How to Apply for Award

• Application Information
• Application Requirements
• Optional Supplemental Information
• Narrative Guidelines
• Apply for the Award

Thank you for your interest in applying for an award. Your organization will be judged on the strength of your application. It is important that your application be as complete and descriptive as possible. Identify real numbers and measured results from your efforts when possible.

Consulting and service firms are encouraged to apply for an award describing a project within their own business, but may not apply for a project performed at a client for which the consulting firm assisted with identification or implementation. Consultants and service providers may assist their client with the award application, but the award recipient would be the facility/organization where the improvements actually took place.

Application Information

Governor's Sustainability Award applications must be submitted electronically by 5:00 p.m. CST on May 31, 2013 for consideration (Apply here).

Before beginning the online application, be ready with the following information:

• Your organization information (address, telephone number, number of employees at location)
• A designated contact person at your organization to field questions relating to the application
• An approximately 250-word abstract of the application completed
• The narrative (read "Application Requirements" below) as well as any metrics, or supplemental documentation. Acceptable formats are: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe PDF, plain text, or HTML

Application Requirements:

1. Abstract
   
   An approximately 250-word abstract of the activities is an important part of the application because (1) it provides the application judges with a brief overview of the applicants' sustainability activities and (2) it will be used in news releases and the program book for winning entries. Applications without an abstract will not be considered. Visit the ISTC Web site at Previous Winners to view the program booklets for sample abstracts from the previous year's activities. Abstracts are subject to editing for publication purposes.


2. Narrative (not to exceed six pages):
   
   In six pages or less, summarize your activities. Refer to the narrative guidelines and evaluation criteria for guidance in preparing your narrative. The narrative should be single spaced in 10-point font or larger; with margins not less than .5 inch. Applications must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF. Application narrative pages over the 6-page limit will not be reviewed.


3. Metrics

If a project provided energy, material, or waste savings, the Summary Table of Applicant's Environmental Outcomes (metrics form) should be completed. The inclusion of the metrics form with the application will significantly strengthen and quantify the application. Please provide your data in the right hand column of the form, and save in this format: Company Name.Metrics. Upload the saved form with your application.

Not all categories of the metric form will apply to each applicant; only complete those areas that are applicable. Figures should be provided on an annualized basis and show savings for the calendar year.

4. Regulatory Compliance
   
   Applicants must include a statement at the end of the application confirming that 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 receive an award. Semi-finalists for the award will be verified with the regulatory agencies to confirm compliance status.

Optional Supplemental Documentation (not to exceed four pages):

Up to four pages of supplemental documentation can be submitted along with the application. Please submit supplemental documentation electronically along with your application. Materials such as charts, tables, photos, graphs, data and calculations may be included. Do not include corporate literature, annual reports, CD-ROMs, or videotapes. Any supplemental material over the 4-page limit will not be reviewed.

Narrative Guidelines:

We would like you to describe your sustainability activities in a way that clearly answers the four following questions:

1. What did you do?
2. How did you do it?
3. Who was involved?
4. What are the benefits?

Include only information on activities implemented before January 1, 2013. Read on for guidance on writing the narratives. Please note: If your organization has received a Governor's Sustainability Award or Governor's Pollution Prevention Award in the past, please include only information about activities that were not included in the previous award. Ongoing achievements and metrics from previously awarded activities are not eligible for the award and should not be included in the narrative, unless significant improvements or modifications have been implemented and can be clearly described.

Each application must contain the following sections. Details of each are provided in the evaluation criteria.

• Description of Activities
• Waste Volume/Emissions Reduction or Natural Resources/Energy Conserved
• Economic Benefits
• Employee/Member/Community Involvement and/or Outreach
• Regulatory Compliance

What did you do?

Describe your activities, including where and when they were accomplished. There are many different types of activities that are eligible for inclusion in this application. The questions below are intended to prompt discussion on a wide variety of sustainability activities. Some of the questions may not apply to your organization.

• Did you implement sustainable practices or technologies?
• If so, for what purposes?
• Did you improve products or processes?
• If so, how is this better than what existed previously?
• Did your activity or activities have educational or outreach components?
• If so, who was the intended audience, and what were the objectives?
• Did you have a building or energy project?
  • Award will not be granted to applications that only include LEED certification of new buildings or only energy efficiency projects. Additionally, applications that include LEED EB must describe the environmental and energy savings for LEED EB projects. Baseline and savings metrics must be included in the application.
  • Metrics, particularly for energy savings, must be normalized or baseline data must be provided so that we can determine the magnitude of the benefits realized. See the metrics form as a guide.

How did you do it?

Describe why you decided to do these activities and how you went about doing them. Your description can address any of the questions below that are applicable to your organization. Your description may also address issues not listed in the questions below.

• How did you identify the opportunity?
• How much did the activities cost?
• How much effort was required to implement the activities?
• Was any research, development, pilot testing, or training required?
• What barriers did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
• How did you keep the activities on track?
• What criteria had to be met in order to implement the activities?
• How was the technology or practice you implemented better than comparable alternatives?
• How did you evaluate the success of the activities?

Who was involved?

Describe the contributions of your organization's personnel in the activities.

• Was there input from employees/members in designing and implementing the activities?
• Were there teams or committees formed for these specific activities, or how did management encourage or engage employee/member participation in these activities?

Describe if any partnerships with external manufacturers, consultants, vendors, schools, community groups, or other organizations were influential during your activities.

What were the benefits?

Describe how your activities benefitted the environment, your organization, your local community, and/or the global community. Some of the questions below may not pertain to your organization, and you may want to discuss benefits not addressed in the questions below.

• What criteria did you use for measuring the environmental, social, and/or economic benefits?
• How did you measure these benefits? What were the results?
• What amounts of natural resources (energy, water, raw materials, etc.) were conserved?
• By how much was solid waste or toxic/hazardous waste or the use of toxic chemicals reduced?
• Were toxic exposures to workers, customers, your community, or the environment reduced?
• How much money did your organization save?
• How did your community benefit from your activities -- such as jobs retained or created, life style improvements for citizens, etc.?
• What have you done so that others can benefit from your experience and knowledge gained?
• Have you identified any improvements or organizational changes that could be helpful for these activities, or for similar activities, in the future?

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 djacobso@illinois.edu

The Fine Print

Activities submitted must have been completed or have shown substantial progress by December 31, 2012. 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.