Eastern Illinois University prides itself on its efforts to be a green campus.

“Our energy conservation is the best in the state, and compared to other campuses our size, we’re on of the best in the entire country,” Gary Reed is quoted saying on the Green Eastern Web site, www.eiu.edu/green. Reed is the director of Eastern Facilities Planning and Management.

The Campus Energy and Sustainability Committee was formed under former President Lou Hencken with the goal of lessening Eastern’s carbon footprint.

“This is to expand the sustainability across the campus as a whole,” said Ryan Siegel, the campus energy and sustainability coordinator.

In 2006, building service workers started using environmentally friendly cleaning products across campus. Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles were also purchased that year as school cars.

In 2007, almost one-third of on-campus waste was diverted through recycling. This equals more than 1 million pounds of paper, number one plastic and aluminum waste. The recycling initiative was established in 1992.

The committee is currently looking to expand its efforts and recruit new members.

“The goals are to reach out more to the academic community as well as the rest of the community in bringing more sustainability to the community and county as a whole,” Siegel said.

The committee is seeking new members who are interested in increasing sustainability throughout the Coles County community. Interested parties can contact Siegel at 581-8395 or rwsiegel@eiu.edu.

The program has already met with some success. Among its recognitions is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s College/University Partner of the Year award, one of 10 in the country, for the comprehensive waste reduction program in 2006.

From 1999 to 2007, the installation of new toilets, washing machines and showerheads reduced the campus water consumption by nearly half.

Future goals for the committee include producing bio-diesel from the dining centers’ waste oil for use by the grounds fleet. New windows, updates to the chilled water system and the Renewable Energy Center are also part of the committee’s iniatives in making a greener Eastern.

Sarah Ruholl can be reached at seruholl2@eiu.edu or 581-6003.