Commitment

Cardinal Sustainability Fund

The Cardinal Sustainability Fund was established in February 2014 as North Central College’s green revolving fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide the financial means for implementing sustainability projects on campus, which may have a high initial cost but provide an acceptable economic payback to the College. The Cardinal Sustainability Fund is a portion of North Central’s unrestricted endowment, which has been committed to sustainability projects that meet a set of criteria. For example, all projects must have a payback of less than 15 years, and students and faculty must be involved with the projects. The North Central College Sustainability Committee must review and approve a proposed project before it goes to the Building and Grounds Committee. If accepted, the proposal goes to the Finance Committee for final approval before the project can begin. Tracking and evaluation of projects are conducted by the Business Office and the Sustainability Coordinator.

Some of the first projects North Central College financed through the Cardinal Sustainability Fund included more efficient lighting in Ward Residence Hall and LED lighting in Gregory Arena and the pool at Merner Field House, the Residence Hall/Recreation Center arena, and the second floor of the Harold and Eva White Activities Center. During fall 2016, the College implemented the largest project to date from the revolving fund: a 538.56 kW solar array with a 250 kW energy storage system in the Residence Hall/Recreation Center.

Old Main

Sustainability Committee

Established by President Emeritus Harold R. Wilde in 2008, the Sustainability Committee consists of faculty, staff and students responsible for educating and encouraging the entire campus community to engage in sustainability actions and programs. For suggestions pertaining to campus sustainability initiatives or to get involved, e-mail sustainability@noctrl.edu.

Sustainability Policy

Written by the Sustainability Committee and approved by Cabinet in 2011, the Sustainability Policy best explains the College’s intent to integrate sustainability into all facets of campus life. The policy defines sustainability in the context of the College culture and outlines principles focused on continuing progress toward a more sustainable campus community. The Sustainability Policy can be viewed as a PDF.

Master Land Use Plan

North Central’s 2010 Master Land Use Plan incorporates sustainability principles and planning as the College looks toward the future. Specifically, recent initiatives in building development, alternative transportation, and green space investments are spelled out in the Sustainability section. The opening of that section expresses the College’s commitment to sustainability:

“North Central College places a high value in creating an environmentally sustainable campus for its faculty, staff, and students, and for the future of the institution. Sustainability is not only good practice from physical and financial perspectives, but also offers opportunities for the campus environment to support learning and attract prospective students and faculty who share in the College’s values.”