Advocate Sherman receives Elgin Sustainability Honor Roll award

Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain presented the Sustainability Honor Roll award to Advocate Sherman Hospital at the Elgin Sustainability Commission meeting April 11 at city hall.

Before the new Advocate Sherman Hospital (at the time Sherman Hospital) opened in 2009, several advanced technologies and innovations were incorporated into the design of the property and facility.

A notable technology was the 15-acre geothermal lake that heats and cools the hospital, saving over $1 million in energy costs per year. This is the largest geothermal system in Illinois.

"Advocate Sherman had a long-term vision when designing the geothermal lake. While there were high upfront capital costs, the investment has paid for itself. Advocate Sherman stepped up and did a great job," Kaptain said. "The lake itself became an amenity with the walking path. This provides sustainability for the community and not just in the sense of reducing energy. This provides sustainability for people as well, offering a place to exercise and promote a healthy lifestyle."

The Elgin Sustainability Commission nominates and recognizes individuals, businesses, organizations and educational programs for their efforts in helping Elgin become a sustainable community.

The award is given out biannually, typically in April and October. Nominations are welcomed by the public and may be submitted at any time of year at cityofelgin.org/greenaward.

"There's a lot to be proud of. The lake, the community gardens and the walking path. You see people using the lake frequently. It's great for health and environment," said Steve Baron of Advocate Sherman Hospital.

This is the fifth Sustainability Honor Roll Award since the program's inception in 2015. The first recipient was Elgin High School teacher, Deb Perryman. The second recipient was active community member, Carl Missele, the third was local business Multifilm Packaging, and fourth as nonprofit organization Friends of the Fox River.

For more information on the Sustainability Honor Roll award, contact Molly Center, Sustainability Commission liaison, at (847) 931-5613 or center_m@cityofelgin.org.