Chicago Conservation Corps Blog » Green Business

Tomorrow Night 10.26: Exciting Conclusion to 2010 GreenWorks Competition

Britt — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:41:24 +0000

Join leaders in Green Building, Green Business and Community Environmental Leadership at the GreenWorks Fast Pitch, where you will experience Chicago’s sustainability elite competing for top prizes in the 2010 Mayor Daley’s GreenWorks Awards.

Join the Chicago Climate Action Plan team next Tuesday, October 26 at the Merchandise Mart Conference Center to play your part by voting for the Audience Choice Award winners in the Sustainable Innovation in the Built Environment and Innovation in Green Business categories.

And the nominees are……

Sustainable Innovation in the Built Environment Award
2010 Green Bungalow Block: Greener Homes for South Shore by the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association
Advanced Technology Center by S&C Electric Company
Chicago Park District Fieldhouses – Prototype 1 by Booth Hansen
CNT Energy Savers by CNT Energy
The Joy Garden at Northside Preparatory High School by Urban Habitat Chicago
Lakefront Comfort Stations by Muller & Muller Ltd.
Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo
Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons by Solomon Cordwell Buenz
Sankofa House by Harley Ellis Devereaux

Innovation in Green Business Award
Carbon Day Automotive
Consolidated Printing Company
Earth Wind And Solar Energy, LLC
EverLights
Farr Associates
Green City Market
Hannah’s Bretzel, LLC
I-GO Car Sharing
John G. Shedd Aquarium

Community Leadership Award
Allison Shaewitz, Ecominders, LLC
Bronzeville Community Garden Leadership Team, Urban Juncture Foundation
Dr. George P. Nassos, Illinois Institute of Technology, Stuart School of Business
Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project Partnership
Elise Zelechowski, ReBuilding Exchange
Friends of Lincoln School
LaManda Joy, The Peterson Garden Project
Marilyn Engwall, City of Chicago
Seamus Ford and Amy Beltemacchi, Root Riot Urban Garden Network

The competition will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a reception with the judges, Fast Pitch presenters, and past Awards winners.
For more information, visit the Mayor Daley’s GreenWorks Awards 2010.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn about the best climate action efforts going on in Chicago.

We hope to see you there!

Don’t Feed the Bag Monster

gonzo001 — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:32:24 +0000

Andy Keller, environmental activist, is on a nationwide tour to create awareness about the waste and pollution caused by plastic bags. The tour is coming to Chicago next week!

Event Details:

Don’t Feed the Bag Monster!

Date: Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Richard J Daley Center

50 W. Washington St.

Chicago, IL 60602

Come out and see the Bag Monster and his giant nest of 45,000 single-use disposable plastic bags, what the average American uses in a lifetime. The Bag Monster will try to convince you and 70 or so of your friends to dress up and become a Bag Monster too. Come on out and help the Bag Monster with his goal to cover the world with plastic bags – or kick him out of your town! This is a highly interactive traveling exhibit and should not be missed. Visit www.bagmonster.com for full details, or contact Wes at wes@chicobag.com for a press release.

Thank you for your time and your efforts to raise awareness about environmental issues.

Earth Wine and Fire: Earth Day benefit party Fri April 23

Matt — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:28:43 +0000

Earth, Wine and Fire is a charity event intended to benefit the environment. It will occur on Friday April 23, 2010, the day after Earth Day, from 5-11PM (a movie screening of No Impact Man starts at 5:00; the party kicks off at 7:00). We expect it to be a fun party hosted by a small group of community folks who banded together to create an enlightened evening with a purpose. We intend to educate, incite action and enjoy. Buy your tickets in advance for a discount. $25 now; $35 on the day of the event. Includes: Entry, 3 tickets that can be used for drinks or the raffle, appetizers, music, entertainment and full access to all Nature Museum exhibits! Additional beverages available for purchase. Children 12 and under are free. Join the party! Buy your tickets at www.EarthWineAndFire.com!

