Sustainability at Columbia
Sustainability at Columbia
Columbia College Chicago's Office of Campus Environment has worked diligently to create a more sustainable college campus.
Columbia College Chicago joined the Lt Governor's Illinois Sustainable University Compact. For more information go to the website Standing Up for Illinois (http://www.standingupforillinois.org/green/compact_cu.php).
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In 2005 Columbia, with a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation, replaced thousands of inefficient fluorescent lights in all academic buildings. This has significantly reduced energy usage.
Building engineering staff is retrofitting our HVAC systems to be more efficient. The 33 E. Congress and 600 S. Michigan buildings have been outfitted with new computerized management systems that save energy by creating a network of green classrooms. The heating and cooling will now be controlled by self-monitoring equipment with sensors and time-of-day scheduling that can be coordinated with class schedules.
Columbia has also installed motion sensors for lighting in newly renovated bathrooms and office suites as well as in many existing conference rooms, bathrooms, and some classrooms.
In the biggest move towards creating a greener campus, Columbia has purchased renewable energy certificates in an amount equal to 30% of its electrical energy from Community Energy (a Pennsylvania-based developer of wind energy). Columbia has entered into a 2-year contract that started in January 2007. In doing so, Columbia has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a member of the EPA's Green Power Leadership Club (http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/index.htm).
Columbia College participates in Earth Hour Chicago every March. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis.
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All renovation projects provide the highest level of environmentally sustainable design and products feasible within budget. All project architects are LEED-accredited professionals. The upcoming Media Production Center is also being designed as a green building. (Visit www.usgbc.com for information on what it means to be a LEED-certified facility).
Columbia has also installed motion sensor lights, faucet sensors, auto flush/low flow toilets, and hand driers in newly renovated bathrooms.
With the generous assistance of the Openlands Project, Columbia has installed a Native Garden at the northeast corner of 11th and Wabash. All the plants are native to our area and require much less watering. It is maintained by the Chicago Christian Industrial League.
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Columbia's administrative offices can recycle any of their old ink and toner cartridges. Theresa Kerr, the Associate Director of Administrative Services, handles the packing of materials and works with the mailroom staff to coordinate the collection of used items. To contact Theresa for information email her at tkerr@colum.edu or call ext 7245.
We also recycle computers on campus! Our IT Buyer, Georgene Cole has a partnership with Vintage Technologies, an electronics recycler. When your computer and its accompanying peripherals are at the end of their life, please contact Georgene at ext 8847 or email: gcole@colum.edu.
In 2006 the Columbia Recycling Program obtained a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). With that funding the Recycling Program outfitted the entire campus with new mixed recycling containers, posters, buttons, brochures, and (if you were lucky enough to get one) a Recycling Program T-shirt. Contact recycling@colum.edu to request containers or for answers to any related questions.
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Even our academic departments are going green.
In the fall 2007 semester, Columbia's Interior Architecture program introduced a MFA with a focus on recyclability in design, making Columbia among the first schools in the United States to reorient its academic architectural design training to include Cradle-to-Cradle techniques.
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Herman Miller furniture products are purchased for offices, classrooms and lounges across campus. Herman Miller is a company using economic, environmental, and social criteria, known as the "triple bottom line" of sustainability.
New carpet is either from Interface – a zero impact manufacturer – or other suppliers with products with high recycled content and low off-gassing.
Columbia's agreement with American Building Maintenance (ABM), the college's maintenance staff, mandates the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products. ABM uses ECOLAB brand green cleaning products and Georgia Pacific brand post consumer recycled content paper products in our washrooms.