May 26, 2004—The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation has awarded a $1.2 million grant to the Museum of Broadcast Communications to support construction of a pacesetting, energy-efficient “green building” as the Museum’s new 50,000 square-foot home. An additional $100,000 for the Museum’s green building education efforts was also awarded by the Foundation. The $1.3 million grant is the third largest grant awarded by the Foundation since its inception.
“The new Museum of Broadcast Communications building will add a highly visible, publicly accessible green building to Chicago’s world renowned collection of significant architectural landmarks,” said James Mann, Executive Director of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
The Museum’s building is expected to earn a gold rating from the US Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. This voluntary system emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for meeting the Foundation’s priorities in energy efficiency, complemented by similar standards for sustainable site development, water savings, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Gold is the second highest rating on the Council’s scale for energy efficient buildings.
The Museum’s new home, located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood on the corner of State and Kinzie, will have dramatically reduced electricity demands due to its energy efficient design. The energy saved from the upgrade will result in less pollution and reduced operating and maintenance expenses every year.
$100,000 of the Foundation grant will be used for a green building education program at the museum. Educational kiosks and media access points will be installed in the museum to tell visitors “the green building story,” showcasing the benefits of the green features incorporated at the museum.
Two green features of the building will optimize efficiency by employing the use of soy-based products. A soy roof coating makes the roof reflective, internally leading to a smaller HVAC system and externally reducing the urban heat island effect. A soy-based spray foam insulation used in the building’s walls produces enhanced thermal insulation and superior acoustical performance. The use of these soy-based products at the same time promotes economic development in Illinois by creating a new market for one of the state’s premier crops.
