Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
IN-3: Innovation 3

SIUE's Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) was awarded the Governor's Sustainability Award for significant achievements in environmental protection and positively impacting the Illinois state economy. In January of 2015 the ERTC was among 24 Illinois institutions, organizations, and companies honored at a ceremony in Chicago. The award is presented annually by the Illinois Sustainability Technology Center (ISTC), a unit of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois. The ERTC is a center for continuing education of personnel involved in the operation, maintenance, and management of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems. Solar panels are installed on the ERTC building, as well as the Science West building which houses a 30 kilowatt solar array. The electrical output displayed on video monitors in the new building helps demonstrate the usage to students and faculty, fostering a sense of the potential of sustainably sourced energy. A 120-foot, 20 kilowatt wind turbine stands outside of the ERTC building. In total, the university now has 140 solar panels, to the maintenance of more than 17,500-square-feet of green roof space.

ERTC received the award for its 40-year commitment to the sustainability and protection of the waters of Illinois. The center was designed and built for the sole purpose of training drinking water supply and wastewater reclamation plant operators. ERTC is one of the most unique training centers in the nation. The instructors use its 30,000-gallon per day training-scale drinking water and wastewater treatment plant to teach students the skills needed to properly operate a plant. An example of the training impact that ERTC has on the water profession can be measured in the statistics from Fiscal Year 2013, when it trained more than 975 students and awarded more than 25,000 continuing education and contact hours. According to the former Governor Pat Quinn, investments in sustainability create jobs and bolster the state economy, and leads to a stronger future. Quinn stated also, "these awards foster innovation and encourage universities and businesses to help us build a stronger, greener Illinois" (St. Louis Post Dispatch, January 15, 2014, http://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/illinois/siue-s-ertc-wins-governor-s-sustainability-award/article_2632b4a9-771f-52a1-ba1a-f8b37d21ef5b.html, accessed on March 22, 2016).

https://www.siue.edu/ertc/