Member News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 18, 2009

Sherman Hospital Receives Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Grant: Grant Supports Geothermal Lake Project at New Sherman Hospital Campus

Sherman Hospital was awarded a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation for its geothermal lake project at the new Sherman Hospital campus. The Foundation supports projects to improve energy efficiency and develop renewable energy resources throughout Illinois. Overall, the foundation has awarded over million in grants to advance the use of geothermal in Illinois. The Sherman Hospital grant is the foundation’s largest individual award to support a geothermal system.

Sherman was notified of the grant in 2006, and has received portions of the funding throughout the construction process. The grant will off-set a portion of the incremental construction cost of Sherman's geothermal system, and to educate the community on geothermal energy.

"Illinois Clean Energy applauds and looks to Sherman's leadership. By constructing the largest geothermal system in the state to provide its new building with conditioned air, Sherman Hospital is setting a "green" benchmark for how hospitals and large institutional energy users can cool and heat their facilities in an environmentally friendly way," says Bob Romo, Senior Program Officer, Illinois Clean Energy Foundation.

"Sherman is honored to receive this grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation," said Rick Floyd, President and CEO, Sherman Health. "We are proud to be the first hospital in Illinois to use geothermal energy to heat and cool our facility."

Sherman Hospital's 15-acre geothermal lake is the only geothermal lake in Illinois and one of only two lakes currently cooling and heating medical centers in the U.S. The lake will be the main energy source for the new Sherman Hospital. In addition to saving an estimated million per year in energy costs, the energy produced by the lake is a renewable resource that does not create greenhouse gases or pollution.

"Without a doubt, the Foundation's support of Sherman's geothermal heating and cooling system is spurring market transformation in Illinois for technology the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls 'the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning system available,'" says Phil Novak, Chairman, Illinois Clean Energy Board of Trustees.

For more information, please contact Michelle Howe, Marketing Specialist, Sherman Health, 847-429-8427, michelle.howe@shermanhospital.org. To make a gift to Sherman Hospital, please visit www.shermanhealthfoundation.com.

About Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation
The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation invests in clean energy development and land preservation efforts, working with communities and citizens to improve environmental quality in Illinois. In addition to Sherman Hospital, Foundation grants for geothermal have supported installations in various settings, including K-12 schools, colleges & universities and religious organizations. The Foundation has made geothermal installation grants in 16 LEED designated/certified building projects.

About Sherman Health
Sherman Health is a not-for-profit, community-governed healthcare system dedicated to providing residents of Chicago's northwest suburbs with outstanding healthcare and service- every life, every moment, every day. Located in Elgin, Ill., Sherman Hospital was the first community hospital in Illinois to perform open-heart surgery and continues to lead the way in cardiac care for the region. Other hospital services include emergency care, a diabetes center, cancer care, orthopedic care and a birthing center with a neonatal intensive care nursery. Sherman also provides convenient, quality healthcare services at Sherman Family HealthCare immediate care centers in Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Elgin, and South Elgin. For more information, please visit www.ShermanHealth.com or call 800-397-9000.

The Future of Sherman
Construction is currently underway for a new Sherman Hospital at Randall and Big Timber roads in Elgin. Sherman broke ground on the 255-bed facility, with all private rooms, in June 2006 and will open on December 15, 2009. To learn more about the new hospital, please visit www.TheFutureOfSherman.com.