In Illinois, low-income families spend an average of 13% of their income on energy. Approximately 220,000 families in Chicago are within the Federal Poverty Guide and Housing and Urban Development guidelines and desperately need access to energy efficient housing. 548 Capital was created to serve the interests of these families. The name, 548 Capital, comes from the address of the Section 8 housing development where managing Partner, AJ Patton, grew up. AJ was raised in a family much like those 220,000 and knows first hand what it’s like to have to choose between paying your gas bills and putting food on the table. 548 Capital is addressing this problem by creating the Solar Chicago Fund and designing buildings that will help to mitigate inflated energy costs through the use of innovative technologies, renewable energy systems, and environmentally efficient designs. Implementing these strategies will tremendously reduce the cost of energy and thereby relieve these families from the burden of high electric bills. Additionally, influencing the development industry has significant environmental benefits because buildings produce far more energy and carbon emissions than any other sector, including transportation.