University News
2010 Environmental Summit Community Spotlight: Pella
March 30, 2010
MACOMB, IL – Numerous community and campus organizations will feature environmental and sustainability-related topics as part of the Seventh Annual Western Illinois University Environmental Summit, "Protecting the Planet While Creating a Green Economy," from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 in the University Union Grand Ballroom on the WIU-Macomb campus.
According to Mindy Pheiffer, program coordinator of Western's Horn Field Campus and summit chair, Western Illinois' Environmental Summit, which is open free to the public, promotes environmentally sustainable values, lifestyles and educational activities. The annual summit ties in with the 2009-2010 Universitywide theme "Dollars and Sense: Personal Finance to World Poverty."
The event features keynote speaker Ron Sherga, a WIU biology and geology graduate who has been a leader in plastic recycling for 30 years, who will present the keynote address (noon, Grand Ballroom; 7 p.m., Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA); presentations; displays; and a panel discussion (2 p.m., Grand Ballroom) featuring Sherga; WIU Management Professor and Co-Chair of WIU's Sustainability Committee Gordon Rands; Assistant Director of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Tim Collins; and Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Assistant Professor Rob Porter.
Pella Corporation, which has a facility in Macomb, is not only hosting a tabletop display, but will also be spotlighted as the 2010 summit community partner. Pella is committed to responsibly using resources and safeguarding the communities and environments in which they operate. The company takes a comprehensive approach that maximizes recycling opportunities, minimizes waste and pollution, reduces consumption, employs the latest waste management and recycling strategies and ensures that its products are made to last.
According to Pella's "Commitment to Being Green" handbook, founder Peter Kuyper's words from 1950 still ring true today: "We recognize our responsibilities as stewards of our natural resources and the environment, and will avoid wasteful or harmful disregard of the environmental effects of our operation."
Pella is a volunteer partner in the Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR program; is a founding member of the National Fenestration Rating Council (which promotes the use of highly energy-efficient products); is an American Institute of Architects/Continuing Education System Registered Provider Charter Member; is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council; and Pella offers products that contribute to more than 20 of 69 possible points in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
2010 summit participants include such groups and organizations as Spoon River College's People for Earth, Columbia (MO) Sustainability Partners, U'SAgain of Chicago, Waste Management, Peace of Earth (Rushville, IL), Paul and Sheila Nollen, retired WIU faculty and staff, showcasing their solar PV installation project, Illinois Correctional Industries, FIG (local Food Initiatives Group), Pella, WIU's Horn Field Campus, Campus Greens, Western's Green Energy Team and more.
For more information, contact Pheiffer at (309) 833-5798 or MJ-Pheiffer@wiu.edu, or visit
wiu.edu/sustainability/summit.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
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