The Park District of Oak Park has announced that the New Buildings Institute has verified that the District’s Carroll Center has become the second facility in all of Illinois to have energy standards meet net zero energy performance. To meet this requirement, a building must generate as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year.
“It’s a huge accomplishment for our Park District to both build and operate a facility that meets this verification, and we’re thrilled to receive acknowledgment of that effort,” said Chris Lindgren, superintendent of parks and planning. “We’d like to thank Tom Bassett-Dilley and Mark Nussbaum for their architectural and engineering excellence, as our goal has always been to preserve and protect the environment. This is a step in that direction, and this project accomplishment falls in line with our core values of sustainability.”
The Carroll Center was constructed using Passive House design principles, which are used to attain a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency, including superinsulation and airtight construction along with continuous ventilation to achieve a comfortable building temperature year-round while using as little energy as possible. Some additional building features that contributed to this verification include triple-glazed windows, super insulated roof/walls/slab, LED lighting, electrical load monitoring, daylighting and urban timber re-use.
“There are very few others working toward this verification in Illinois, but the initiative is growing rapidly,” said Jan Arnold, executive director. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of this movement to protect the world around us while providing for our community members, and we hope others can follow in these steps towards sustainability.”
Previously, the Park District was awarded a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to achieve Source Zero Energy Certification and Passive House Certification for the Carroll Center expansion project. The Park District has also committed to building its upcoming Community Recreation Center (CRC) as a Net Zero building through a similar grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, as well as supplemental funding from the Village of Oak Park’s sustainability funding.
For more information on the Park District’s environmental initiatives, visit https://www.pdop.org/about/environment/.
About Park District of Oak Park: The Park District of Oak Park serves the recreation needs of Oak Park’s 52,000 residents, providing nearly 3,000 programs and special events annually throughout our versatile recreation centers, 18 parks totaling 84 acres, two outdoor pools, indoor ice rink, gymnastic center, the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion and Pleasant Home. Since 1912, our high-quality programs and well-maintained parks and facilities have dependably met residents’ diverse leisure, wellness, childcare and other needs and helped enhance quality of life. Learn more at https://www.pdop.org/.
About Park District of Oak Park: The Park District of Oak Park serves the recreation needs of Oak Park’s 52,000 residents, providing nearly 3,000 programs and special events annually throughout our versatile recreation centers, 18 parks totaling 84 acres, two outdoor pools, indoor ice rink, gymnastic center, the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion and Pleasant Home. Since 1912, our high-quality programs and well-maintained parks and facilities have dependably met residents’ diverse leisure, wellness, childcare and other needs and helped enhance quality of life. Learn more at https://www.pdop.org/.
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