The median building in our dataset emits 6.2 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 From Large Buildings in 2023
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.”
The latest year of data is from 2023, but we update the site regularly when new data is available, and some buildings may have failed to report that year, and only have older data available.
Additionally, note that all tons specified are metric tons.
| Name / Address | Primary Property Type |
GHG Intensity (kg CO2 eq./sqft) |
Total GHG Emissions (tons CO2 eq.) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Chicago Theatre
🏆
📷
A
175 North State Street
| Performing Arts | 0.7 kg/sqft 
#1 Lowest in Chicago*
| 515 tons
Lowest 29%
|
|
116 S. Michigan Ave.
🏆
A
116 S. Michigan Ave.
| College/University | 1.0 kg/sqft
#2 Lowest in Chicago*
| 115 tons
#3 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
U.S. Cellular Plaza - 8430 _ Goby LLC
🏆
⚡
A
8430 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
| Office | 1.0 kg/sqft
#2 Lowest in Chicago*
| 343 tons
Lowest 12%
|
|
Olive-Harvey College - South Side Learning Center - Board of Trustees, Community
⚠️
(City Colleges)
A
10001 South Woodlawn Ave
| College/University | 1.2 kg/sqft
#4 Lowest in Chicago*
| 3,522 tons 
Highest 10%
|
|
Two West Delaware (dt38)
⚠️
A
2 West Delaware Place
| Multifamily Housing | 2.4 kg/sqft
#10 Lowest in Chicago*
| 1,674 tons
Highest 26%
|
|
10725-Bucktown
⚠️
A
2140 N. Elston Ave
| Retail Store | 2.5 kg/sqft
#12 Lowest in Chicago*
| 322 tons
Lowest 10%
|
|
Map Factory Lofts (5235 N. Ravenswood)
🏆
A
5235 N. Ravenswood
| Multifamily Housing | 2.6 kg/sqft
#16 Lowest in Chicago*
| 139 tons
#5 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
1247-1249 West Madison LLC
⚠️
A
1239-1259 W Madison St
| Multifamily Housing | 2.7 kg/sqft
#21 Lowest in Chicago*
| 420 tons
Lowest 20%
|
|
343 W Erie St
🏆
A
343 W Erie Street
| Office | 2.7 kg/sqft
#21 Lowest in Chicago*
| 232 tons
Lowest 3%
|
|
350 W Belden
⚠️
A
350 W Belden Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 2.8 kg/sqft
#29 Lowest in Chicago*
| 396 tons
Lowest 18%
|
|
100 North Riverside Plaza
A
100 N Riverside Plaza
| Office | 2.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 2,576 tons
Highest 15%
|
|
Shoreland
A
5454 S Shore Drive
| Multifamily Housing | 2.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 1,863 tons
Highest 23%
|
|
Stewart Business Center
A
400 W. 76th Street
| Office | 2.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 332 tons
Lowest 11%
|
|
318 N. Carpenter
A
318 N. Carpenter
| Office | 2.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 1%
| 308 tons
Lowest 9%
|
|
2828 N Burling
⚠️
A
2828 N Burling Street
| Multifamily Housing | 3.0 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 229 tons
Lowest 3%
|
|
10 South State
⚠️
A
10-20 South State Street
| Retail Store | 3.1 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 174 tons
#15 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
Washtenaw on the Park
🏆
A
4755 N Washtenaw Avenue
| Multifamily Housing | 3.1 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 159 tons
#7 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
30 E. Adams
⚡
A
30 E Adams
| Multifamily Housing | 3.1 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 558 tons
Lowest 33%
|
|
24 East Washington Street
📷
A
24 East Washington Street
| Office | 3.1 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 2,163 tons
Highest 19%
|
|
4001 N. Ravenswood LLC
A
4001 N Ravenswood
| Other | 3.2 kg/sqft
Lowest 2%
| 247 tons
Lowest 4%
|
|
400 South Jefferson - OPI
A
400 South Jefferson Street
| Office | 3.3 kg/sqft
Lowest 3%
| 910 tons
Highest 47%
|
|
450 W Belmont (wb008)
A
450 W Belmont
| Multifamily Housing | 3.3 kg/sqft
Lowest 3%
| 575 tons
Lowest 35%
|
|
Lakeview Pointe Condominium Association, Inc.
