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

  • A digital silhouette works at a computer, immersed in a glowing, interconnected world

    How Will AI Transform Learning Space Design?

    For years, higher education has designed learning spaces around technology as a tool for display, capture, collaboration, and connectivity. AI changes that equation.

  • Colorado School District Breaks Ground on Unified PK–12 Campus

    The Haxtun School District No. Re-2J in Haxtun, Colo., recently announced that ground has been broken on a renovation/addition project that will unite its two schools, Haxtun Elementary and Haxtun Jr/Sr High School, according to a news release.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.