Sustainability

On June 12, 2012, Heartland's 1.65MW Vestas turbine began generating energy for the Normal campus.  

Powering the Campus and Education

Our wind turbine generates around 60% of the electricity on campus.

It also helps prepare students for employment in the growing green economy and providing them with a better understanding of renewable energy production and energy efficiency is an important part of the overall purpose of the turbine. Funded through a grant from the Illinois Green Economy Network, we offered multiple Wind Tower Competent Climber and Rescue Trainings and we continue to offer wind energy classes as part of the REEC (Renewable Energy & Environmental Careers) program.

Turbine Fast Facts

• The Heartland Community College Board of Trustees adopted the vision of a wind turbine in 2006. View the complete timeline (PDF) of the turbine project from vision adoption to installation completion.
• It would take 11 school buses stacked end-to-end to measure up to the 390 foot turbine.
• The ladder inside the turbine is attached by powerful magnets.
• Approximately 80% of the turbine can be recycled.
• The blades can reach speeds up to 138 miles per hour.  They pitch inward or outward to harvest as much wind energy as possible.
• More Fun Facts (PDF)

Did you know 27% of what people put in the garbage can be recycled?

Recycling conserves natural resources, saves energy, creates jobs, and keeps garbage disposal fees low. Recycling helps our community!

Heartland offers a variety of ways for people to help reduce waste on campus:

• Printer cartridge and battery recycling
• Double-sided printing defaults
• Electronic recycling

Single Stream Recycling

What is single stream recycling? It means no more sorting! All standard recyclables go in the same blue bin. Heartland implemented single stream recycling in April 2013.

Here’s what you can recycle in any blue bin on campus:

Here’s what you cannot recycle in blue bins:

• Greasy/soiled paper items (e.g., pizza boxes with grease stains, paper towels used to clean up a mess)
• Plastic shopping bags (please drop off at a local grocery store for proper recycling)
• #6 Plastic
• Styrofoam

We are proud to have multiple Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings on our campus.

Heartland strives to use energy, water, and material resources efficiently to minimize our negative impact on the environment utilizing thoughtful building siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, waste removal and conservation of our green space.  

Campus Facilities

The College uses a wide range of green practices to maintain and operate its facilities.  

Construction

• WDC is the first state funded building in Illinois to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification

• Instructional Commons North, Receiving and Storage Building, Child Development Lab, Fitness and Recreation Center, and Astroth Community Education Center built in accordance to LEED standards

• Normal Readiness Center (Illinois National Guard) LEED Gold certified

• Agriculture Complex designed as a Net Zero building 

Engergy Conservation

• Building automation systems increase building heating, cooling and lighting efficiency

• Occupancy sensors turn off overhead lights when the room is not in use

• Energy efficient T8, T5, and LED lighting, with an ongoing effort to change all campus lighting to smart LED fixtures

• Interior exit signs are powered by LED lights

• Double door entry vestibules that reduce loss of conditioned air

• Desktop virtualization uses mix of thin clients and low power PCs, which draw 10 to 15 watts each, compared to 50 to 200 watts for conventional PCs

• CRT monitors have been replaced campus wide by lower power LCD displays, which use roughly half as much power

• Photography lab is equipped with an on-demand hot water heater to reduce energy demands

• Thermal recovery system is employed in the HVAC system in the WDC, CDL, AGC and ACEC

• Natural day lighting in all buildings reduces reliance on overhead lighting

• Crosswalk signs are solar powered

• Ground-facing outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution

Renewable Energy

• 1.65MW Wind Turbine

• Geothermal heating and cooling at the Workforce Development Center, Child Development Lab and Normal Readiness Center

Water Conservation

• A rainwater collection system that drains into Birky Pond

• Bathrooms are equipped with low-flow toilets that use 1.6 gallons per flush and urinals that use 1.0 gallons per flush

• Restroom sinks are equipped with aerators that use 0.5 gallons per minute

• Low maintenance landscaping for efficient water use

• Prairie and Wetland areas serve as effective natural systems for conserving water and improving water quality

Green Cleaning

• Adopted campus-wide green cleaning practices in 2007

Green Space

Before we broke ground on the Normal campus, we worked with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to develop a habitat plan to inform and guide future grounds management. 

Features of the 256 Acre campus include: 

• Restored prairie and two miles of trails – COUNTRY Financial Trail

• Native trees

• Birky Pond (13 acre stocked pond available for fishing)

• Adjacent wetlands that help naturally filter storm water run-off from campus before it enters the Sugar Creek waterway  

• Grass clipping are left on the grounds to allow for nutrient recycling.

• Integrated pest management practices reduce broadcast pesticide application

For more information about Heartland’s green space, please contact HCC Facilities at (309) 268-8450 or email Amanda.Jones@heartland.edu.