By Tom R., on January 25th, 2012
We are in the heart of winter, and most likely, your windows are closed and fresh air is at a premium. So don’t pollute the air in your home with cleaning products that contain hazardous chemicals and volatile organic compounds. We will make it easy for you to find another option. Here is a recipe for making your own air-friendly cleaning products. A friendly mixture of science, conservation, and cooking skills.
Basic All-Purpose Cleaner Formula
1/2 teaspoon baking soda or 2 teaspoons borax
1/2 teaspoon liquid soap detergent
2 cups hot water
spray bottle
Combine everything into the spray bottle and shake to blend.
Content Creator: C3 Trainee Tom from www.letUbeU.com
By Tom R., on January 13th, 2012
Turning off the sink, while brushing teeth or shaving, is one of our Indoor Water Conservation Tips. Here’s why (a 46-second video from Sesame Street on YouTube): Indoor Water Conservation Video
Content Creator: C3 Trainee Tom from www.letUbeU.com
By Tom R., on January 6th, 2012
When you check your mail later and the box is jammed with catalogs and other miscallaneous junk mail, don’t trash paper, RECYCLE PAPER. According to the Draft Waste Characterization Study, 29.5% of what Chicago residents & businesses throw away is paper. Paper is recyclable.
 Recycling paper achieves a significant reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions based on life-cycle analysis. Basically this means we do not want paper sitting in a landfill.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle PAPER. Thanks for reading! 
Content Creator: C3 Trainee Tom from www.letUbeU.com
By Sameera, on January 5th, 2012
Explore Family Fun with Snowflakes
Saturday, January 21st
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive
No registration necessary. For more information, contact (773) 755-5100.
Snow is everywhere, but where does it come from? Learn how these frozen flakes are formed and make your own snowflake catcher. After the workshop, be sure to explore the wonderful exhibits at the nature museum that highlight our natural world. This is a free, family-friendly event.
By Sameera, on January 5th, 2012
Explore Outdoor Stewardship
Monday, January 16th
Whistler Woods, S Halsted St & W 134th St.
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
RSVP to Mary Eileen Sullivan at sullivanme@fotp.org.
Join Friends of the Parks and Calumet Is My Backyard (C.I.M.B.Y.) at Whistler Woods to celebrate Martin Luther King Day by providing stewardship work. Volunteers will be doing various outdoor stewardship activities to restore the woods. Dress in layers and be prepared to get your hands dirty.
By Sameera, on December 30th, 2011
By Sameera, on December 9th, 2011
Saturday, December 10th
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
87th and Western
meet at the parking lot on the north side of 87th St. two blocks east of S. Western Ave.
Register at 773-398-1178 or benjamin@fotfp.org
Join the Friends of the Forest Preserves for an exciting workday tomorrow! Get some fresh air as trained leaders show you how to identify invasive plants that don’t belong in Chicago and demonstrate how to safely use hand tools to remove them. All the necessary tools and work gloves are provided. Worried that you will be cold? No problem. Volunteers will be burning large brush piles and staying active – you will be warm in no time. Work days have also been known to end with some tasty treats.
All participants should be dressed for a day of outdoor work. Please wear covered shoes (hiking boots or tennis shoes). Clothing should be made of natural fibers such as cotton or wool (no synthetic clothing) as workdays often have brush pile burns and stray embers can “burn” synthetic clothing and melt through to your skin – ouch. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty and dress in layers. Please bring your own drinking water.
Don’t be discouraged by the weather – this is an excellent time to see these woods in their winter glory. We hope you can make it!
By Sameera, on December 9th, 2011
By Sameera, on December 9th, 2011
Free Class: Save $ by Greening Your Bathroom
When: Sunday, December 11, 10am-Noon
Where: 1102 N. California ave. Chicago
More Info: 773-290-8232, 773-640-7083
RSVP on Facebook
You’re invited to a free home plumbing class, this Sunday at 10am in Humboldt Park. This class series, “Green Plumbing 101″, is sponsored by the Chicago Conservation Corps. Each month, there will be a focus on an area in the home, teaching individuals how to save money and our environment by conserving water and power. All classes are led by Rob West, Master Plumber.
