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

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.