McHenry County Recognized For Sustainable Practices

McHenry County has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACO).

The award honors the innovative, sustainable practices of McHenry County Government to expand energy efficiency, education and conservation programs.

The application was submitted by McHenry County’s Facilities Management Department. Since 2009, the Department has reduced annual utility costs from $1,684,975 to $1,174,302, an overall operating cost savings of 30%. Additionally, annual greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 12%, which has a positive environmental impact equivalent to removing over 270 cars off the road per year .

Energy efficiency improvements have both reduced the County’s carbon footprint and created value for taxpayers. Several years ago, Facilities Director John Hadley saw a need to evaluate and improve inefficient facilities and operations. At the time, the County did not comprehensively assess for efficiency, sustainability, life cycle, labor costs and effectiveness.

Through a series of grants and rebates from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO),Hadley offset much of the costs of implementing building energy efficiencies. He began using

software programs to track building utilities, including electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer.

The County can now efficiently identify problematic building systems, oversee performance, and quantify cos avoidance using various software programs that manage and monitor utility costs.

The largest funds to support McHenry County energy efficient projects were from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In 2008, cHenry County was awarded $2.4 million to produce “shovel ready” projects to improve aging, inefficient facilities. The funds were used for 16 energy savings projects , including:

• lighting retrofits,
• window replacements,
• new boilers,
• hot water heaters,
• solar panels.

With the help of contract partners including Alpha Controls, Siemens Building Technologies, Elkhorn Chemical Company, the County is using products and practices that are energy efficient, safe, environmentally friendly and effective.

To create awareness, a “Green Touch Screen” was installed in the administration

building lobby. Staff and visitors can view energy efficient operations of the solar panels on the roof of the building. The building serves as a learning environment to encourage sustainable use and resource practices, including a water bottle filling station, biodegradable garbage bags, technology trash recycling containers, and a cell phone and battery collection site in the purchasing department.

McHenry County is proud to be a part of NACO’s 2015 Achievement Award Program. The award will be presented at NACO’s 2015 Annual Conference and Exposition July 10-13 in Mecklenburg County, N.C.

Crystal Lake Main Beach Reopened

Crystal Lake Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake has reopened after a recent, brief closure due to elevated bacteria levels.

Staff from McHenry County Department of Health collects and analyzes beach water samples from all McHenry County public beaches for bacterial quality at least once every two weeks throughout the summer months. Elevated bacterial levels may result in closure of the beach until bacteria reach acceptable levels. Main Beach is now open for swimming, daily, 7 days/weeks, 9 am-dusk.

Visit the beach information page on the Crystal Lake Park District website, www.crystallakeparks.org/Parks-Facilities/beaches for admission fees, parking fees and other information for your visit to Main and West Beaches.

Cost Cutting Solutions

Is your business looking for a way to easily and quickly cut costs without impacting budgets or staffing? It’s time to talk about your trash! Solid waste alternatives, such as recycling, quickly cut monthly waste management costs which can add up to thousands of dollars saved each year!

The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County have teamed up with Ecossential Solutions to provide complimentary solid waste audits to assist small- to medium-sized businesses in McHenry County save with recycling.

Ecossential Solutions is an environmental consulting company that creates sustainable solid waste programs. These programs have cut waste management costs for organizations on average 20-45%; diverted over 900,000 pounds of waste from landfills to date; and increased recycling rates for clients from 30% or less, up to 50 - 65% on average.

The complimentary waste audit includes...

 Introduction Consultation

 Waste Stream Audit

 Waste Audit Summary Report

 How To Start: Small Business Recycling Pamphlet

 Resources for Equipment and Supplies

Here’s a testimonial from Eisenmann Corporation of Crystal Lake, IL which will be saving 20% of yearly waste costs by adding additional recycling!

“When I contacted The Defenders, they directed me to Ecossential Solutions, … [Ecossential Solutions] then visited our facility to see what we had in place and what it would take to get the job done. It was clear that we could have recycling through our waste hauler and that it would be even less expensive than having only a trash container. [The new] arrangement saves pickup cost and truck fuel. The recycling container is for commingled recyclables, just like the curbside pick-up in residential areas. No special sorting is necessary!”

Contact the Environmental Defenders - Waste Reduction Committee at mcdef@owc.net or 815-338-0393

Stop by the office!

110 S. Johnson Street, Suite 106 Woodstock, Illinois 60098

Government At Work

Monday, June 22, 2015-

8:15 a.m. -- McHenry County Management Services Committee--

Meeting in the McHenry County Board Conference Room, County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock

The Committee is to consider a resoltion authorizing an agreement with Comcast to provide high bandwidth internet access to support data, video and voice communications in FY 2015

A second resolution is to approve revisions to the County's owned or leased vehicle use policy

Another resolution is to amend the May 1, 2015 McHenry County Board rules.

Discussion is slated to take place regarding Electronic voting and township consolidation.

6:00 p.m. -McHenry County Board of Health Finance Committee, meeting in the Board of Health facility located in Building A, 2200 North Seminary Avenue Woodstock.

The Committee is to consider the FY 2016 Proposed budget, monthly income and expense reports as well as any other matters before the board.

7:00 p.m.-- McHenry County Board of Health Regular meeting, taking place in the McHenry County Board of Health, 2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock.

Various routine reports are to be reviewed.