Sustainability at the Center

Design

The Obama Presidential Center sources 100 percent of its electricity needs from renewable energy. This ensures that the campus provides a healthy and environmentally sound experience for our visitors and employees.  

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are not used in day-to-day operations. Solar panels have been installed on the roof of the Garden Pavilion and Home Court.  Any electricity needed that is not generated on site is from renewable sources. The campus’s geothermal system uses the constant temperature of the ground to keep buildings warm in winter and cool in summer.

Indoor Conservation

We have installed the following to give workers and guests a healthy indoor environment: 

• Entryway systems and high-efficiency filters that collect air pollutants

• Low-emitting paints, sealants, and adhesives 

• Thermal comfort features

• Individual lighting control and noise reduction

Cleaning and Grounds Management

The entire campus uses integrated pest management and green cleaning. When visitors walk around campus, the environment is kept clean and healthy thanks to the use of eco-friendly cleaning supplies.

Water Usage

The Obama Presidential Center is a good steward of our precious water resources. Our campus is built to catch and reuse almost every drop of water that falls—98 percent, to be exact. By recycling rainwater, we’ll save over 1 million gallons of clean drinking water every year. 

Green Spaces

Nearly a third of the campus landscape has been restored with native or adopted vegetation. The creation of the Center also eliminated a 6-lane roadway, resulting in reconnecting Jackson Park and more parkland for neighbors. 

Our Landscape Partners

The Center’s landscape design prioritized species that are native or adapted to thrive in Chicago as the climate changes. The landscape was developed in close consultation with the Chicago Botanic Garden (Opens in a new tab) . Bringing their expertise in horticulture, science, and education to the project, the Chicago institution played a key advisory role.