Navistar‘s new campus in Lisle, Ill. is positioned to be a hub for green initiatives in the social, environmental and economic spheres. While Navistar has always been a leader in green products, fuel efficiency and emissions technologies, the company is taking its leadership efforts one step further with sustainable practices that will be built from the ground up into Navistar’s new world headquarters in Lisle, Ill.
“Some people think that sustainability is just about being a leader in the environmental arena, but it’s more than that. At Navistar, it ties in with our three pillar strategy of great products, a competitive cost structure and profitable growth,” said Tom Hesterberg, director of Product Stewardship, Sustainability and Environmental Health. “Being sustainable is the right thing to do…and we also do it because it makes good business sense.”
“The landscape will be filled with plants native to Illinois, which don’t require as much water or maintenance as foreign species,” said Geoff Roehll, senior vice president of Hitchcock Design Group, Navistar’s landscaping partner for the new campus. “Storm water runoff from our parking lots will be used to feed the ponds, which will provide water for irrigating the landscaping. We’ll also have low-flow fixtures in the back buildings, and there will be an automated system in some areas that turns off lights and equipment when they’re not being used. These are just some of the things Navistar is doing that puts it at the forefront of corporate sustainability leadership.”
Navistar is also partnering with the Wildlife Habitat Council to ensure that sustainability of the new campus is always a priority. Daniel Goldfarb, ecologist and regional manager at the Council, is putting together a Wildlife Habitat Team comprised of Navistar employees, interns and contractors that will be involved with creating an environment that’s friendly for wildlife by planting, doing inventories of species on the campus, and designing and installing educational signage.
“At the Springfield, Ohio assembly plant, we’re already working with a loyal group of volunteers who are committed to ensuring the success of future generations by protecting the environment surrounding the facility,” said Goldfarb. “The Lisle campus presents another great opportunity for Navistar Chicagoland employees to make an impact toward biodiversity and preserving local ecosystems, while serving as a role model for other Navistar facilities and companies around the world.”
To view a presentation of the “It’s Your Business” on Sustainable Buildings and Open Spaces at the Lisle campus click here.
To sign up to be part of Navistar’s Wildlife Team at the Lisle campus, please contact Daniel Goldfarb.
