Illinois Governor Quinn Joins with University of Illinois Community to Celebrate Signing of the Sustainable University Compact

Compact Outlines 12 Environmental Goals for Universities and Community Colleges to Green their Campuses

CHICAGO –February 18, 2009. On Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Business Institutional Facility, Governor Pat Quinn joined the University of Illinois President, Chancellor and Trustee Chairman to celebrate the signing of the Sustainable University Compact by all three University of Illinois campuses to green their campuses.

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“It is important that we implement a green way of thinking and acting to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Governor Quinn. “I thank the University of Illinois for joining the Sustainable University Compact and helping to green our state.”

The Illinois Sustainable University Compact sets out 12 achievable, environmental objectives including purchasing renewable energy; implementing green building practices, developing sustainable transportation options, improving water conservation, and incorporating sustainable dining practices. Since Governor Quinn created the Compact in 2006 as part of his role as Chairman of the Green Governments Coordinating Council, 65 colleges and university have signed on.

In response to the success of the Sustainable University Compact, Governor Quinn created the Illinois Sustainable Schools Compact in 2008 to feature the best practices that K-12 schools can voluntarily pursue to help lead the way to a greener future. On February 27, Governor Quinn will host the 2009 Sustainable Schools Symposium.

After the press conference, Governor Quinn toured the Business Instructional Facility, a new forward-looking building with sustainable design elements that sets new green standards for future university buildings.

Governor Quinn was joined by Richard Herman, Chancellor of University of Illinois; B. Joseph White, President of University of Illinois; Niranjan Shah, Chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees; Larry DeBrock, Interim Dean of the University of Illinois College of Business; and Avijit Ghosh, Vice President for Technology and Economic Development at the University of Illinois.

Source: Illinois Governor