Grant will pay to make one suburban school 'green'

SPRINGFIELD - One suburban school will be getting a green makeover, courtesy of the U.S. Green Building Council's Chicago Chapter.

The council, which has joined Gov. Pat Quinn in urging schools to implement sustainable and green building to save money and the environment, will retrofit three schools in Illinois - one each in Chicago, the suburbs and downstate - to make them sustainable buildings.

The council is now taking applications from schools online at www.usgbc-chicago.org. Applications are due Friday, May 8.

"It is important for schools and school districts to make sustainability a guiding principle for building operations, maintenance, grounds and classroom activities," Quinn said at the Tarkington School of Excellence in Chicago. "I want to thank the U.S. Green Building Council for making a commitment here in Illinois to help green our state."

The schools will be made energy efficient and have water conservation capabilities and will be certified under the council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for sustainable building.

Retrofitted schools will save an estimated $100,000 per year, the council says.

"Moving from conventional schools to green schools is one of the best investments we can make," said Gail Vittori, USGBC board chair. "Green schools can help improve student learning and health, and they have the potential to save taxpayers and schools billions of dollars in energy costs."

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 40 percent of energy consumption, the council reported.