F&S is excited to announce its collegiate membership in the Green Sports Alliance (GSA) to further promote sustainable projects and environmental stewardship.
The GSA shares resources, experience, and expertise to raise awareness of what’s environmentally possible in sports, business, and society.
The Urbana campus, featured in the most recent GSA member spotlight, has successfully implemented numerous sustainable practices, construction projects, and operational initiatives as a part of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP). The iCAP is the university’s strategic plan to meet the Climate Leadership Commitments, including achieving carbon neutrality as soon as possible and building resilience to climate change in the local community.
iCAP goals are accomplished thanks to the ongoing efforts of students, faculty, and staff through centralized programs, academic collaboration, asset and infrastructure renewal, and occupant action. Energy, waste, transportation, and land and water goals are supported by the university’s commitment to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building certification. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Building received LEED Platinum certification, bringing the LEED certified square footage on campus up to 10 percent of the campus total. Additionally, the campus installed two utility-scale clean energy solar farms and presently receives approximately 12 percent of its annual electricity from renewable sources.
Illinois is continuously striving towards decreased water consumption and zero-waste goals and has installed Grind2Energy’s food digester systems in three residence halls. These systems decrease food landfill waste and generate fuel for electricity.
LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.