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

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Georgia State University Opens New Research Tower

    Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, nine-story, 155,000-square-foot Research Tower, according to university news. Amenities include academic classrooms, a large lecture space, teaching labs, faculty research space, and the uppermost floors reserved for future expansion.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.