Research in both the US and Europe has demonstrated the link between certification of lower energy consumption and higher real estate values (Popescu et al., Policy makers in the Chicago Tri-State metro-region could take this one step further by requiring a full assessment of the viability of clean and renewable energy retrofits any time a commercial or industrial building is sold. The new owner would not be obliged to pursue any specific installation, but ready access to this information could incite owners to voluntarily take action shortly thereafter.