Sustainability Leads to Student Success

STRATEGIC USE OF RESOURCES Sustainability

leads to student success

The Living Lab Trail walking path winds around CLC’s Grayslake Campus among native plants and trees. Walkers enjoy the fresh air while being presented with different ways CLC is sustainable and how it uses sustainability to benefit the wellness and academic success of students.

“It gives people a place to go exploring on campus, get out of the building, see lots of nice natural areas and a way to see and learn about the solar panels,” said Sustainability Manager David Husemoller.

Another prominent feature on campus is the Japanese garden, which is an open, outdoor space in the middle of the building at the Grayslake Campus. Like the Living Lab Trail, the Japanese garden is a space where students can relax outside to help them focus.

“I love being able to go out into the Japanese garden and study surrounded by nature.” -- Ben Glende

BELOW: The Japanese garden gives students a way to work on their own personal wellness in a relaxing, outdoor space. Being around nature and in green spaces can help to reduce stress and lower blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.

The Living Lab Trail is a 1.5-mile loop that goes around the Grayslake Campus. Along the trail, signs are posted that detail the different ways CLC is sustainable. Borrow or donate a book to the Little Libraries dispersed throughout the trail.

ABOVE: CLC is one of five locations participating in the new Grayslake Bike Share program. Riders can conveniently access an alternative and green form of transportation at a low cost. Bike share programs are a great way for people to exercise, as well as reduce carbon emissions from transportation. LEFT: Last summer, CLC finished the construction of a solar project on the roofs of buildings and a solar field at the Grayslake Campus. The college installed solar panels on the roofs of buildings at the Grayslake Campus. Nearly 20 percent of energy at the campus now comes from solar power from nearly 5,000 solar panels.