Green Initiatives

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed in February 2009, creating a non-competitive Block Grant through the Department of Energy, awarded on the basis of population. Will County's population according to the 2010 census is 677,560, up 34.9% from the population of 502,266 in 2000. The  communities within Will County that also received Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds (Aurora, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Naperville, Romeoville) were subtracted.  This resulted in a total grant of $3,009,700. 

The EECGB required the submittal of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Strategy.  Will County selected a consultant firm, CDM, to assist with the drafting of the Strategy.

Several stakeholder groups were identified:
–Internal Managers/Directors
–Elected Officials from Townships & Municipalities
–Elected County Board Member
–Feedback at Public Meetings

A variety of ideas were considered.  An evaluation of each county building was performed. An estimate of the impact of various improvements to buildings was projected along with an estimate of the value of other projects:
–Mini-grants to other governmental bodies
–Permanent household hazardous waste site
–Education programs

The following projects made the cut, were bid and are in various stages of completion:
$3,009,700 Awarded
$1,000,000 Gas-to-Energy Alternative Energy Facility at the Landfill
$100,000 EEC Strategy
$784,653 Emco Retrofits
$207,450 Sunny Hill Retrofits
$131,101 Highway Building/Garage Retrofits
$166,325 County Office Building
$87,900 Website Design and Maintenance
$70,830 Promotional/Educational Outreach
$140,471 Other Educational or Retrofit Projects
$20,000 Contract Work Assistance
$300,970 Admin (Educator, Clerical, Project Manager, Director)

A Video from The National Assocication of Counties (NACo) on Will County's Green Initatives:        

Click on the icon below to view! (5 mins)

Click here to view the NACo summary of the Waste Management/Will County Gas-to-Energy project.              

More Information on the Green Initatives:

The following pages offer detailed information on each of the initiatives that have been launched in hopes of providing clear understanding of the nature of the projects, the use of the federal funds and long term benefits of these projects.  Perhaps businesses, schools and other units of local government will be inspired to pursue retrofits based on the information offered here.

Cool Roof

County Building

Emco Office Building

Green Roof

Highway Admin Office Building & Garage

Sunny Hill Nursing Home