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A green roof atop CTA's headquarters building conserves energy and reduces stormwater runoff.

Efficient Facilities

The CTA is working to decrease the environmental impact of rail stations, offices and maintenance facilities. We strive to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and stormwater runoff to improve environmental quality and decrease operating costs.

On this page...

• Facilities Infrastructure
• Facilities Awards
• Video: Green Roof

 Facilities Infrastructure

• Through the CTA Station Renewal Program and other initiatives, the CTA has retrofitted existing lighting in the subways and in roughly 100 rail stations with more energy-efficient alternatives.
• Green roofs have been installed on the CTA headquarters building at 567 W. Lake, and on an electrical substation at Clifton (Red Line). Green roofs conserve energy, reduce stormwater runoff and decrease urban heat islands.
• CTA has replaced over a dozen slow-closing garage doors at various vehicle maintenance facilities with high-speed garage doors, saving thousands of dollars in heating costs annually.
• In 2010, we completed a 12.8 kilowatt solar panel installation at 95th/Dan Ryan (Red Line), one of CTA's busiest rail stations.  These panels will be used as a supplemental power source for station lighting and fare equipment.
• In 2011, CTA was awarded an Illinois state grant to fund a Sustainable Facility Design and Construction training program. Nearly 20 CTA engineers earned their LEED credentials through this program.
• Eight lubrication machines used on the rail system are powered by solar energy. Conventional lubrication machines require an electrical feed, which in many locations means running miles of cable; cable is not required for solar-powered machines.
• In 2013, CTA began installation of 55 high-capacity, environmentally-friendly in-ground vehicle lifts for servicing the bus fleet.

 Facilities Awards

• In 2012, the CTA headquarters building was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification (see also: press release), an upgrade from the LEED Gold certification received in 2007.

  • LEED certification is sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council to recognize buildings which meet established standards in recycling, design, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality.

• CTA's headquarters building has been awarded the Energy Star label each year from 2005 through 2012 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

  • The Energy Star label designates buildings that save money and protect the environment through use of energy-efficient products and practices.

 Video: Green Roof