Illinois Ag Connection - SIUE Continues Sustainability Successes

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SIUE Continues Sustainability Successes
Illinois Ag Connection - 09/30/2016

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has achieved several sustainability successes in recent years and is looking forward to many more according to Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker.

"SIUE is committed to a sustainability vision and plan that will reduce the University's ecological footprint and enhance informal and formal sustainability education," said Walker.

Walker noted that students can get involved in sustainability efforts in various ways. "Students can join the Student Organization for Sustainability (SOS), turn off lights, purchase environmentally friendly products, or create their own Green Team to create an innovative solution to a sustainability-related challenge," he said.

"SIUE is nationally recognized for its accomplishments in sustainability, including its STAR Silver rating, the creation of the Mississippi Project and its work with students," said SIUE Sustainability Officer Kevin Adkins. In the past five years, SIUE has attained the following sustainability hallmarks:

-- The creation of SOS to promote sustainability awareness and educate the campus about solutions for environmental problems

-- Established the Sustainability Advisory Group (SAG), which consists of faculty, staff and students to provide a forum for open exchange of sustainability information, and identify collaboration opportunities that promote sustainable practices in University activities

-- Parking lot lighting converted to LED light fixtures

-- A 30-kilowatt solar array installed on top of the new Science Building

-- Increased the amount of electricity purchased from renewable sources to 50 percent

-- Distributed more than 10,000 re-usable water bottles to incoming freshmen

-- Installed water bottle re-fill stations in academic and administrative buildings

-- Established the Bike Share program

-- SIUE received a silver rating through the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a self-reporting tool for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.

-- The completion of a three-year pilot sustainability fellowship with Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies.

-- Retro-Commissioning projects for a large number of buildings to improve their energy efficiency

-- U.S. Green Building Council certified seven of SIUE's buildings as leaders in energy and environmental design (LEED). SIUE is second in the region, only to Washington University in St. Louis, among university campuses in the number of LEED buildings. When all of SIUE's eligible buildings attain LEED certification, the University will tie for first in the state with the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

"A lot has been accomplished, but we're not finished yet," said Walker. "There are still a variety of creative ways to develop that will support an environment that enhances the educational experience for students."

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