Greenville University Honored for Achievements in Sustainability

GREENVILLE, IL – Greenville University (G.U.) was among 27 organizations to receive the Illinois Sustainability Award for 2018. The announcement came Tuesday, October 23, at the Union League Club in Chicago. G.U.'s Director of Facilities Mark Owens received the award.

Winners were cited for significant achievements in protecting the environment, helping sustain the future, and improving the economy. The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) administers the award program.

Turn on the (Energy-Efficient) Lights and Invest Savings
Greenville University’s submission, “The Revolving Green Action Project,” documented a two-phase process:

One: Reduce energy consumption by replacing lighting in H.J. Long Gymnasium and the Crum Recreation Center with energy efficient LED lighting. The replacement translated into $10,619 annual savings.

Two: Reinvest the $10,619 savings into future green projects.

The award places Greenville University in an elite group of leaders committed to reducing environmental impact.

Model Program Can Be Replicated
“Every year, a group of champions represents the highest models of sustainable commerce, resource use, and governance—the winners of the Illinois Sustainability Awards,” said the ISTC in a press release. The G.U. model of saving and reinvestment can be replicated in other industries. Investing in an energy efficient infrastructure is part of G.U.’s five-year strategic plan.

Greenville University is an accredited Christian liberal arts university with more than 1,200 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the University is located in Greenville, IL, 45 miles east of St. Louis, MO. For more information, visit www.greenville.edu.

Featured

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.