Thursday, February 25, 2010

Community Consolidated School District 89 Makes Energy Efficiency Improvements



According to Superintendent John Perdue,

District 89 has recently completed $24.8 million in school facility renovations over the last two
summers. Many of the improvements encompassed energy efficiencies. Below is a list of energy efficiency improvements accomplished with these renovations:
• Replaced existing window systems at Glen Crest, Park View, and Westfield schools with new energy efficient window systems containing low-E glass.
• Increased the roof insulation thickness at all schools, which doubled the R value of the roof systems.
• Replaced black tar roofs at Park View and Briar Glen with highly reflected white membrane roof system to minimize heat gain.
• Replaced existing exterior light fixtures with new compact florescent exterior light fixtures District wide.
• Replaced existing interior light fixtures with new energy efficient interior light fixtures in most schools.
• Replaced high-bay gymnasium light fixtures with energy efficient fluorescent fixtures District wide.
• Installed long lasting LED light fixtures at specific locations.
• Installed building automation system, which gives the District the ability to turn off mechanical equipment and lights when building is unoccupied.
• Installed occupancy sensors in all rooms that turn off lights and mechanical equipment automatically when room is not in use.

This is the kind of improvements that Cool Cities promotes.
Photo by District 89.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sierra Club Program in Glen Ellyn

February 15, 2010 (Monday) 7:00 PM – Chill the Drills, Oil Development and Climate Change in America’s Arctic

Presented by Kit McGurn
Glen Ellyn Public Library
400 Duane St., Meeting Rooms A & B
Glen Ellyn, IL
Free and Open to the Public

The Arctic ecosystem on the North Slope of Alaska represents a microcosm of the realities that society at large faces with regard to fossil fuel dependency, climate change and the importance of protecting our last wild and pristine places. Come learn what is being done to protect this iconic American landscape and what you can do to help!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Energy Star rebates now available in Illinois

You can now purchase Energy Star appliances and obtain a rebates through the newly-launched Illinois Energy Star rebate program. During February, rebates are available through contractors for qualified water heaters, heating and cooling equipment. For the period of April 16-25, 2010, rebates are available for Energy Star dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers.

Energy Star appliances are available through two participating downtown Glen Ellyn businesses - Young's Appliances and Soukup's Hardware. They may not be on display at Soukup's, but you can order them for fast delivery. See http://www.soukupshardware.com/products.html
Young's focuses on the higher-end models. See http://youngsappliances.brandsource.com/default.aspx

Remember, to reduce your carbon footprint, you do not want to keep the old fridge! ComEd has a program for taking your clunker away for responsible disposal, and as long as funding lasts, it will pay you $25. For details see http://www.comed.com/sites/homesavings/pages/appliancerecycling.aspx

For more details on the rebate program, see
http://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Energy_Recycling/Energy+Star+Rebates/

There is so much talk of changing lightbulbs and other "easy to be green" hints, but for greater impact, start with household appliances and heating equipment.