ETHS Sustainability

  • With more than 1.2 million square feet and 65 acres, ETHS is comparable to a small city. Thousands of people are in the building each school day, adding to the complexity of our environmental stewardship. ETHS has practiced environmentally responsible operating procedures for decades, and continues to work to make a positive impact on environmental issues.

     

    Facilities

    Energy Conservation 

    • Using primarily steam/water for heating and cooling
      • Natural gas and steam in the energy plant
      • Kitchen steamers to prepare thousands of meals every day
    • Conserving power during off-peak hours
    • Using self-sustained generators to take ETHS off of ComEd electrical grid during peak hours
    • Installing LED lighting in hallways and classrooms; switching to LED when lighting is replaced
    • Installing exterior LED lighting in parking lots
    • Dimming lights in hallways during class time
    • Using motion-activated lighting in many rooms and in vending machines
    • Installing energy-efficient roofing when new
    • Installing energy-efficient windows and doors when new
    • Using energy-efficient appliances
    • Using a building automation system to control fans, heating, and air conditioning
    • Using solar panels at Transition House/Nature Center, FACS roof, and the building & grounds garage
    • Closing certain wings of the school during the summer so that lights and air conditioning are turned off in those areas
    • Closing the school building on certain Fridays during the summer

     

    Water efficiency

    • Using reclaimed rainwater on athletic fields for irrigation
    • Installing a reclaimed water garden at Lake Street Tennis Center
    • Installing water fountains with bottle fillers to encourage reusable water bottles
    • Installing water-efficient dishwashers in the kitchen
    • Installing motion-activated faucets
    • Using low-flow sink faucets in restrooms
    • Using sensor-activated toilet flushers
    • Using timers on all pool and locker room showers

     

    Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Eco-friendly

    • Using non-disposable lunch trays that are washed and reused in student cafeterias
    • Eliminated single-use containers in the Terrace (staff cafeteria) and replaced them with reusable dinnerware, flatware, and takeaway containers
    • Eliminated single-use milk cartons in student cafeterias and replaced them with bulk milk dispensers and reusable cups
    • Composting food waste in the ETHS kitchen
    • Separating waste for recycling and composting in ETHS cafeterias
    • Using green seal cleaning products (80%)
    • Using green and environmentally friendly pest control plans and products
    • Using “clean” refrigerant for AC units and appliances
    • Purchasing refurbished furniture for some ETHS offices
    • Supplying vending machines with canned water and sodas instead of plastic bottles
    • Reducing single-use plastics
    • Using biosolids to fertilize athletic fields
    • Purchasing plastic garbage bins made from 75% recycled materials
    • Installing more bike racks at ETHS to support bicycle transportation
    • Recycling of IIT electronic equipment
    • Repurposing of electronic equipment via donations
    • Conducting annual food waste audits in cafeterias to identify potential expansion opportunities 
    • Reducing printing and paper waste through Google Classroom, the school-wide online Learning Management System.

     

    Partnerships and Additional Projects

    ETHS District 202 works with the entire community to support sustainability efforts. For capital projects, the District works with architects to ensure that projects include natural lighting, energy-rated windows, automated systems, and water/energy savings wherever possible. In addition, ETHS events and building rentals are also strategically planned to efficiently use building resources and utilities.

     

    City of Evanston 

    ETHS and City of Evanston staff meet regularly to discuss sustainability issues. Partnerships with the City include environmental benchmarking and recycling. ETHS also hosts an annual recycling event with the City each summer.  

    More information about the City’s sustainability efforts can be found at www.cityofevanston.org/about-evanston/sustainability

     

    Organizations and Initiatives

    • Compost pickup by local Collective Resource (food waste)
    • Energy Team Charter signed with CLEAResult
    • Rebate program with supplier for LED purchases, resulting in savings of tens of thousands of dollars
      • In addition to being more environmentally friendly, the LEDs cost less to operate and the ballasts last longer. This means less waste and lower replacement costs in the long-term.
      • The ETHS engineering staff replaces the lights and ballasts so that there are no outside labor costs.
    • Siemens automation control system (on site and remote control of fans and temperatures throughout the building) 
    • Strategic Energy Management Program (ETHS joined in partnership with CLEAResult, sponsored by NICOR and ComEd)
    • The Talking Farm (Edible Acre and the Edible Orchard provide healthy foods served at ETHS) 

     

    Curriculum

    • The Geometry in Construction classes build Wildkit houses with green standard materials
    • Urban Agriculture class in the renovated ETHS greenhouse
    • REEL lab for environmental science class
    • Farm to School program (ETHS yields produce from three garden spaces)
    • Courses in the Nature Center (wildlife habitat, protecting native species plants)

ETHS Recycling

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