911ÖÆÆ·³§

With more than 1.2 million square feet and 65 acres, 911ÖÆÆ·³§ is comparable to a small city. Thousands of people are in the building each school day, adding to the complexity of our environmental stewardship. 911ÖÆÆ·³§ has practiced environmentally responsible operating procedures for decades, and continues to work to make a positive impact on environmental issues.

Facilities

Energy Conservation 

• Using primarily steam/water for heating and cooling
• Natural gas and steam in the energy plant
• Kitchen steamers to prepare thousands of meals every day
• Conserving power during off-peak hours
• Using self-sustained generators to take 911ÖÆÆ·³§ off of ComEd electrical grid during peak hours
• Installing LED lighting in hallways and classrooms; switching to LED when lighting is replaced
• Installing exterior LED lighting in parking lots
• Dimming lights in hallways during class time
• Using motion-activated lighting in many rooms and in vending machines
• Installing energy-efficient roofing when new
• Installing energy-efficient windows and doors when new
• Using energy-efficient appliances
• Using a building automation system to control fans, heating, and air conditioning
• Using solar panels at Transition House/Nature Center, FACS roof, and the building & grounds garage
• Closing certain wings of the school during the summer so that lights and air conditioning are turned off in those areas
• Closing the school building on certain Fridays during the summer

Water efficiency

• Using reclaimed rainwater on athletic fields for irrigation
• Installing a reclaimed water garden at Lake Street Tennis Center
• Installing water fountains with bottle fillers to encourage reusable water bottles
• Installing water-efficient dishwashers in the kitchen
• Installing motion-activated faucets
• Using low-flow sink faucets in restrooms
• Using sensor-activated toilet flushers
• Using timers on all pool and locker room showers

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Eco-friendly

• Using non-disposable lunch trays that are washed and reused in student cafeterias
• Eliminated single-use containers in the Terrace (staff cafeteria) and replaced them with reusable dinnerware, flatware, and takeaway containers
• Eliminated single-use milk cartons in student cafeterias and replaced them with bulk milk dispensers and reusable cups
• Composting food waste in the 911ÖÆÆ·³§ kitchen
• Separating waste for recycling and composting in 911ÖÆÆ·³§ cafeterias
• Using green seal cleaning products (80%)
• Using green and environmentally friendly pest control plans and products
• Using “clean” refrigerant for AC units and appliances
• Purchasing refurbished furniture for some 911ÖÆÆ·³§ offices
• Supplying vending machines with canned water and sodas instead of plastic bottles
• Reducing single-use plastics
• Using biosolids to fertilize athletic fields
• Purchasing plastic garbage bins made from 75% recycled materials
• Installing more bike racks at 911ÖÆÆ·³§ to support bicycle transportation
• Recycling of IIT electronic equipment
• Repurposing of electronic equipment via donations
• Conducting annual food waste audits in cafeterias to identify potential expansion opportunities 
• Reducing printing and paper waste through Google Classroom, the school-wide online Learning Management System.

Partnerships and Additional Projects

911ÖÆÆ·³§ District 202 works with the entire community to support sustainability efforts. For capital projects, the District works with architects to ensure that projects include natural lighting, energy-rated windows, automated systems, and water/energy savings wherever possible. In addition, 911ÖÆÆ·³§ events and building rentals are also strategically planned to efficiently use building resources and utilities.

City of Evanston 

911ÖÆÆ·³§ and City of Evanston staff meet regularly to discuss sustainability issues. Partnerships with the City include environmental benchmarking and recycling. 911ÖÆÆ·³§ also hosts an annual recycling event with the City each summer.  

More information about the City’s sustainability efforts can be found at . 

Organizations and Initiatives

• Compost pickup by local Collective Resource (food waste)
• Energy Team Charter signed with CLEAResult
• Rebate program with supplier for LED purchases, resulting in savings of tens of thousands of dollars
• In addition to being more environmentally friendly, the LEDs cost less to operate and the ballasts last longer. This means less waste and lower replacement costs in the long-term.
• The 911ÖÆÆ·³§ engineering staff replaces the lights and ballasts so that there are no outside labor costs.
• Siemens automation control system (on site and remote control of fans and temperatures throughout the building) 
• Strategic Energy Management Program (911ÖÆÆ·³§ joined in partnership with CLEAResult, sponsored by NICOR and ComEd)
• The Talking Farm (Edible Acre and the Edible Orchard provide healthy foods served at 911ÖÆÆ·³§) 

Curriculum

• The Geometry in Construction classes build Wildkit houses with green standard materials
• Urban Agriculture class in the renovated 911ÖÆÆ·³§ greenhouse
• REEL lab for environmental science class
• Farm to School program (911ÖÆÆ·³§ yields produce from three garden spaces)
• Courses in the Nature Center (wildlife habitat, protecting native species plants)