This December Green Plumbing 101 class will teach you how to save money on your water bill by installing easy and affordable retrofits for your bathroom that can save a single household up to 100 gallons a day. He will also demonstrate affordable tools that residents can use to clear clogged drains without using toxic chemicals (or plumbers!).
By Tom R., on December 9th, 2011
Content Creator: C3 Trainee Tom from www.letUbeU.com
Chicagoans are fortunate to have a large source of fresh water as our neighbor. Over 5.4 million people—44% of the Illinois population—depend on the Chicago Department of Water Management to provide a reliable supply of drinking water from Lake Michigan. Chicago is working hard to avoid situations similar to what is happening to the Colorado River and Aral Sea in Russia where the fresh water supply is being depleted.
To avoid a similar situation, Chicago is preparing by providing citizens with convenient options to conserve water. MeterSave is a new program offered by the City of Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM). Non-metered Chicago homeowners can volunteer to have a water meter installed. Water meters help to save water and save money.
In Chicago, water charges in non-metered homes are tied to factors such as building size, lot-size and the number of plumbing fixtures. However, metered homes are billed according to actual water usage. This means that with minimal effort, participating homeowners could save money on their water bills.
Signing up is completely FREE. The DWM will install your water meter, free of charge, and a wireless radio technology will report your water usage to the DWM. There are 3 ways to sign up:
- Visit www.metersave.org
- Call 311
- Call 312-744-4H2O
ALSO, by signing up for a Water Meter, you will qualify for one of these additional incentives (while supplies last):
A rain barrel – for more details: rain barrels
or An outdoor water conservation kit
- A hose timer
- Rain guage
- Water restricting hose nozzle
- Moisture sensor
or An indoor water conservation kit
- Low flow shower head
- A shower timer
- Toilet flapper
- Leak Detection Tablets
- Toilet tank bank–a toilet tank water displacement pouch
- 4-quart fill cycle diverter that helps save water after flushing the toilet
- Swivel low-flow kitchen aerator
- Two bathroon sink aerators
- Teflon tape
- Water Conservation wheel
or A water meter monitor (a refrigerator magnet that shows water usage)
Watch this video to learn more about the MeterSave program:
MeterSave video
Testimonials about the program: Neighborhood Testimonials
Our previous post: Indoor Water Conservation Tips
By Kristen, on November 28th, 2011
By Kristen, on November 28th, 2011
By Sameera, on November 23rd, 2011
By Sameera, on November 22nd, 2011
By Sameera, on November 14th, 2011
Chicago-based company, Magid Glove & Safety, donated dozens of work gloves to C3 so that our volunteers can continue to work hard to beautify Chicago and improve our environment. Many thanks to Magid for their generous support. You can find more information on their website: http://www.magidglove.com/about/
By Sameera, on November 9th, 2011
C3 Trainee and Plumbing Expert, Rob West, invites you to a FREE class on Rain Barrels this Sunday, November 13th, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at 1102 N. California, Chicago, IL, 60622.
Activities include: Hands-on demonstration of how to build a custom rain barrel from a recycled pickle barrel.
Topics will cover the general concepts you will need to design and manage a rain collection system that fits your buildings specific needs:
-Materials and tools you will need to install a complete rain barrel system for any structure (with a roof!)
-Where to source recycled materials for rain barrels and other parts
-Winter proofing your rain barrels
-Water management for your yard and garden
-Managing overflow
This will be an audience participation class so bring photos of your yard and downspouts. He can also address other topics, such as flood control, plumbing, water and energy conservation, or heating questions.
If you have questions, suggestions, or want to RSVP, please reply to rob@robwestplumbing.com or sign up on Facebook: Facebook Event Sign up PageNote: This workshop is not a part of the Chicago Sustainable Backyard Program.
By Sameera, on November 8th, 2011
 Check out CCGT’s new website! www.chicagogreentech.org
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