⚠️
A
7736-7772 N. Sheridan Rd.
| Multifamily Housing | 3.4 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 271 tons
Lowest 5%
|
|
120 South Riverside Plaza
A
120 South Riverside Plaza
| Office | 3.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 2,772 tons
Highest 14%
|
|
Mount Carmel High School
⚠️
A
6410-28 South Dante Avenue
| K-12 School | 3.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 520 tons
Lowest 29%
|
|
IL2125ZZ-OUINCY COURT BLDG
⚠️
A
11 W Ouincy Court
| Office | 3.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 426 tons
Lowest 21%
|
|
New Sullivan
(CPS)
A
8331 S Mackinaw Ave
| K-12 School | 3.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 756 tons
Lowest 46%
|
|
The Burnham at Woodlawn Park
⚠️
A
6134 S. Cottage Grove Avenue
| Multifamily Housing | 3.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 254 tons
Lowest 4%
|
|
Richardson
A
6018 S Karlov Ave
| K-12 School | 3.5 kg/sqft
Lowest 4%
| 467 tons
Lowest 25%
|
|
CHICAGO, IL-1542
⚠️
A
7601 S Cicero Ave
| Retail Store | 3.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 5%
| 723 tons
Lowest 44%
|
|
1330 N LaSalle
🏆
⚡
A
1330 N Lasalle Drive
| Multifamily Housing | 3.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 5%
| 185 tons
#20 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
1725 West North Avenue Condominium
🏆
A
1725 W North Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 3.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 5%
| 173 tons
#14 Lowest in Chicago*
|
|
The Buyer's Market Incorporated
⚠️
A
4545 W. Division St.
| Enclosed Mall | 3.6 kg/sqft
Lowest 5%
| 547 tons
Lowest 32%
|
|
4240 N Clarendon Ave
⚠️
A
4240 N Clarendon Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 3.7 kg/sqft
Lowest 6%
| 242 tons
Lowest 3%
|
|
15 E. Oak
⚠️
A
1-15 East Oak Street
| Office | 3.7 kg/sqft
Lowest 6%
| 357 tons
Lowest 13%
|
|
Madison
⚠️
A
939-949 W Madison Street
| Multifamily Housing | 3.7 kg/sqft
Lowest 6%
| 480 tons
Lowest 26%
|
|
Erie Centre Condo (Campus) (375-435 W Erie)
⚠️
A
375-435 W Erie
| Multifamily Housing | 3.7 kg/sqft
Lowest 6%
| 1,472 tons
Highest 31%
|
|
The Gold Coast (71 E Division St )
A
71 E Division St
| Multifamily Housing | 3.7 kg/sqft
Lowest 6%
| 733 tons
Lowest 45%
|
|
Alcott ES
(CPS)
A
2625 N Orchard St
| K-12 School | 3.7 kg/sqft
Lowest 6%
| 260 tons
Lowest 5%
|
|
Bradley Business Center II
⚠️
A
2500 West Bradley Place
| Other | 3.8 kg/sqft
Lowest 7%
| 1,431 tons
Highest 31%
|
|
Sheridan Lakeside Condo Association
A
6259 N. Sheridan
| Multifamily Housing | 3.8 kg/sqft
Lowest 7%
| 263 tons
Lowest 5%
|
|
1400 Museum Park Condo (100 E 14th Street)
⚠️
A
100 E 14th Street
| Multifamily Housing | 3.8 kg/sqft
Lowest 7%
| 2,022 tons
Highest 21%
|
|
Wicker Park - 1241 N Milwaukee
A
1241 North Milwaukee Avenue
| Multifamily Housing | 3.8 kg/sqft
Lowest 7%
| 300 tons
Lowest 8%
|
|
Auditorium Building
📷
A
430 S. Michigan Ave
| College/University | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 2,346 tons
Highest 17%
|
|
Dr King Legacy Apartments
A
3816 W. 16th St., Chicago, Il 60623
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 243 tons
Lowest 3%
|
|
Lakeside Terrace
📷
A
7645 N Sheridan Rd
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 266 tons
Lowest 5%
|
|
Willow SOuare (Campus) (1728 N. Damen, 212 W St Paul)
⚠️
A
1728 N. Damen
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 586 tons
Lowest 36%
|
|
Sadlowski
A
3930 E 105th St
| K-12 School | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 430 tons
Lowest 21%
|
|
5252
A
5252 S Cornell Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 1,307 tons
Highest 35%
|
|
Arrive South Loop
⚠️
A
1935 South Wabash Ave
| Multifamily Housing | 3.9 kg/sqft
Lowest 8%
| 791 tons
Lowest 48%
|
Data Source:
Chicago Energy Benchmarking Data