Environmentally Responsible Economic Development

Michael Herman — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:28:17 +0000

Jason Hernandez sends this, about a web telecast tomorrow, called Seeing the Green: Bolstering Economic Development Strategies with Environmental Responsibility.

I just wanted to let you know about this telecast being organized by the Economic Development Association, which is part of the US Commerce Department.

Ted Wysocki is President and CEO of Chicago’s Local Economic and Development Council (LEED). He spearheads a lot of great work for projects like the new Chicago Green Exchange, so I figured you might be interested in posting details about the telecast on your website. I absolutely understand its short notice…but I figure your organization would like to hear about it anyway.

The telecast is hosted by Benjamin Erulkar, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of commerce for economic development; Paul Farmer, Executive Director and CEO of the American Planning Association, and Nancy McKeever, Sustainable Energy Program Manager for the California Energy Commission.

WHEN:

Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 2:30pm EST (1:30pm Central).

WHAT:

-The role of environmental sustainability and its impact on economic development
-How U.S. economic regions can strengthen competitiveness through innovative and green sustainable development strategies
-The costs and benefits of green building as well as how the private sector can successfully invest in and profit from green development projects
-The increasing number of green jobs and how communities can attract these new green industries

The telecast is open to everyone. To register, visit
http://edabroadcast.haverstick.biz/.

DOE News and Opportunities – June 2008

Samantha — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:16:37 +0000

Department of Environment News and Opportunities – June 2008
- June 7: Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Open
- June 9-11: NeoCon at Merchandise Mart
- June 13: Bike to Work Day Rally
- June 21: Environmental Resource Event at U.S. Cellular Field
- June 30: Registration Deadline for Solar PowerUp! for Kids
- Alert: Protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus

Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Open
- Saturday, June 7, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- 1150 N. North Branch St.

Celebrate summer by ridding your home of unwanted chemicals, paints, and computers. Bring in your old computers, monitors, cell phones and household chemicals this Saturday to the City’s permanent facility at 1150 N. North Branch St., 2 blocks east of the Kennedy at Division St. for proper recycling and disposal. For a complete list of accepted materials, visit www.cityofchicago.org/Environment and click on “Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility” on the right-hand column.

NeoCon
- Monday June 9 – Wednesday June 11 at the Merchandise Mart
- Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

At NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair, discover thousands of innovative products and resources for corporate hospitality, healthcare, retail, government, institutional and residential interiors from more than 1,200 showrooms and exhibitors. Stop by the Chicago Center for Green Technology’s booth to learn about their programs and check out green product samples. For more information on NeoCon, visit www.neocon.com.

Bike to Work Day Rally
- Friday, June 13, 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.

Riding your bike can help displace more than 238 million gallons of gasoline annually and reduce the amount of volatile pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, released by vehicle emissions. Choose the healthy alternative and become a bike commuter. The Bike to Work Day Rally challenges commuters to put down the keys, step off the bus and bike their way to work! Join fellow cyclists, local media celebrities, live bands and the City of Chicago at Daley Plaza for a day full of activities from 7:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Cyclists will enjoy live music and receive a free continental breakfast and T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, visit www.bikechicago.us or call (312) 744-3315.

Environmental Resource Event
- Saturday, June 21, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W. 35th St.

Be Safe at Home: Exchange household hazards for environmental resources. Participate in the Department of Environment’s second Environmental Resource Event of the year. Take this opportunity to:
- properly dispose of your household hazardous waste
- recycle your old computers, monitors, laptops and cell phones
- keep medicines out of our water system by bringing them for proper disposal
- pick up a free compact fluorescent light bulb (limit one per household)
- drop off your old gas-powered lawn mower and receive a $100 rebate towards an electric or push mower
- reduce your landfill waste by purchasing a $30 outdoor compost bin and reuse rain water by investing in a $40 rain barrel (both are available to Chicago residents only, must pay with check or money order, limit 1 per household)

Questions? Call the Chicago Department of Environment at (312) 744-7606.

