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Welcome to the home page of the NEIU Campus Green Fee Committee

On Feb. 15, 2007, the Board of Trustees approved the Student Tuition and Fee Schedule effective Fall 2007. The proposal by the campus Green Cycle Group to implement a Campus Green Fee, and the subsequent student referendum to support a $3 per student per semester fee to "fund implementation of clean and renewable energy technologies and improvement of campus energy efficiency at Northeastern Illinois University." You will find the Independent article HERE.

The Campus Green Fee Committee was formed in a series of meetings involving student organizers, interested faculty, and administrators Fall of 2008. Bylaws were created to ensure appropriate use of funds, governing policies, and committee membership. The NEIU Campus Green Fee Committee consists of two students appointed by the Green Cycle Group (an interdisciplinary environmental club), two students appointed by the Student Government Association (SGA), and one student appointed by the Chairperson of the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies (G&ES). Faculty members include the faculty advisor of the Green Cycle Group, one NEIU faculty member appointed by the Chairperson of G&ES. Two employees of NEIU Facilities Management are appointed by the Vice President for Facilities Management. When possible, G&ES will encourage a student intern to work on Green Fee projects -- that person will most likely be one of the voting student members of the committee..

The Green Fee is expected to generate between $80,000 to $85,000 annually. Ideas included photovoltaic solar panels, solar panels to heat the pool, motion sensors to turn off unused lights, a Segway for public safety, rain catchment, roof garden, solar light posts, electric vehicle(s), and bicycle racks. New ideas are also welcome. The meetings are public and visitors are invited to speak.

Bike racks have been instlled south of the B-wing Sept 2 (right) and under the Classroom Building on both sides of the north overhang (below). The electric vehicle (below) will be used by buildings and grounds, removing heavy truck traffic and exhaust from the sidewalk.

On Sept. 16 2008 the committee voted to allocate $8,819.30 to the purchase and installation of motion sensors for rooms and tunnels on campus. The sensors and hardware: 10 Fine Arts washrooms, 10 Classroom Building washrooms, and 2 Auditorium washrooms. They were installed. Another 14 sensors were installed in washrooms at CCICS and 11 in the main camus tunnels. For this, Green Fee paid approximately $4,000 and Facilities Management paid approximately $3,000. Although students don't use the tunnels -- or the bathrooms either when no one is in them, annual savings to the University are calculated at $817 at CCICS and $1,631 from the tunnels. This lowers operating expenses and saves carbon. Those lights would still be burning without the Green Fee support. We are also applying for a $1,000 rebate from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

In recent meetings the Green Fee Committee has discussed options for solar panels and a green roof. The committee is moving forward with the green roof plans for the B building, and has identified at least seven firms in the area which are capable of doing the work. Proposals are being solicited.

Electric Vehicle for grounds, purchased by Green Fee in 2008. Saves emissions, quiet, appropriately sized. Replaced a Toyota Takoma

In 2008 the Green Fee paid for 48 new bicycle parking spots on campus -- under Lech Walesa Hall and between the Science Building and B-wing. Additional bicycle parking will be part of the Building A remodelling -- these were not paid for by the Green Fee, but their inclusion in the design was encouraged by the committee.