CNT Energy is a division of the Center for Neighborhood Technology. Since 1978, Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has been a leader in promoting urban sustainability—the more effective use of existing resources and community assets to improve the health of natural systems and the wealth of people, today and in the future. CNT is a creative think-and-do tank that combines rigorous research with effective solutions. CNT works across disciplines and issues, including transportation and community development, energy, natural resources, and climate change.

CNT Energy is a non-profit organization helping consumers and communities obtain the information and services they need to control energy costs. Areas of focus include building performance and energy efficiency, real-time electricity pricing, climate change analysis, and regional energy planning.

Dynamic Pricing and Smart Grid

CNT Energy paved the way for the nation’s first residential, market-based, hourly electricity pricing program in 2003 with the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan. Consumers got the option of paying hourly, market-based prices for electricity rather than the set, average price used in the standard residential rate. This innovate pilot program demonstrated that a well designed real-time pricing program can be an effective tool for reducing strain on electricity infrastructure, encouraging energy efficiency, and saving consumers money. Utilities, legislators, and regulators took notice, and real-time pricing became available on a large scale in Illinois starting in 2007.

Energy Efficient Buildings

CNT Energy has worked with individuals, municipalities, regional consortia and others to deliver energy efficiency services in over 20,000 commercial and residential buildings across the Chicago Metropolitan Region. Through the years we have developed a particular expertise in analyzing and communicating building performance in order to quantify the value of efficiency projects that result in on-going reductions in operating costs for building owners.

Regional Energy Planning

Energy is recognized as an increasingly important growth factor in urban planning. With a team of planning professionals, CNT Energy examines existing local land use tools that can be updated to achieve long-lasting sustainable results. In addition, CNT Energy works with counties and municipalities to analyze how growth will impact electric infrastructure and to develop plans for managing increasing energy needs while minimizing costs, service disruptions, and environmental impacts. CNT Energy also develops innovative programs for improving energy efficiency and managing electricity demand in growing communities.