Chicago Solar Powerup! For Kids
- Session 1: July 14- 18; Session 2: July 21-25. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.
- Registration ends June 30

The Chicago Center for Green Technology wants future scientists, engineers, and designers for the 3rd annual Chicago Solar Powerup! Solar Powerup gives students ages 9-11 the opportunity to design, build, and race model solar cars while learning about renewable energy sources. Students are give instructions in various design factors and then work in teams to build their car. Following testing, these workshops culminate in a series of one-on-one races in a tournament on Daley Plaza on Wednesday, July 30, to determine champions.

Please note: Registration is limited to 20 students per session and will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis. Spots may only be reserved by the receipt of payment ($75, check only) no later than 2 weeks prior to the first class. Before mailing in payment, please call (312) 746-4155 for availability. Limited scholarships are available.

Alert: Protect Yourself and Your Family from West Nile Virus

This information bulletin is an advisory to assist members of the public in taking precautions to minimize their risk of exposure to the West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV infection is an illness conveyed to humans primarily by mosquitoes. In most cases, people infected with WNV either show no symptoms or have very mild flu-like symptoms, called West Nile fever. WNV is an urgent issue that needs to be taken seriously in the Chicagoland area every summer. Since WNV can affect anyone, we ask that the following steps be taken to prevent or minimize any chance of mosquito bites:

Get rid of sources of stagnant or standing water in your backyard or neighborhood, as mosquitoes can reproduce in standing water that exists for more than 4 days.

- Call 3-1-1 immediately to report any stagnant or standing water than needs to be removed – it is important to provide the location and number of days that the water has been there.
- Protect your skin by wearing protective clothing such as long pants, shirts with sleeves, and socks.
- Use insect repellants containing the active ingredient DEET (chemical name, N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Products containing DEET are available in various liquids, lotions, and sprays and do not present a health concern as long as the product labels are read and directions are followed. DEET has been approved for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
- For more information, go to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s webpage that can be found under the City Departments link at www.cityofchicago.org and look for the West Nile Virus information under the Infectious Disease link.

DOE News and Opportunities, May 2008

Samantha — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:53:30 +0000

Department of Environment News and Opportunities – May 2008
- May 10: Smart Home Green + Wired
- May 10: Green Your Closets and Drawers
- May 15: Daley Plaza Farmers Market
- May 17: Clean and Green
- May 17-18: Green Festival
- May 17-18: Great Chicago Places and Spaces Tour

Smart Home Green + Wired
- Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St. and Lake Shore Drive

Check out the Museum of Science and Industry’s 3-story modular sustainable home, learn about the Chicago Green Home Remodeling Series and pick up a free compact fluorescent light bulb, while supplies last. For more information on the Smart Home Green + Wired, visit www.msichicago.org.

Green Your Closet and Drawers
- Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Donations accepted at: Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.; North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.; St. Ailbe’s Church, 93rd and Stony Island.

Bring in your used clothes and eyeglasses to be reused by the Lion’s Club and the Salvation Army and receive a green gift, available while supplies last.

Daley Plaza Farmer’s Market
- Thursday, May 15, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.

Fill your produce bags with fresh fruits and vegetables at the first Daley Plaza Farmers Market of the season. For more information, visit www.chicagofarmersmarkets.us

Green Festival
- Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18
- Navy Pier

Come celebrate what’s working in our communities, hear from environmental speakers and check out vendors for the latest in the green movement. Visit the Chicago Department of Environment exhibit to learn how you can reduce your environmental footprint. For more information, visit www.greenfestivals.org.

Great Chicago Places and Spaces Tour
- Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18
- Locations throughout Chicago

Come explore Chicago’s rich heritage in architecture and design during the 10th Annual Great Chicago Places and Spaces celebration. This is a weekend dedicated to architecture and design that offers more than 200 free tours of Chicago and it’s neighborhoods given by prominent architecture, design specialists and community leaders. Most walking tours are outside, please dress accordingly. For more information, visit www.greatchicagoplaces.us.

