D200
Cafeteria renovation incorporates
multiple sustainable features
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The design for the new South Cafeteria/Student Resource Center and some portions of the existing building, which will be more heavily renovated as part of Project 1, incorporate the following sustainable and energy conservation features.
- High-performance building envelope for the new South Cafeteria/SRC, including a high solar reflectance roof designed to accommodate a photovoltaic solar panel array.
- A lighting system that uses less power than allowed by code. High efficiency and low power consuming LED light fixtures are tied to occupancy sensors to reduce energy consumption throughout the project. In the new South Cafeteria/SRC, D200 went even further in terms of reducing energy consumption. Per code, 0.88 watts per sq. ft. is the maximum output a school/university is allowed for interior lighting. The South Cafeteria/SRC's interior lighting design came in at 0.51 watts per sq. ft.
- Daylight harvesting near exterior walls works with a control system that turns down or turns off the LED light fixtures based on the amount of daylighting entering the space, further reducing energy consumption.
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Skylights located above the east end of the SRC directly over the learning stair and clerestory windows along the north and south walls will allow natural light to penetrate further into the 2nd and 3rd floors. The positive effects of daylighting are well studied and contribute to reducing absenteeism and higher test scores, among other essential benefits.
- A mechanical system that uses energy recovery wheels and controls tied to the Building Automation System reduces energy consumption and allows the facility operator to further reduce costs by running less equipment when there is lower demand.
- High-efficiency boilers and variable flow pumping reduce energy consumption
- Indoor air quality improved through higher Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating filters, the ability to utilize 100% outside air to improve ventilation, and the use of no- or low-VOC finish materials.
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures.
It is also worth noting that the design team worked with and continues to work with the ComEd and Nicor Energy Efficiency Program to earn the District rebates. The rebates are being provided in areas where the building addition and renovated areas are better than the baseline. Final totals on the rebates and the rebates themselves will be provided by ComEd and Nicor when they complete a final review once construction is complete.
PlanItGreen supported the renovation project by attending early meetings and bringing the ComEd New Construction and Major Renovation Program to the table. If your institution is planning a major renovation and would like to learn more about these programs, contact Gary Cuneen at gary@sevengenerationsahead.org.
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PlanItGreen Listening Tour Results Released
Last summer, the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation contracted the Center for Neighborhood and Technology to conduct a Listening Tour and Survey of the Foundation’s PlanItGreen program.
The key findings of the CNT report include:
- PlanItGreen is successful in providing educational opportunities to residents and as a network to encourage coordination and improve access to resources across local governments, religious organizations, and major educational institutions.
- Generally survey respondents and focus group participants believe PlanItGreen has influenced waste, food, greenery, green infrastructure, and clean energy issues the most. Although focus groups felt much more work was needed on clean energy.
- Renewable energy, waste reduction, water (clean water and flooding) were consistently identified as the highest priorities for environmental programming moving forward.
- There is a consensus that PlanItGreen will need to address racial equity in its work moving forward and that strategy and intention will be needed to increase engagement of people of color in the work of the program overall.
- There is also a consensus that the program should expand to include other communities, but focus group participants cautioned that this should begin with learning about and honoring work that is already being done, building trust with the leaders of that work, and asking them how PlanItGreen can support their goals if at all.
- A majority of focus groups and survey respondents felt that a new climate action plan is needed, but a majority of survey respondents felt that it should be adopted by Village governments or the County with all other local institutions supporting plan development.
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COMMUNITY SOLAR
Trajectory
and SGA partner
on outreach and webinars
Seven Generations Ahead continues to partner with Trajectory Solar on outreach and co-hosting webinars for ComEd residential and non-residential customers interested in community solar subscriptions in the coming months in 2021. So far, the partnership with Trajectory Solar has resulted in 37 community solar subscriptions, with three that are pending. The 37 subscriptions total 183.5 kilowatts (kW) of capacity.
SGA will also work with larger for-profit, nonprofit and public sector non-residential customers in procuring community solar on a competitive basis. In 2021, plans call for an average of a webinar every month with Trajectory, including live and recorded visits to community solar installations.
Community solar subscribers contribute to the increase of solar power onto the grid. As the state’s energy grid fills up with more solar, the demand for fossil fuels will decrease, reducing greenhouse gases.
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It's Our Future plans candidate forum on sustainability issues |
It's Our Future will host a forum 7-8 p.m. on Feb. 23 for candidates running for Oak Park village president and trustee seats. The forum will focus on sustainability concerns among local youth.
Organizers are members of the climate action group started in 2019 that prepares young people to advocate for a more sustainable future.
The forum format will include comprehensive platform statements and then specific questions that the youth will ask each candidate, with time allotments to answer. The program is open to youth and adults.
Manolo Avalos, a member of It’s Our Future and an OPRF freshman, said questions they are looking to ask candidates include: What do you plan to do to increase participation in recycling and waste reduction programs? What can be done to increase environmental education?
Although Manolo himself isn’t old enough to vote, he still thinks it’s important for youth to ask questions of the candidates. “If we ask good questions, I think [the candidates] will think about what’s on our minds,” he says.
Oak Park's municipal election takes place on April 6. Early voting starts on March 22.
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Green Community Connections adopts
a new name as OEFF begins 10th year
GCC Midwest Inc., parent organization of the 10-year-old One Earth Film Festival recently announced its new name is now One Earth Collective. Along with the name change, the Oak Park-based organization introduced a new logo and digital home at www.oneearthcollective.org.
One Earth Collective has three program areas: One Earth Film Festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary season in 2021; One Earth Youth Voices, which focuses on programs for youth ages 8-25; and One Earth Local/Green Community Connections, which focuses on local sustainability programs in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois.
This year's One Earth Film Festival, which will be completely virtual runs March 5-14.
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ZERO WASTE EDUCATION
School cafeterias reimagined:
The case for reusable foodware
3-4:15 p.m. CST
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Join Seven Generations Ahead to learn how K-12 school districts can reap the benefits of transitioning to reusable foodware. School nutrition professionals from two urban districts will share how they’ve prioritized reusables and what motivated this change. Hear about the impacts on staffing, waste levels, and costs after they made the transition to using dishwashers, bulk milk dispensers, and durable trays, dishes and utensils.
Also learn about the health and environmental impacts associated with toxins
commonly found in single-use foodware, as well as the safety of reusables
during COVID and ways to minimize disposable packaging for classroom meals and
curbside meal distribution.
Speakers:
- Sue Chiang, Pollution, Prevention Director, Center for Environmental Health
- Diane Grodek, Executive Chef, Austin Independent School District
- Eliza Pessereau, Minnesota GreenCorps Waste Reduction Member, Minneapolis Public Schools, Culinary & Wellness Services
A Q&A will follow the presentations.
This webinar is for school nutrition staff, administrators, procurement, sustainability, facilities and operations staff. Teachers, parents and students are also welcome.
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Help us continue our work to build healthy sustainable communities! |
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PlanItGreen is a project of the OPRF Community Foundation, facilitated by Seven Generations Ahead, which engages multiple community institutions, and is guided by the OPRF Community Foundation's Communityworks Advisory Board and the PlanItGreen Core Team.
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the achievement of community aspirations.
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