DuPage County high school students recently displayed their green building projects at the Ninth Annual Sustainable Design Challenge.
The event, held at the DuPage County Administration Building in Wheaton, was hosted by the county and the group School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education (SCARCE).
Area participating high schools included Wheaton Warrenville South, York Community (Elmhurst), Glenbard East (Lombard) and College Preparatory School of America (Lombard). More than 20 student groups presented their design work.
"The Sustainable Design Challenge has become a staple in DuPage County, and I continue to be impressed each year by the students' innovative concepts," DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said. "Additionally, this year, students were able to show us these ideas using advanced technology displaying videos and 3D images of their designs."
Students also explained design elements resulting in the building's sustainability, including renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines, water conservation elements using native plant landscaping, and rain barrels and green infrastructure for stormwater management.
"This event provides students with the opportunity to illustrate the sustainable and resilient practices they are learning about in the classroom," Stormwater Management Planning Committee Chairman Jim Zay said. "They really embrace being the teachers and subject-matter experts in this situation."
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