Press Release - Friday, April 28, 2006
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U. of I. College of Business breaks ground on a new state-of-the-art green building!
CHAMPAIGN - Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn saluted the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for leading the way toward energy-efficient and environmentally responsible college and university campuses.
Quinn joined university leaders and state legislators for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on the new Business Instructional Facility - a green building that will set a new benchmark for sustainable academic facilities in the United States.
"This building will set an example of the way a campus community can unite to create a more healthful place to live, work and learn," Quinn said. "We need to encourage everyone to follow the lead of the University of Illinois and invest in clean All-American energy to help the environment and boost our economy."
The new Business Instructional Facility will combine environmental design principles with innovative, high-performance building systems. Rooftop gardens will reduce storm water runoff, energy-efficient ventilation systems will conserve energy, and solar panels will supply about 7 percent of the building's electrical needs. The university received a $186,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to help fund the solar panels.
The building is expected to consume about 75 percent less energy than older campus buildings and 40 percent less energy than newer campus buildings designed to be more energy efficient.
"U. of I. once again sets the bar high," Quinn said. "Students, staff and faculty have continually shown a commitment to the environment and a desire to implement innovative and sustainable energy practices."
U. of I. certainly has a history of sustainability. In March 2003, students voted to impose a $2 Clean Energy Fee that generates about $70,000 per semester and supports the use of energy-efficient technologies on campus. The Students for Environmental Concern and the Illinois Student Senate teamed up to promote the Clean Energy Fee.
In addition, the university revised its facilities standards so that all new construction projects will achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is chairman of the Illinois Green Government Council, which works with state agencies to develop policies that reduce pollution, incorporate conservation, and promote green policies into state government operations.
For more information and tips about how to conserve energy, visit www.BlackoutSolutions.org.
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