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Evaluation Criteria

Timeframe

Governor's Sustainability Awards
Evaluation Criteria:

Applicants will be evaluated primarily on their implementation of sustainability activities. The results should be significant when evaluated against the organization's size and available resources. The type and quantity of natural resources and energy conserved or monetary savings are usually much greater for industrial applicants than for other applicants. Therefore, the applications will be evaluated with consideration to the size and type of the organization.

• Description of Activities
• Are these activities good examples of sustainability? What aspects of sustainability did the activities include?
• Is the description complete and well-documented? Does it adequately address the four primary questions in the narrative guidelines: (1) What did you do? (2) How did you do it? (3) Who was involved? (4) What were the benefits?
• If educational or outreach is involved, does the description clearly state the intended audience and the objectives?
• Are the activities significant in respect to the size and type of organization?

• Waste Volume/Emissions Reduction or Natural Resources/Energy Conserved
• Did the activities result in the reduction of emissions, waste volume, toxicity, energy, or use of raw materials or natural resources?
• Does the narrative quantify these reductions?
• Did the activities involve the use of green materials?

• Economic Benefits
• Were there quantifiable economic benefits derived from the activity of activities and were they significant? Examples may include:
• Raw material savings
• Water savings
• Labor savings
• Disposal cost savings
• Energy savings
• Other

• Employee/Member Involvement
• How well did they explain the commitment and ownership that the employees/members had in identifying, implementing, and/or providing ongoing support for these sustainability activities?

• Benefits to Employees, Community, or Environment
• Did they identify and explain clearly any other benefits achieved through their sustainability activities, such as improvements in safety; community awareness of the sustainability effort; educational or outreach component; or environmental significance to the community?

• Relevance to Others
• Does the narrative describe activities that could apply to other organizations? Has the organization been a mentor to other organizations with respect to the sustainable activities described in the narrative?
• Did the activities contribute to the cause of a larger sustainability effort?

Applicants also must include a statement at the end of the application confirming the company or organization is not subject to an environmental enforcement action or notice of violation from the U.S. EPA or Illinois EPA. An organization that faces such a compliance action is not eligible to win an award.

Contact Information

For questions about the Governor's Sustainability Awards, contact Deb Jacobson at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

Illinois Sustainable Technology Center 1010 Jorie Blvd Suite 338 Oak Brook, IL 60523 630-472-5016 (voice) 630-472-5023 (fax)

Deb Jacobson 630-472-5019 djacobson@istc.illinois.edu

The Fine Print

Activities submitted must have been completed or have shown substantial progress by December 31, 2011. A panel from the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center and/or outside experts will judge applications. Confidential or proprietary processes, technologies, or business practices should be clearly identified in the application. Finalists may be visited for verification of activities. Additional eligibility status will be obtained from the Illinois EPA. An organization must be in good standing with environmental laws and regulations to be eligible for an award. Applicants with current or pending violations of environmental laws and regulations from the U.S. EPA or Illinois EPA are not eligible to receive an award.

The Office of the Governor will make the final award decisions.