Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Batavia GREEN Program (Grant for Residential Energy Efficiency in Neighborhoods) is an initiative offered by the City of Batavia in partnership with Sustained Ability Construction (SAC) to support residential energy efficiency upgrades in the community. Eligible homeowners receive a free professional energy audit and the opportunity to receive grant funding to help offset the cost of recommended improvements.

The program is funded by the City of Batavia's Single-Use Bag Fee.

The program is administered by Craig Schneider of Sustained Ability Construction (SAC). Craig is the primary point of contact for scheduling, audit coordination, and all program-related questions. He can be reached at craig@sustainedabilityconstruction.com or 630-677-1939.

Yes. Participation in any or all phases of the program, including energy audits and upgrades, is entirely voluntary and at the homeowner's discretion.

Key program dates are as follows:

• 04/06/2026 — The application period starts
• 05/04/2026 — The application period ends
• 05/18/2026 — Applicants will be informed of their acceptance status
• 06/05/2026 — Scheduling of audits needs to be set by this date
• 10/02/2026 — Last day for audits to be conducted
• 2–3 weeks is the anticipated turnaround for audit reports to be sent by SAC
• 1 month from receipt of the audit report is the deadline to notify SAC of intent to proceed with grant funded projects
• 6 months from receipt or 12/31/2026 (whichever occurs first) — Deadline for all work to be completed and grant funds invoiced to Batavia. Extensions are able to be requested in writing from SAC.

The program is quite competitive. In the inaugural year, participants were selected from over 120 applicants.

Yes. The program has multiple, simple deadlines that will need to be met. These relate to scheduling, program documentation and low-income eligibility verification, if applicable. Not satisfying these requirements may cause your spot to be awarded to another applicant.

All application questions are preliminarily weighted to highlight the goals of the program. Each applicant's response generates an automatic point total that is shared with program administration. The highest scoring applications are preliminarily selected for project participation. Points are awarded blindly and based solely upon this grading. After grading, project administration and city staff evaluate candidates for any potential disqualifications.

Your home must be in good standing — meaning no outstanding utility debts or code violations — to remain eligible for the program.

You must finalize your audit scheduling with Craig Schneider by June 5th, 2026. Audit site visits are conducted between June and September, during normal business hours only.

Plan on the visit lasting a full morning or afternoon — approximately 3 to 4 hours.

Craig will personally conduct many of the audits, but he may not conduct every one. If you have a preference or special request, contact Craig when scheduling.

Yes, but you must request this in advance prior to scheduling your audit so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Before the audit, you should:

• Submit your signed Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgment form
• Complete the pre-audit questionnaire (link provided by SAC)
• Remove any window air conditioners
• Ensure all exterior doors and windows are closed prior to arrival
• Straighten up all rooms and ensure all closets, walls, basements or attic hatches are accessible. Nothing needs to be taken off of walls and furniture shouldn't need to be moved
• Make arrangements for small children or skittish pets if needed, as some equipment may be noisy and frequent opening of the front door may be required during the visit

Sharing detailed information about comfort, durability, or efficiency concerns ahead of time ensures that issues can be considered during the walk through. This avoids items being missed because they're not visible or not occurring while the auditor is present onsite.

You must submit a signed Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgment form, included in the Batavia GREEN Resident Packet, prior to the audit site visit. Income qualified track participants must also provide income verification.

The audit includes a comprehensive review of your home developed with an energy model that quantifies the expected benefit of proposed improvements. This written report lists important data found during the visit, energy model results, photos and IR imagery, plus the list of recommended improvements that qualify for GREEN grant funding.

The report is typically completed within two to three weeks of the site visit.

Not necessarily. Items are highlighted based upon a predetermined focus that puts "life safety" and some "durability" concerns at the top of the list of priorities. Beyond that, the auditor's professional recommendation of improvements with the best return on investment are written in a chart near the top of the report. These items are what qualifies for grant funding.

Review the "Recommendations Summary" in your audit report and decide whether you want to proceed with any of the listed improvements. You must notify SAC of your decision within 1 month of receiving the report. You are encouraged to download or print a copy of the report for your records.

Failure to submit your upgrade intentions within a month of receiving the audit report will forfeit your eligibility for program grant funding. You do get to keep the audit but have no obligation or further responsibility to the program.

All work must be completed within 6 months of receiving your audit or by December 31st, 2026, whichever occurs sooner. Extensions may be granted with City of Batavia approval.

You are free to choose whomever you would like to complete your work. The City of Batavia, Sustained Ability Construction or anyone representing the GREEN program have no part in selecting or contracting your chosen contractor.

Your contractor must issue two separate invoices: one to you (the homeowner), marked PAID IN FULL for your share of the work being performed (if any), and one to the City of Batavia reflecting the GREEN Program's share of the project cost. Failure to provide this documentation will result in non-payment of the grant portion.

You will need to submit the following to the Program Administrator (Sustained Ability Construction — SAC):

• The completed Resident-Contractor Agreement (included in the Batavia GREEN Resident Packet)
• Your personal invoice from the contractor, marked PAID IN FULL (if applicable)
• The GREEN Program invoice from the contractor for your applicable grant amount
• A W-9 from the contractor, fully filled out and signed

The city's payment terms are net 30. Payment will not be issued until the homeowner's portion has been paid in full, any required inspections have been passed, and all documentation has been submitted and approved by SAC.

The Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgment is a required form that confirms your voluntary participation in the program, releases the City of Batavia and SAC from liability related to the audit and upgrade process, and acknowledges your understanding of the program's rules and requirements. It will be sent to you for electronic signature if you're selected for participation in the Program and must be completed before your audit takes place.

By signing the Waiver of Liability, you consent to the City of Batavia using your name, image, likeness, and statements in program promotional materials, including print, online, and social media. You will not receive compensation for such use, though the city will make reasonable efforts to coordinate with you for any promotional activities. Sensitive documentation (e.g. interior home photos) will not be shared without participant consent.

Any information provided as part of this program may be subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Please note: personal information including personal identifying information, home interiors, home security measures, safety-related information, or other highly personal details are generally exempted from FOIA.