Sustainable University Symposium Brings Green Focus to Forum

On July 29th, UIC's Office of Sustainability sponsored the third annual Sustainable University Symposium. Vendors displayed eco-friendly, "green" products as universities across Illinois-and even one community college from Los Angeles, California-met at the UIC Forum to discuss current environmental issues, how they affect universities, and what steps colleges are taking to answer what Lieutenant-Governor Pat Quinn called "the green challenge that is right before us."

Throughout the day, speakers gave presentations on the environmentally friendly project their colleges and universities are striving to achieve. Dr. Girard Weber from Kankakee Community College gave a presentation on how community colleges across Illinois are working together to create not only sustainable universities, but sustainable, eco-friendly communities that neighbor their institutions. One of the highlights of the symposium, however, was the "green" construction work already in progress at UIC.

Boyd Black, the Director of Project Management Services, presented information regarding the reconstruction of Grant Hall, now completed, and Lincoln Hall, which is due to be finished in 2009. The buildings will use geothermal systems, he explained, to provide year-round temperature regulation. Black also commented on preliminary assessments of the performance of Grant Hall, which has been open for one year. "The performance of Grant Hall is exceeding expectations," he said. "The design [of Grant Hall] was predicted to give us twelve to sixteen percent energy savings. The installed system is achieving seventeen to eighteen percent, proving that the fourteen geothermal wells can handle both peak and base load [for temperature-related energy consumption]." Lincoln Hall, which is expected to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification after its completion, will have a similar energy system. In time, Black added, Douglas Hall will be renovated in a similar way.

While "green" building projects were heavily discussed, other issues facing college campuses, such as transportation, funding, and student engagement, were addressed as well. Several working groups met during the symposium, focusing on topics ranging from recycling programs on university campuses to giving students a chance to focus on careers that involve sustainability. Dr. James Eames, a professor at Loyola University Chicago, spoke about the need for rethinking transportation and energy use-including using biofuels as an alternative to gasoline. "You need to convert enormous amounts of land for biofuels," he told the audience. "We can't trade one problem for another. We shouldn't play that environmental shell game." In regards to how campuses use methods of transportation such as shuttle buses, Dr. Eames acknowledged that every university has different energy needs. "Each campus has to look at their situation and act accordingly," he said.

In addition to presentations, working groups, and a tour of UIC's green construction projects, many vendors set up booths which displayed their environmentally friendly products. The businesses ranged from biodegradable disposable goods, such as forks, bags, and paper cups, to flooring companies who used products that were highly regarded as sustainable and efficient. For example, each vendor demonstrated their usefulness as a "green" company to universities seeking to reduce their dependence on disposable, poorly recyclable goods. Teri Lewand of the Hil Mechanical Group, which helps companies operate efficiently through proper utility management, explained that HMG has installed a thermal energy plant at the Illinois Institute of Technology. This energy plant, aside from being extremely efficient, will save IIT one million dollars per year in energy costs.

The Sustainable University Symposium not only encouraged colleges to work together to help reduce waste, recycle, and improve energy efficiency, but also provided an opportunity to "go green" in their future building projects. With plenty of helpful information given in talks held throughout the day, and professional contacts made with vendors, the symposium, entering its third year, is set to accomplish a high goal set by Lieutenant-Governor Quinn. "We want to make Illinois the greenest state in the nation," he commented in his opening speech. "Together, we can make the will of the people the law of the land."