JJC Makes Year Round Commitment to Sustainability

April is Earth Month, but Joliet Junior College is committed to improving the sustainability of campus year round. With the establishment of the Sustainability Committee in 2008 and the Student Sustainability Union in 2011, JJC has taken many steps to make the college more eco-friendly. 

"The Student Sustainability Union is an important component in this commitment—bringing sustainability ideas from JJC’s students to the college,” Lisa Perkins, faculty adviser for the Student Sustainability Union, said. 

The college has 66 parking spaces on the Main Campus for low emissions and hybrid vehicles and 14 at the Romeoville Campus. There are also two ChargePoint Electric Car Charging Stations on Main Campus and two at the Romeoville Campus. A map of the parking spots’ locations can be found on JJC’s website. 

To use the spots, you must be a JJC student, faculty or staff member and your vehicle must be a hybrid, electric vehicle or meet the LEED definition of a Low Emissions Vehicle to park in the designated spaces. You can find the application online. 

LEED means Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the most widely used green building rating system in the world. JJC currently has six LEED certified buildings on campus and three that are pending certification. A list of all JJC LEED certified buildings and their features is on the JJC website.

In addition to having LEED certification around campus, JJC offers recycling for many materials. Paper, bottles and cans can be placed in the recycling bins around campus. The college also collects tires, motor oil, toners, ink cartridges, pens and markers. To find out how to recycle these items contact Facility Services at (815) 280-2330. 

One sustainable project the college took on was to collect plastic bottle caps to make a park bench. Two park benches made from recycled plastic bottle caps were placed outside of the Early Childhood Center this month. The campus community collected over 800 pounds of old bottle caps to be made into these benches. 

On April 26, the Student Sustainability Union intends to plant trees near the Cronin Schoolhouse in honor of Arbor Day.

 Perkins says that JJC is not only committed to environmental sustainability, but economic and social sustainability as well. 

“JJC is committed to sustainability through an institutional culture that is environmentally healthy, economically sufficient and socially inclusive,” she said.  

For media inquiries contact Scott Harvey, communications and media coordinator, at 815-280-2844 or sharvey@jjc.edu.