IDOT Highlights Commitment to Sustainability Practices During Earth Week
Agency Promotes Green Initiatives Statewide
SPRINGFIELD
— Marking national Earth Week in Illinois, Transportation
Secretary Ann Schneider today highlighted several innovative
sustainability practices and programs under way across the
state. Schneider underscored the department’s commitment to
activities that build environmental awareness, preserve state
funds, and make the most effective use of existing public
resources.
“Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, IDOT remains committed to
implementing and promoting environmental sustainability
initiatives wherever feasible,” Secretary Schneider said. “We
consistently support and employ sound environmental practices
and look forward to positively impacting communities across the
state.”
IDOT has implemented numerous green and sustainable initiatives
in recent years including the Bus On Shoulders program after
Gov. Quinn shepherded legislation to enact the pilot. Other
impactful programs of the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT) include aluminum sign recycling, recycled asphalt
shingles for paving materials, rubblization to re-use existing
pavement materials for resurfacing, the addition of electric
vehicles to the state fleet, Adopt-A-Highway programs, and other
efforts aimed at beautification, awareness and education like
the 10,000 Trees to Schools initiative.
IDOT continues to implement the successful Aluminum Sign
Recycling program, which recycles about 338,000 square feet of
old aluminum signs annually. This accounts for 70 to 80 percent
of the aluminum needed for standard signs and saves
approximately $669,000 per year over new aluminum at current
prices.
Along state highways, IDOT has executed additional
sustainability practices, some of which include increased
utilization of blue logo signs to inform travelers where
ethanol-based and other bio fuels are available, improved
reflective highway signs to eliminate need for electric sign
lighting at a savings of up to $700 per sign, replacing
incandescent bulbs in traffic lights with LED lighting to save
up to$10,000 annually per intersection in energy costs. Improved
mowing, planting, tree replacement and plant conservation are
other techniques IDOT utilizes to reduce roadside maintenance,
save money and preserve ecosystems.
For a third consecutive year, IDOT is conducting the 10,000 Tree
Giveaway of seedlings to school districts throughout Illinois.
Many school districts have received oak tree seedlings, donated
to IDOT by Living Lands and Waters. All nine IDOT transportation
districts will participate and coordinate distribution to area
school districts. Trees provide tremendous benefits to the
environment by removing carbon dioxide, providing oxygen to
breathe, cooling shade, protection from soil erosion, and more
beautiful surroundings. This year IDOT will send trees to
Harrisburg, which experienced a devastating tornado on February
29, 2012, uprooting or destroying many trees.
IDOT also announced the winners of the 2012 Rain Barrel Design
Contest. Students from 3rd grade through high school
were encouraged to submit an artistic design for the exterior of
a rain barrel. A total of 45 designs were selected from
submissions throughout the state. The schools that submitted the
winning designs will receive a rain barrel within the next few
weeks. The rain barrels were donated by the Illinois Department
of Corrections. Submissions of designs from students depicting
nature and sustainable scenes were accepted in three grade
divisions. The divisions were 3rd through 5th grade; 6th through
8th grade, and grades 9 through 12. The winning students and
schools are listed at
http://www.dot.il.gov/.
IDOT is also participating in forums to promote environmental
awareness and improvement. Last week, IDOT took part in an
Electric Vehicle Forum in Springfield, hosted by the American
Lung Association, to discuss opportunities and obstacles
surrounding electric vehicles. IDOT supplied a display
explaining electric vehicle highway signage. State agencies and
advocacy groups also have partnered to offer a forum at Moraine
Valley Community College on May 23 and Southwestern Illinois
College in Belleville on June 19. IDOT also participated in the
2012 Earth Day Transportation Summit in Chicago on April 23.
IDOT policies and programs on sustainability have been
recognized at the state and national level, including awards for
Innovative Projects in three successive years, 2009-2011, from
the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council, the
Governor’s Green Vendor Award in 2010 for use of plant-based
inks and biodegradable supplies, and recognition by the
Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago and
Citizen Action/Illinois in 2010 for construction management
practices to improve air quality.
For more information regarding the agency’s green initiatives
and sustainability efforts, please visit
http://www.dot.state.il.us/green/index.html. |
