Green soon to be the rule in McHenry County
From the way it builds multimillion-dollar facilities to how it cleans its buildings and buys its light bulbs, McHenry County is going green.
The county board's management services committee on Tuesday unanimously approved the McHenry County Green Building Policy, a three-page document that will help county leaders make environmentally friendly planning and purchasing decisions.
"It's really just the right thing to do," Director of Facilities Management John Hadley said. "We're being good stewards of our environment."
The measure is expected to go to the full county board next week for final approval.
The policy is the result of about five months' work by a special committee called the Green Team that included Hadley, County Administrator Peter Austin, Purchasing Director Catherine Link and other officials.
It states that the county's policy is to finance, plan, construct, manage and renovate its facilities in a manner that saves energy, conserves materials, safeguards water and embraces indoor environmental quality.
That includes buying energy-saving light bulbs, installing high-efficiency heating and cooling systems and using recycled materials when possible.
Besides saving the environment, county officials said they believe the policy also will save them money.
"Some things might cost more at first, but over the long haul just based on energy efficiency it's going to pay us back compared to a regularly designed building," Hadley said.
As part of the county's green efforts, Hadley's department next month will begin taking part in a six-month trial program in which it will use soy-based cleaning products in the county administration building.
"With or without this policy, this is something we feel it's important to do," he said.
Officials said they hope their efforts set an example for other government agencies and organizations in McHenry County.
"We can be a leader to show others that it can be done at enterprises like this," management services committee Chairwoman Tina Hill said.