Mayor Daley’s Clean and Green
- Saturday, May 17
- Locations throughout Chicago

Community groups throughout Chicago can make an immediate difference in their neighborhood by volunteering for Mayor Daley’s Spring Clean & Green Day. For the past 20 years, Chicagoans like yourself have teamed up with community groups and the City of Chicago to help beautify your communities by cleaning up and recycling accumulated litter and trash. The City provides materials. For more information or to register, call 3-1-1.

A Smarter Season, November 27, 2007

Samantha — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:13:52 +0000

Dear C3 Community,

I was a Spring 07 C3 trainee and am happy to announce that I have planned my project and would love for you to join me! This September I opened Pivot – Chicago’s first boutique devoted to eco-fashion. It’s been wonderful introducing people to fabrics such as organic cotton, bamboo, soy and others. I hope that reaching people through fashion/lifestyle choices can lead them to think about other steps they can take in their daily lives to live a more sustainable life.
I will be hosting a holiday event at Pivot and I will be featuring “stations” throughout the boutique that give guests tips on how to make their holiday season more eco-smart. From where and how to recycle Christmas trees and recycling old phones & gadgets when new ones are received, to gift wrapping using recycled materials. Event details are below. Thanks so much and I hope you are all doing well!

Best,
Jessa Brinkmeyer
jessa@pivotboutique.com

A SMARTER SEASON
Pivot celebrates its first holiday season and we hope you join us!

What: A Holiday Party
When: Tuesday, November 27, 6 to 9 pm
Where: Pivot, 1101 West Fulton Market
www.pivotboutique.com
312.243.4754

Enjoy 15% off all purchases, reusable gift bags, desserts, prizes and drinks. Pick up tips to make your holiday season eco-smart: from unique gift wrapping ideas and LED lights to greener gift ideas … start your season out right with Pivot!

Need Some Gently Used House Parts?

Michael Herman — Thu, 31 May 2007 16:52:07 +0000

You recycle bottles and cans. And paper. But what about windows? 2x4s? Countertops and cabinets? Gary Zuckerman does it all. He can help you move it, too. Here’s how he describes his business:

Recycle Plus offers resedential, commercial, and industrial recycling services for the public. In addition to this we sell reusable items like moving boxes, furniture, buckets, etc. Recycle Plus also does light moving jobs.

My wife and I are buying an old bungalow and planning renovation. A friend put us in touch with Gary and we’re planning to reuse materials that he collects and resells. It’s going to save money and energy.

Contact Gary at Recycle Plus by phone: 773-761-5937 …or by email: gzuckerman@sbcglobal.net.

Something’s Blooming in Marshall Square

Michael Herman — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:39:32 +0000

Ted Ernst’s Marshall Square Parkway Garden Club project is blooming in some pleasantly surprising ways. Check out how he’s turning a toilet paper question into a community garden answer.

Wind Power to Provide 30% of Columbia College’s Energy

SueKazoo — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 22:17:36 +0000

I wanted to pass along this great news I just read about Columbia College Chicago:

ColumbiaONLINE: Your source for news and information on the Columbia College and community.

February 22, 2007
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 9

Wind Power to Provide 30 Percent of Columbia’s Energy

The college has entered into a two-year agreement with Community Energy, Inc. to purchase 4,410 megawatt hours of electricity—approximately 30 percent of its annual usage—as Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) in wind power. Community Energy, Inc. is a nonprofit wind turbine farm developer.

The shift from traditional sources of electrical power to wind-generated power is expected to save the college about $1 million in energy costs over the next two years, in addition to upholding the institution’s increasing commitment to sustainable practices. The purchase also qualifies Columbia for membership in the Green Power Leadership Club, a national initiative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For a more detailed explanation of RECs and the college’s agreement, see this week’s Columbia Chronicle online.