Energy Efficiency

Avenues to Independence identified energy saving opportunities at their Contract Packaging operation, a 48,000 sq.ft work center located in Wheeling. The center provides on-site job training for individuals with developmental disabilities enabling them to live and work in their communities. Energy saving opportunities were identified by IFF, who with a Foundation grant launched Energy Performance Program (E2P) that supports efforts to identify energy savings in non-profit owned buildings. Avenues estimates saving $13,000 a year in utility costs - money they will invest back into programs to serve their clients.

Avenues received a loan from IFF to finance implementation of energy cost reduction measures, including:

• Lighting with estimated annual savings of $4,700
• HVAC replacement with estimated annual savings of $2,800
• Envelope improvements including air curtains on the main door, Inflatable dock seals, additional roof insulation and a high albedo roof membrane with estimated annual savings of $5,500

The Fox River Water Reclamation District operates three separate facilities to provide wastewater treatment services to over 150,000 people in Kane County. The Foundation provided funding for improvement projects to the aeration system at the West Water Reclamation Facility which currently treats an average flow of 2 million gallons per day.

The improvement projects resulted in a total energy savings projected at 376,400 kWh/year and an estimated cost savings of $30,112 per year.

• High Efficiency Turbo Blowers
• One of the highest energy demands in wastewater treatment plants is for aeration systems, where biological treatment occurs. They can account for over 50% of plant energy use. High efficiency turbo blowers offer cost savings through greater operational efficiency and less routine maintenance than other existing aeration blower technologies.
  
  
• A single 150 horsepower high efficiency turbo blower was installed and will result in projected energy savings of 231,500 kWh/year and estimated cost savings of $18,520 per year.
  
  
• Denitrification
• The West plant was operating as a conventional activated sludge treatment facility. Through the addition of mixers to the tanks and switching to denitrification, select aeration tanks became anaerobic zones to biologically treat the wastewater. Energy savings were achieved because the amount of air required in the aeration tank is reduced.
  
  
• The expected energy savings are 144,900 kWh/year and estimated cost savings of $11,592 per year.
  

The North Suburban YMCA is a volunteer led, non-profit organization serving twelve communities on Chicago's North Shore. The mission of NSYMCA is to promote values that build strong families and the health of each individual's spirit, mind and body in an inclusive, welcoming environment.

NSYMC undertook a major renovation project to modernize its Northbrook center. The project included replacing HVAC, mechanical, electrical and lighting systems, most of which are original and beyond their useful economic life. The improvement projects resulted in total energy cost savings of $28,769 per year. The lighting project alone reduced summer electricity peak consumption by almost 36 kilowatts.

• Lighting Upgrades
  
• T-12 fluorescents, metal halide fixtures and incandescent emergency lighting were changed to T-8, T5 technology, more efficient halides and LED fixtures; almost 250 fixtures were replaced
  
  
• Occupancy sensors were installed throughout the building and today control over half the new fixtures
• HVAC System Upgrade
• The HVAC systems will be replaced with energy efficient units with built in energy recovery systems.
  
  
• NSYMCA plans to eventually replace all 228 tons of cooling capacity with new energy efficient HVAC units.

An energy-producing 15-acre geothermal lake heats and cools Sherman Hospital’s building, saving an estimated $1 million in electricity and natural gas costs per year. Sherman was the first hospital in Illinois to build a geothermal lake, and at 2,400 tons is the largest geothermal system in Illinois. It is one of only 2 medical centers in the US currently heating and cooling with a lake based geothermal system. The lake, surrounded by a 1/2 mile walking path for visitors to get exercise, makes Sherman one of the most energy-efficient health care facilities in the country. The system also increases patient comfort because it is less noisy. Safety is increased because geothermal systems do not use chemicals. The temperature at the bottom of the lake--a constant 55°F--is the heating and cooling source for the hospital. Energy is harnessed by a heat pump system under water connected to over 185 miles of pipes. The system cost 13 percent more to install than a traditional HVAC system, but the investment more than pays for itself in just a few short years. The Foundation provided a $400,000 grant to offset the higher system cost. Geothermal heating and cooling technology has been given the best rating by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Geothermal energy does not produce any form of pollution, and it doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect. The Foundation’s $8.5 Million support for geothermal installations has lead to over 150 installations in 57 Illinois counties. Geothermal systems have gone into a variety of buildings ranging from K-12 schools to colleges and universities to community health centers.

The Edwin Watts Southwind Park Project is an 80 acre park that opened in summer 2010. The Southwind Park project is a community supported effort that will provide a recreational and open space venue unlike any in the Midwest. The new park serves as a national model providing a new dimension of inclusion for all people regardless of physical abilities. Erin’s Pavilion serves as the park's Welcome and Visitor center. Erin’s Pavilion Grand Opening took place in May 2010 and the Pavilion opened its doors in June! Erin’s Pavilion features a 15,000 indoor sq. ft. building which facilitates recreational, interpretive and educational programs, services and special events as well as an informational center for the entire park programs and facilities. The building project is seeking to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum certification, utilizing renewable and sustainable resources. To support attainment of Platinum LEED certification – which only 120 building projects in the world have achieved – the Foundation provided two grants. The first grant of $135,000 provided funding to offset the costs of designing the building to LEED standards. The second grant for $105,960 is for a geothermal system to heat and cool the building. The grant also provides support to install a solar PV and wind turbine system.

With support provided by the Foundation's grant, the building was designed to maximize energy savings and indoor environmental quality. The design incorporated a geothermal HVAC system, a superior building envelope comprising low-e glass, highly insulated walls and locally sourced materials. Annual energy cost savings are estimated at $136,750.