A Green Business Challenge By Linda F. Jarrett As part of RCGA’s “St. Louis Climate companies, says Eric Schneider, senior director of Public Policy Research and manager of the RCGA Green Business Challenge. The RCGA’s Green Business Challenge will have a web site, www.stlouisgreenchallenge.com where members can share information and strategies. Seminars will also be held in 2010 on specific scorecard subjects. In November, a recognition event will be held with awards given to successful participants. The Challenge is a program of the St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project, which seeks to lead the St. Louis region into a greenbelt economy home to green savings, green opportunities, and green talent. For more information on the RCGA’s St. Louis Green Business Challenge, contact Eric Schneider at (314) 444-1148 or eschneider@stlrcga.org n reducing environmental contaminants through waste water runoff; installing high-performance exterior walls and windows and zoned HVAC systems; connecting lighting circuits to photo sensors to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste, and the use of occupancy sensors; cradle-to-cradle lifecycle material carpet installation, which can be reused as carpet again after its initial use; and polished concrete flooring. Using regionally produced exterior materials reduced construction job site waste by 50 percent. Natural light reduces energy reliance. Translucent walls made from recycled milk jugs surround the computer lab in the basement. Recycled content is included in all concrete and steel used in the structure. Interior finishes are low VOC, plus the University purchased 95 percent recyclable furniture for offices, conference rooms, and classrooms. - The Environmental Resources Training Center just received a grant to install wind turbines and create a wetland/watershed waste treatment area for research and training. A planned $78.9 million science building is in the final design stages and will incorporate many green/sustainable features. Richard Walker, assistant vice chancellor to administration, said that the “goal is to design and construct so that we would qualify for Silver LEED certification.” A Sustainability Advisory Group, made up of faculty, staff and students, was formed in 2007 and meets monthly to assess programs on existing initiatives and discuss ideas for future efforts. The University signed the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, and SAG reviews progress. Southwestern  Illinois  College: Although SWIC has no LEED certified buildings, they are committed to green and sustainable projects. The green elements of the Sam Wolf Granite City Campus renovation project include: Installing energy efficient HVAC units; skylights to enhance natural lighting; lighting system controlled and adjusted depending on amount of natural light; motion sensors to turn off lights in all office areas; developing bioswales and native plants in the renovated parking lot. President Dr. Georgia Costello says much of the classroom curriculum is geared toward green. “Last year, SWIC became a part of the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network, a consortium of community colleges dedicated to the train- Prosperity Project” the RCGA has issued a challenge to area businesses. The RCGA’s Green Business Challenge, beginning in 2010, asks businesses to improve the sustainability of the region by reducing energy, waste and water usage. The very word “challenge” will, hopefully, invoke some friendly competition among competitors to see who can produce the most savings within their organization. Businesses will be given a scorecard on which to enter their achievements and generate baseline scores. The growth off the baseline will be how companies are measured and recognized. “This means if you haven’t done anything and you start at zero by, maybe, hiring a sustainability director, then you get points. If you are already LEED-certified, you have points, so it’s pretty balanced. It’s good for small and large health. “It won’t use any utilities whatsoever.” The college plans to recreate different biotic Missouri communities in the park by planting native plants, shrubs and trees with representation of the different environments in the state such as the oak forests, tall grass communities and prairies St.  Louis  Community  College: the Harrison Education Center When in the cut down on transportation costs. The school is within a quarter mile of two bus lines, and special parking is provided for carpooling. Bike racks, showers and changing rooms are provided for cyclists. Natural light and outside views make a pleasant classroom experience. “Studies have indicated if you have views to the outside with a lot of natural light, test scores are better,” says Ken Kempf, manager of engineering and design. Southern  Illinois  University  Edwardsville:  Besides following the USGBC’s guidelines for Silver LEED certification, the $16.6 million, 68,000-square-foot Student Success Center involved students throughout the building process to approve green features incorporated into the center. These features included lightcolored roofing material to absorb less heat in the summer time and lose less heat in the winter; positioning the green roof blocks to promote seasonal climate control, as well as the St. Louis Community College opens JeffVanderLou neighborhood this year, they hope to have Gold LEED certification, the first higher education facility in St. Louis City to receive this achievement. “Green” elements incorporated into the Center will include: controllability of lighting and thermal control systems, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, indoor chemical and pollutant source control, and use of recycled materials in the building’s construction. Most materials are coming from within a 500 mile radius to 32 . ST. LOUIS COMMERCE . january • February 2010