The Wright Times

Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Gonzalez, Luis Earth Day

Wright College, innovative leader when it comes to saving the environment, won the Governor's Pollution Prevention Award in October 2008 and recently Mayor Richard M. Daley's Green Works Award for sustainability, because of its eco-friendly campus.
According to the 2008 Illinois Governor's Awards Program, the state presents this honor, "…to businesses and organizations in Illinois that have successfully reduced a generation of gaseous, liquid, and solid waste." It also explained how this year's Pollution Prevention Project honorees, "saved the companies and organizations millions of dollars in material and disposal costs."
The Green Works Award honors those that, "… promote a green city by recognizing businesses, non-profits, schools and government agencies whose buildings, practices, and products or services are environmentally responsible," according to the Department of Environment.
The Chicago Director of the Environmental Technology Program Victoria Cooper, made clear what this award means to Wright, "It means we show our leadership in green education. We have programs in play that help students learn about green. We have career programs, where people advance in green fields. It also means we are on the cutting edge of green education."
Cooper explained how Wright won both awards for their cutting-edge Building Energy-technologies Curriculum, developed for the college in 2005. The curriculum encompasses, "Six courses for a total of 21 credit hours. The courses involve building energy-fundamentals and alternative renewable energy in two classes, one [at the] 100 level and [the other at the] 200 level," Sustainability Initiatives Environmental Technology Program Director David R. Inman said. Inman explained how they also offer, "building operator certification, which concerns utility systems for residential, commercial and industrial high-rise buildings."
Wright's campus uses several environmentally friendly methods, including using solar paneled roofs, motion-censored bathroom lights, self flushing toilets, and the planting of prairie plots.
Wright student Christopher De La Vega said, "I think Wright sets the tempo for students, knowing that our school cares about the environment, and taking steps to help better the Earth."
One way the college continues to help preserve the Earth involves Buzz products. Wright developed a partnership with North Lawndale Employment Network that helps convicts find work. North Lawndale started producing Buzz products made from honey and Wright allowed the beehive installations on campus, enabling more honey production.
Wright progresses towards helping the Earth, meeting the school's number one goal for Earth preservation. Wright College President Dr. Charles Guengerich said, "I've been aware of the environmental issues and concerns. What we do to pollute our environment ultimately comes back to haunt us. We have only so many natural resources. If we don't find ways to conserve and use them wisely as a race of people, we are going to make our own home uninhabitable."

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