Sustainability News and Events May 3, 2012

Sustainability News and Events May 3, 2012 

From the City of Evanston Office of Sustainability

 

Evanston to Buy its Own Energy, Save Residents Money and Help Achieve Climate Action Goals

On April 30, 2012, the Evanston City Council voted unanimously to purchase electricity from Constellation Energy, an Alternate Retail Electricity Supplier (ARES), and specified that a 100% renewable energy mix be used. This move makes Evanston one of the few Illinois communities to purchase energy at a substantially lower rate for its residents, while attaining the benefits of renewable energy. Read more >>>

Celebrate Going Green at the Evanston Green Ball Benefit!

Sponsored by the Evanston Environmental Association and the City of Evanston, the Green Ball is a festive event held on Friday, May 18 that will feature South Boulevard Band playing live blues music and delicious food and beverages from different local restaurants and food vendors around Evanston. The purpose of this event is to support the Evanston Ecology Center through increased awareness of sustainability issues. All proceeds from the benefit will go towards the programs and operations at the Ecology Center. Learn more about how to sign up or donate to the event!

May Green Drinks - Creating Bird-friendly Spaces

This month's installment of Green Drinks, a free networking opportunity and panel discussion, will focus on creating bird-friendly spaces in our gardens and buildings around Evanston.  The May Green Drinks will be held on Tuesday, May 8th from 7 - 9 pm at the Firehouse Grill, 750 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.  Birds, just like us, need healthy environments to live. Come learn how we can create spaces that support biodiversity in Evanston and reduce the impact of our built environment on birds. Panelists will include: Judy Pollock - Audubon Chicago Region; Julie Siegel - Sustainable landscape designer; and Annette Prince - Director, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors. Read more >>>

CUB Energy Savers Competition Winners Have Been Announced!

The CUB Energy Savers Project invites the “Big Seven” Evanston Employers to compete to save energy by recruiting members to sign up and participate in the year-long challenge. Members strive to make their team achieve the largest average drop in electricity waste using CUB Energy Saver.  Congratulations to the top two teams, NorthShore University HealthSystem and Evanston Township High School who are this year’s winners! Special congratulations to Amber Knopp of NorthShore’s team and Mary Spoden of the ETHS team who were the randomly selected from these two teams to receive a year of free power, up to $1800! CUB Energy Savers also announced another promotion in honor of Earth Month, where the organization will pay the April electric bill for one in ten new participants who join the online service before June 1! Here you can learn more about the competition and how you can get involved! 

 

First Downtown Farmers Market of the Season

Spring is upon us, which means that it is time for the weekly Evanston downtown farmers market to open! Starting on May 5, Friends of Evanston Markets hosts the farmers market at the intersection of University Place and Oak Avenue every Saturday from 7:30am to 1pm. The 2012 market opening marks the 37^th year of the Evanston Farmers Market, and will include more vendors than ever before who will sell a variety of fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, dairy products and baked goods. Learn more about the list of vendors and details about the market!

 

Help Celebrate and Support National Drinking Water Week

May 6-12 is National Drinking Water Week, which is an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate the essential role that water plays for individuals and in the community. This year, the theme for Evanston is “Got Water?” to remind us all about the necessity and importance of water. Throughout the week, the city will host numerous events and activities for all ages to observe and honor National Drinking Water Week. There are activities for everyone! The Sunset Paddle is an event for adults and families to canoe together at dusk to observe and learn about all of the different animals that rely on our waterway for survival. A book discussion on Elizabeth Royte’s Bottlemania gives residents the opportunity to discuss her thesis on the importance of conserving our rapidly depleting drinkable water supply. A film screening of the documentary “Tapped” investigates the topics and concerns around access to drinking water, followed by a discussion about this crisis and possible solutions. Find out more about the different events and how to get involved, as well as tips about how to help conserve water!

 

Purchase a Rain Barrel to Go Green and Save Money on Your Water Bill

These rain barrels, which can be purchased at Evanston Ecology Center, collect water from your roof and store the water which can be later used for your garden, lawn, and many other household needs. The proceeds from these barrels go to support the Evanston Ecology Center and the Evanston Environmental Association, as well as help you save money on your water bill down the line, especially during the dry months.  Learn more about how the barrel functions, how to purchase a rain barrel and all of its different uses!

 

I-GO Charging Station Installation Underway

Starting in October 2011, the City of Evanston began planning for the implementation of I-Go charging stations and electric cars which would give Evanston residents the opportunity to rent a vehicle with decreased greenhouse gas emissions. Beginning on April 16, installation began for I-Go car charging stations and solar canopies in three parking lots across Evanston. These I-Go cars, including Plug-in Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, are environmentally friendly and low-emission electric vehicles that are now available for rental. Find out more about I-Go electric cars and where these charging stations can be found!

Make Every Day Earth Day

Earth Day was April 22, but that does not mean that your efforts to improve the planet have to stop there! There are many steps that you can take every day to help reduce waste and improve environmental sustainability. From gardening, to walking, to reusable products, there are many ways that you can change your habits in order to honor Earth Day every day of the year. Here are some great tips for how to go green every day!

Recycling Fair this Summer- Save the Date

The date for the second annual Evanston Recycling Fair has been set for Saturday, July 14! The City of Evanston invites residents to bring a variety of electronic items to the ETHS parking lot between 9am-12pm, such as cell phones, DVD players and laptops, to be recycled. There will also be educational materials and information about recycling in order to help residents become more aware of how waste reduction can be achieved. More information will be provided about the fair as we get closer to the event. The City will also be looking for volunteers to help with the event. Information will be posted on VolunteerEvanston in the coming weeks for volunteer opportunities. Here you can find examples of the different electronic items that can be recycled at the fair!