Kane County may turn to green construction to save money
When Kane County officials discuss construction projects the county board may soon press them to view plans with a green eye in one socket and a dollars sign in the other.
The county board's Energy and Environmental Committee wants to develop a sustainability plan that marries environmentally friendly construction with potential long-term savings. The committee is hoping that sort of approach pays dividends when the county contemplates the expansion of the judicial center to accommodate additional judges later this year.
The idea of a sustainability plan piggybacks off similar efforts in Elgin. Elgin city staff recently told the county board committee they believe there are true savings buried in seemingly small decisions, such as determining the proper width of a road. Big money can be saved in narrowing roads from 42 feet to 36 feet in width. Cutting six feet off the width can still allow enough room for firetrucks while also having a beneficial impact to the environment and budgets in reduced paving, salt, plowing and stormwater utility costs, they said.
Elgin staff also said they've found a true market for environmentally friendly residential construction. Staff said a survey showed buyers are willing to pay up to 14 percent more for a home with less of an impact on Mother Nature. Most basic methods of "greening" a new home only add about 11 percent to building costs, creating an additional 3 percent profit, Elgin staff said.
Committee members expressed interest in learning more about geothermal heating and recycling education programs for county staff to implement at the workplace.
"Education can be a snowball, and all of a sudden it becomes a way of life," committee Chairman Tom Van Cleave said in hopes of recycling at the workplace resulting in recycling at home.
The timing of the sustainability plan matches up with deadline pressures the county has to spend all the federal stimulus money the county received last year to pursue green projects.