Campus is recognized as a Tree Campus Higher Education (formerly Tree Campus USA), as of 2015.  This program recognizes college and university campuses that effectively manage their campus trees, develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders, and strive to engage their student population utilizing service learning opportunities centered on campus and community, forestry efforts.  At Illinois we recognize that trees are an important asset for our campus and the community.

Green teams are groups of faculty members that attempt to further sustainable operations at the University. There is one central focus of each green team. Focuses among all of the green teams on campus have a wide range within the broad category of sustainability, from energy efficiency to native plantings.

Transportation grants can be used to improve the roadways and decrease automobile traffic by enhancing bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities.  These grants include TIGER, IDOT, ITEP, and others.

The Division of Research Safety (DRS) collects chemical waste from the campus free of charge. The chemical waste disposal program is described in detail on their website at https://www.drs.illinois.edu/Waste/ChemicalWasteQuickStartGuide. 

Building Maintenance is a complex process where we attempt to repair or replace building components with more energy efficient and sustainable materials every chance we get.

Implementation of the Solar Research Test Bed is an important part of the research scope of the Illinois Center for a Smarter Electric Grid (ICSEG).  ICSEG’s research mission is to support the continuing development of the Smart Grid through research that tests and validates the trustworthiness (secure, reliable, private, resilient) of new components and systems that will be required to realize the full potential of the Smart Grid, and renewable energy systems such as wind and solar are critical to realizing this vision.

The Committee on Natural Areas is responsible for maintaining and managing University of Illinois owned properties which have been acquired to enhance environmental/ ecological research and education. The role of CNA is to provide and facilitate long-term research and teaching opportunities on University-owned properties. Sites are managed to protect both the integrity of the ecological systems and the bological research that takes place on them.

Ten University properties are currently under the direct supervision of the Committee on Natural Areas:

The primary contract for vending machines on our campus is systematically replacing old beverage machines with new machines that have lighting sensors. In addition, out snack vendors that include this technology. The percentage of vending machines with sensors is now up to 80 percent.

Prepared and unserved foods are donated to charity organizations, such as Salvation Army Stepping Stone, The Times Center, and the Center for Women in Transition. Raw, unprepared foods are donated to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.

Sustainability is a living-learning community that welcomes students to live and learn about diverse aspects of sustainability in a variety of ways: academically, organically, and experientially. Located on two floors in the Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls, students with similar interests and intents from a range of different backgrounds are invited to experience this new community, where opportunities abound to learn not only from professionals, but from each other and from shared experiences.