What does it mean to be sustainable?

Our campus is sustainable because it is environmentally healthy, economically sufficient and socially inclusive. Breaking up the word "sustainability" into these three parts (environmental, economic and social) helps us adequately define sustainability on our campus. Check out a few examples below.

Sustainability Campus Events for the Community

  • Earth Month 2019

    Monday, April 1, 5 p.m.
    JJC Theater
    Documentary and Discussion: The True Cost
    Screening at 6 p.m. with light refreshments at 5 p.m.

    Wednesday, April 3 , 10 a.m.
    Walk & Talk: Arboretum Tour, led by Fredric Miller
    Meet at the Greenhouse

    Friday, April 5, 7:30 a.m.
    U-Building Auditorium
    Greenest Region Compact Event
    Will County Regional Sustainability Network

    Sunday, April 7, 8 a.m. to noon 
    Restoration Work Day
    Will County Forest Preserve & Natural Sciences Club

    Sunday, April 7, 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    White Oak Library (Lockport)
    Life with Less Plastic: Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (C.A.R.E.)

Environmental Sustainability at JJC

Environmental sustainability is about not depleting our vital natural resources faster than they are renewed to ensure that people and other species live well now and in the future. You can:

  • Get priority parking

    JJC offers priority parking spaces for hybrid and low emission vehicles. See a map of those designated parking spaces here. 

    Have a hybrid or low emissions vehicle and want to park in one of our spaces? Fill out an application for a parking pass here.

    Check if your car qualifies for priority parking.

    Have an electric car? Electric vehicle drivers can park and power up at the same time with JJC's ChargePoint Electric Car Charging Stations. The ChargePoint Electric Car Charging Stations are in East Lot 2.

    electric car charging station joliet junior college jjc

     

  • Take a class

    Learn in our environmentally friendly (LEED certified) buildings or take a class online. Providing quality education while using the least amount of resources is one of our sustainable priorities.

    Learn more about our facilities and online class offerings.

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    See a list of sustainability courses on the Get Involved page.

  • Walk or bike the trails

    Explore the self-guided prairie and forest trails on Main Campus! The college has 2.75 miles of paved trail and two miles of unpaved nature trails. The paved trail is part of the Rock Run Trail. The Rock Run Trail connects to the 61-mile I&M Canal Trail.

    There are many landmarks along these trails, such as a limestone wall that was built by Confederate Civil War prisoners. Also, there are granite boulders brought down from the north by a glacier 12,000 years ago.

    View a map of our forest and prairie trails

  • Recycle

    JJC offers recycling for:

    • Paper
    • Bottles and bottle caps (only fall and spring semesters)
    • Cans
    • Tires and motor oil
    • Organic waste
    • Toners and ink cartridges
    • Pens and markers (only fall and spring semesters)
      • JJC recycles expired pens and markers to the company, Terracycle. Terracycle rewards its contributors using a point system that equals donations to three charitable organizations: Charity: Water, Carbon Fund, and Eco Schools USA. 

    Learn more by calling Facilities at extensions x2553 or x2332.

Economic Sustainability at JJC

Economic sustainability is about the economic climate evolving to meet the needs of the people by being efficient, responsible, and dependable for the long term. You can:

Social Sustainability at JJC

Social sustainability is about education, diversity, tolerance, inclusion, empathy, and equity achieved by a strong civil society and a developed sense of community. You can: