LLC
555 W Adams St
| Office | 4.3
Lowest 3%
| 1,354
Lowest 22%
|
|
The Pavilion
5441 N East River Rd
| Multifamily Housing | 4.4
Lowest 4%
| 4,699
Highest 17%
|
|
Carl Sandburg Village Condo Association #2
1455 - 1460 N Sandburg Ter
| Multifamily Housing | 4.4
Lowest 4%
| 3,417
Highest 26%
|
Data Source:
Chicago Energy Benchmarking Data