Benedictine outlines steps toward going 'green'

Benedictine outlines steps toward going 'green'

Green Beat
By Jeremy Stoltz
News Editor

Benedictine University in Lisle has joined the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, an organization of universities and community colleges across Illinois which, in conjunction with the Illinois Green Government Coordination Council, is committed to creating a greener, healthier environment.

The Illinois Sustainable University Compact outlines 12 environmental goals that colleges and universities may adopt on their campuses. The compact includes objectives such as purchasing renewable energy, implementing green building practices, developing sustainable transportation options, improving water conservation and incorporating sustainable dining practices.

Among the goal Benedictine has pledged to accomplish by Dec. 31, 2010 are acquiring at least 3 percent of the energy for its campus from renewable sources; joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Challenge to increase energy efficiency on campus; purchasing non-toxic cleaning products whenever practical least 15 percent and reducing pesticide use by establishing integrated pest management practices at all facilities on campus.

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“Real Estate & Construction Review” magazine has selected The Harold D. Rider Family Media, Science, and Fine Arts Center at Elgin Academy (pictured above) as a Green Building of America Award-winning project. Each Green Building of America project is highlighted in a case study published in Real Estate & Construction Review.

Architects from Elgin-based DLA Architects Ltd. began the design for the Rider Center at Elgin Academy in 1999. The earth-friendly design is targeted to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council.

The new four-story, 41,380-square-foot facility is environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. In order to achieve LEED certification, specific green and sustainable design principles were followed in these categories: sustainable site, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, mechanical system, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process.

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HarneTech LLC, an environmental consulting agency in Arlington Heights, has partnered with Ontario, Candada-based EnerWorks to bring solar water heating solutions to commercial, industrial and institutional customers in the Chicago metropolitan region.

Solar water heating has some of the fastest payback calculations in the renewable energy industry and EnerWorks has more than 10 years of experience with proven installations. Under the terms of the agreement, HarneTech will handle sales and design for the products while working with local contractors to install the systems.

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Naperville-based Nicor Inc., a national gas distribution company, has incorporated the following initiatives to create a “green” footprint by protecting and preserving Illinois’ natural environment:

Prairie restoration
Eight acres of native vegetation have been restored at Nicor Gas locations in northern Illinois, which have the following environmental advantages:
•   Native plants such as prairie grass and wild flowers help reduce carbon emissions from the atmosphere by absorbing it from the air and trapping it in the plants.
•   Natural landscapes help control water runoff, protecting our drinking water aquifers from environmental contaminants.
•   Prairie grass and wild flowers reduce maintenance costs because they do not require pesticides, fertilizers or watering, and native landscapes do not need to be mowed like a conventional lawn.

Cleaner vehicles
Currently, 12 Toyota Prius hybrids are part of the Nicor Gas fleet. Hybrid cars produce 90 percent less pollutants than comparable non-hybrid cars, which translates to less airborne pollutants and a cleaner environment.

Energy eEfficient facilities
Nicor’s program to retrofit facilities with energy-efficient light fixtures has reduced emissions equivalent to removing 158 passenger cars from the road for one year.

Nicor’s environmental efforts have received awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago Wilderness, Clean Air Counts and Southern Gas Association.

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Komar Building Services, a Schiller Park-based maintenance company, has completed certification and is now a green cleaning company, resulting in better indoor air quality and less toxic chemicals in client facilities.

Komar’s clean program eliminates more dust, bacteria and volatile organic compounds from the air for a healthier environment. The program uses processes and equipment that require less water and less energy.

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GreenEarth Cleaners, an Elgin-based dry cleaning business, is offering environmentally friendly dry cleaning services.

Unlike traditional drycleaners that use perchloroethylene (perc), a petroleum-based solvent, the GreenEarth process uses no hazardous chemicals. It cleans with pure liquid silicone, in essence liquefied sand, the same natural product used in many personal care products and shampoos, leaving nothing to dirty the air, contaminate the soil or pollute the water.

Eighty-five percent of dry cleaners still use perc, the industry standard solvent since the 1950s, classified by the EPA as a toxic air contaminant and a possible to probable human carcinogen.

Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2009 (Archive on Thursday, May 21, 2009)
Posted by jstoltz Contributed by jstoltz

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