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Where Innovation Meets Affordability This article was originally featured in the American Gas Magazine PUBLISHED: December 5, 2025 For Nicor Gas, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about empowering communities. Through a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, the Illinois-based utility is building a Smart Neighborhood that will redefine what affordable, resilient and sustainable living looks like, fueled by natural gas. Located in Aurora, Illinois, the neighborhood will feature homes equipped with connected technologies and efficient dual-fuel systems designed to optimize comfort and reduce emissions. The goal: to demonstrate the vital role natural gas plays in homes designed to be… Continue reading

First home unveiled in Aurora’s new ‘smart neighborhood’ This article was originally featured in the Aurora Beacon-News By R. Christian Smith PUBLISHED: November 13, 2025 The first home to be built at Habitat Green Freedom, a “smart neighborhood” in Aurora being developed through a partnership between Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity, was officially unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday. Along with the now-complete show home, other houses in the neighborhood could be seen in various stages of construction. The community, which is being built near the intersection of… Read more here > Continue reading

Nicor Gas leads the industry in energy innovation with unveiling of new Smart Neighborhood™ this Fall Show Home to demonstrate a model for affordable, reliable and sustainable living AURORA, Ill., Oct. 14, 2025 – Nicor Gas announced today that its new Smart Neighborhood Show Home in Aurora will be unveiled this November. The neighborhood, Habitat Green Freedom, was developed in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley and will demonstrate the importance of natural gas in an affordable, clean energy future. The homes are designed specifically for Nicor Gas customers living in the cold Illinois climate to showcase… Continue reading

First home going up at Aurora’s new ‘smart neighborhood’ This article was originally featured in the Aurora Beacon-News By R. Christian Smith PUBLISHED: July 8, 2025 The foundation has been laid and the walls are going up for the very first home in Aurora’s new “smart neighborhood,” part of a partnership between Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity that looks to build a net-zero emission, affordable community. Habitat Green Freedom, located near the intersection of Jericho Road and Edgelawn Drive, will eventually hold 17 homes designed with energy efficiency, green energy and resiliency in mind… Read more here > Continue reading

Countdown to Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhood™ begins with raising of first walls in Aurora Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity celebrate important milestone on July 8 AURORA, Ill., July 2, 2025 – Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley are celebrating the official start of a busy construction season on Habitat Green Freedom, the first Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhood. The event, to be held July 8 at the construction site in Aurora, Illinois, will bring together leadership from Nicor Gas, Habitat for Humanity and key community collaborators. Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox… Continue reading

Nicor Gas Further Expands Partnership with Habitat for Humanity to Bring Second Net Zero Neighborhood to Chicagoland The newest Smart Neighborhood™ is planned for Carpentersville Naperville, Ill., June 18, 2024 – Nicor Gas announced today that it is entering the second phase of its Smart Neighborhoods in the Chicagoland area. The new Smart Neighborhood will be built in Carpentersville, Ill. in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley. The first community is already under development in Aurora, Ill. with Fox Valley’s Habitat affiliate. The new community will be comprised of 13 single-family homes, all part of Carter… Continue reading

City of Aurora, Nicor Gas Unveil New Exhibit on Smart Cities at City Hall Exhibit spotlights new Smart Neighborhoods™ collaboration between Nicor Gas, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity and the City of Aurora AURORA, Ill., Feb. 14, 2024 — The City of Aurora and Nicor Gas announced today the unveiling of a new educational exhibit on Smart Cities on the first floor of the Development Services Building at City Hall. The ribbon cutting for the new exhibit will take place on February 14, 2024. The exhibit tells the story of how smart and connected technologies, when combined with smart energy strategies, are… Continue reading

Nicor Gas and Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity Break Ground on New Smart Neighborhood™ in Chicagoland Net zero affordable neighborhood demonstrates the importance of natural gas in a sustainable future for all Naperville, Ill., Tuesday, June 27, 2023 – Nicor Gas, Southern Company and Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity announced today the groundbreaking of a new community designed to be carbon-neutral and achieve net-zero in Aurora, Illinois. The largest natural gas distributor in the state is partnering with the Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate to offer new smart homes to first-time home buyers with an emphasis on resiliency… Continue reading

Episode #117: ‘Preparing Natural Gas Utilities for the Decarbonized Future’ with Meena Beyers, Vice President of Business and Community Development, Nicor Gas [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Podcast] This article was originally featured in Energy Central Nearly every utility these days has made the leap to set decarbonization targets, whether that’s committing to a certain percentage of net zero, renewable energy, clean energy, or other metric in the coming decades. While the focus for these ambitions often centers on switching electric utilities from fossil fuels to non-carbon alternatives, the reality remains that the natural gas utilities across the country… Continue reading

The Role of Gas Companies in a Net Zero Future: A Spotlight on Nicor Gas Smart Neighborhoods™ This article was originally featured in the Energy Central There is a popular misconception that natural gas equals increased CO2 and poor air quality and that natural gas utilities are lagging behind electric utilities in terms of innovation in net zero. This is simply incorrect. Today’s highly efficient gas technologies like the newest heat pumps actually emit less CO2 than their electric counterparts. Coupling natural gas and electric, rather than converting homes to 100% electric, will not only keep energy prices lower… Continue reading

Habitat for Humanity subdivision in Aurora seeks breakthrough in affordability This article was originally featured in the Aurora Beacon-News By Steve Lord PUBLISHED: January 27, 2023 Aurora, Ill. – The key theme for the new Habitat Green subdivision planned for Aurora’s far West Side can be summed up in one word – affordability. The goal of its planners is make the 17-house Habitat for Humanity subdivision “an affordable and resilient community,” while achieving energy efficiency, said Meena Beyers, vice president of Community and Business Development for Nicor, which serves 2.3 million customers in northern Illinois with natural gas. Nicor is part… Continue reading

Nicor Gas and Southern Company Partner with Two Local Habitat for Humanity Affiliates to Build Energy Efficient, Net Zero Communities in Chicagoland Smart Neighborhood™ concepts being planned for Aurora and Northern Fox Valley Naperville, Ill., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022 – Today, Nicor Gas and Southern Company are announcing a new partnership with the Fox Valley and Northern Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliates to develop Smart Neighborhood™ communities dedicated to providing affordable, net zero greenhouse gas emissions housing options in the Chicagoland area. Two planned communities, one in Aurora and a second being developed in Northern Fox Valley, will… Continue reading