Eastern Illinois University Sustainability - News & Media

Recent News

Renewable Energy Center - Grand Opening

The grand opening of the Renewable Energy Center is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. More details are available here!

EIU Earns Tree Campus USA Status

Eastern Illinois University is proud to have attained Tree Campus USA status for 2010. It is one of 116 American colleges and universities to be recognized via this partnership of Toyota and the Arbor Day Foundation, and one of 12 Illinois institutions to make the latest list.

Tree Campus USA recognizes college and university campuses engaged in effective management of their campus trees as well as development of connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy, urban forests. Recognized institutions also strive to engage their student population in these efforts by utilizing service learning opportunities centered on campus and community forestry efforts.

Awards

Our efforts have won many awards, including:

• Tree Campus USA 2010 — National Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota (2011)
• Outstanding College and University Recycling Program award from the Illinois Recycling Association (2009)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's College/University Partner of the Year award (one of 10) for comprehensive waste reduction program (2006)
• ASHRAE Regional Technology Award, First Place for Institutional Buildings - Existing, Region VI, (2002-2003)
• Efficient Building Awards from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity State Building Energy Program (1997, 1999, 2002)

Media Coverage

Our energy-saving accomplishments have been reported in several publications. Here's a sampling:

• Forbes, “Picking a Renewable Energy Path" (June 2008)
• College Planning and Management, “Battling Utility Costs” (October 2002)
• 2003 Illinois Energy Success Stories, by Safe Energy Community Council (Department of Energy-sponsored publication)
• Charleston Times-Courier, for national recognition of EIU lighting upgrades (Feb. 27, 2003)
• Association of Energy Engineers online article (March 2003)
• DCEO Report to 93rd General Assembly of the State of Illinois, “A Report on Energy Costs and Energy Efficiency at Illinois Public Universities," about EIU have the lowest energy cost among all public universities (December 2003)
• Distributed Energy, “How a University Changed Some Light Bulbs and Saved a Bundle" (January/February 2004)
• American School and University (May 2004, December 2005)
• College Planning and Management, “Making Tight Facilities Budgets Perform" (March 2005)
• Today’s Facility Manager, “Energy Performance Contracts Address Deferred Maintenance" (November 2005)
• Spirotherm Inc., company brochure “Spirotism" (2005)
• Engineered Systems Magazine, article on Spirotherm equipment applications at EIU (May 2005, January 2006)