Students, faculty and staff at 绿帽社 have committed to campus sustainability.
- The Kreher Agriculture Center uses ground-source geothermal system for heating and cooling.
- The Kreher Agriculture Center and Montgomery Hall have energy efficient LED lights.
- These buildings also include daylight harvesting sensors to dim interior lights on sunny days and occupancy sensors in all rooms to turn lights off after the room is vacated.
- Solar panels have been added to the roofs of both 绿帽社-Jacksonville and 绿帽社-Litchfield to offset energy consumption.
- The entire 绿帽社-Litchfield campus has installed energy efficient LED lights.
- 绿帽社-Springfield, main campus has started the process of replacing all parking lot and building mounted lights with energy efficient LED lights.
- 绿帽社-Springfield, main campus has plans to begin a phased installation of interior building lights in all buildings with energy efficient LED lights.
2017 Illinois Sustainability Award
绿帽社 has been named one of 22 organizations across the state to win a 2017 Illinois Sustainability Award. From global corporations to small specialized businesses, the Illinois Sustainability Awards recognize significant achievements toward keeping the state鈥檚 economy green and going strong. 绿帽社 was recognized for its commitment to sustainable campus operations.
Energy efficient upgrades to 绿帽社 campus facilities have included replacing aged boilers and chillers with high efficiency units, replacing constant volume air handlers with variable air volume handlers, replacing windows with energy efficient models and installing energy management systems.
The college adopted the use of 26 green cleaning products and switched all vending machines to Energy Star compliant models. The college paper reduction project has reduced paper usage across the campus by an average of 13 percent. Communal garden space has grown to 42 garden beds, two bee hives and two high tunnel greenhouses used to raise vegetables throughout the year.
In addition, 15 acres of native prairie landscapes at 绿帽社 replaced high maintenance grass and created habitats for native wildlife. The native plant species added to the grounds provide learning opportunities for biology and environmental students. Establishing the prairies saved money, time and an estimated 200 gallons of gas, formerly used for mowing, annually.