U OF I TO GET ALL GREEN DORMITORY

We are proud to publicize that a $23 million residence hall under construction in Champaign will be the first at the University of Illinois to be certifiably green.

The eco-friendly features of the 262-bed Presby Hall include a geothermal system to heat rooms and water, water-saving plumbing as well as environmentally friendly lighting and paint.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony of the building expected to be the first U of I residence hall to receive certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, is planned for this summer.

The Champaign-based McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation, which owns the property, took the initiative in pushing for a green hall, the private foundation’s director said.

“We wanted to be responsible. We wanted the building to be sustainable,” said Heidi Weatherford.

Three are construction challenges; one is the installation of the pricey $650k heating system which will use ground source pumps to keep the building warm. To install pumps and may miles of tubing some old trees along a nearby street must come down, though new trees will be planted to replace them.

Weatherford said while the geothermal system is expensive the costs will be recouped by the $40,000 in annual savings.

“The upfront costs are significant,” she said “But the financial payback is almost immediate.” Factoring in the energy savings, Weatherford said, the heating system could pay for itself in about 10 years.

The Illinois Clean Energy Foundation recently awarded the foundation $100,000 to help pay for Presby Hal’s green features.

The university has said it plans a major renovation of a cluster of its residence halls called Six Pack, saying it hopes that project also will get the green certification.