Elmhurst College gets 'green' grant for solar panels

Elmhurst College is going green.

The college has received a grant of $48,300 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help bring green building and sustainable design to its campus.

The grant, obtained through the state department's Renewable Energy Resources Solar Thermal Energy Grant Program, will help the school install solar panels on West Hall, a student dormitory. The project is expected to be complete next year.

The solar panels will make a significant and positive impact on the college's energy costs, said Bruce Mather, executive director for facilities management. When the project is complete, about 40 to 50 percent of the dorm's water will be heated by solar panels.

The college is pursuing a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design certification for West Hall, a rigorous process that provides standards for energy-efficient building and allows for federal and state building incentives.

Other plans for West Hall include a permeable parking lot that will reduce rain water runoff and several self-sustaining rain gardens that will grow native prairie and woodland plants.

For more information, visit www.elmhurst.edu.