Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council

Governments across Illinois are adopting a “green way of thinking.” The Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council helps state agencies, units of local government, and educational institutions improve the sustainability of their operations and policies.

Click here for a list of Council member agencies and liaisons.

Go Green Planning Pro

The Go Green Planning Pro application helps government agencies assess their sustainability efforts, create sustainability plans and track their progress. State agencies must use the application to comply with the Green Governments Illinois Act. Please note that the Council extended the deadlines in the Act; click here for the schedule of extended deadlines.

How Do I Get Started?

1. Read the Sustainability Planning Guide.

2. Create a sustainability committee (refer to the Guide for help).

3. Login to your Go Green Planning Pro account.

4. Complete the agency overview, sustainability assessment and plan template in Go Green Planning Pro.

5. Implement your plan (refer to the Guide for help).

6. Track and report your progress in Go Green Planning Pro.

I Need Help!

• Refer to the Sustainability Planning Guide.

• Refer to the Green Cleaning Workshop Presentation.

• Contact your agency sustainability liaison.

• Check out DCEO's model green office for suggested practices.

• Sign up for Green: The Newsletter.

• Search for Green Solutions resources.

• Call the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council staff at 312-814-5220.

Emergency Rules and Proposed Rules

The Green Governments Coordinating Council filed emergency rules and proposed rules to establish the sustainability planning requirements for state agencies. Please refer to the following links for copies of the filed rules:

• Notice of Emergency Rules

• Register Pages for Emergency Rules

• Notice of Proposed Rules

• Register Pages for Proposed Rules

About the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council

The Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council consists of members representing 15 state agencies and serves to improve the sustainability of Illinois government operations and policies. First formed by an executive order, the Council is now established by law under the Green Governments Illinois Act (Public Act 95-0657), enacted on October 17, 2007. Click here to read the text of the act.

Chaired by Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, the Council helps the more than 70 state agencies, boards and commissions adopt a “greener” way of delivering services to Illinois residents. Each year, the Council hosts three symposiums – tailored toward state agencies, municipalities, and universities – to foster exchange of ideas and best practices for protecting the environment.

Green Government Awards

The Council annually presents awards to state agencies that have shown an exceptional commitment to improving the environmental quality of Illinois.

Congratulations to the 2007 Green Government Award recipients:

• Energy Efficiency – Illinois Department of Employment Security
• Green Facilities – Central Management Services
• Green Office Practices – Illinois Department of Revenue
• Green Purchasing – Illinois Department of Corrections at Menard Correctional Center
• Innovative Projects – Illinois Department of Transportation
• Innovative Projects – Illinois Medical District Commission
• Sustainable Construction – Illinois Tollway
• Waste Reduction - Central Management Services
• Water Conservation - Illinois Department of Human Services

Sustainable Governments Symposium Presentations (December 2007)

• Building a Greener Fleet
• Creating Your Agency Sustainability Plan
• EIU Energy Conservation
• Energy Conservation and Efficiency
• Green Buildings and Operations
• Overview of Green Governments Illinois Act
• Recycling and Scrap Electronics

Sustainable Cities Symposium Presentations (October 2007)

• Sustainable Planning & Transportation (John Norquist)
• What to Sustain? (Christopher Miller)