May 2010
DOE Masthead Events

Get Ready for the City of Chicago 2010 Neighborhood Paper Drive

Thirty percent of what Chicagoans throw away is paper, yet it is one of Stack of magazines to be recycledthe most readily recyclable materials. Participate in the City of Chicago's 2010 Neighborhood Paper Drive and help keep this resource out of our landfills. You can bring the drive to your neighborhood by identifying a neighborhood organization, a potential location for the paper collection dumpster, and a type of paper (mixed, office, or newspaper/magazines) to be collected. Cash prizes will be awarded to the neighborhood organizations that recycle the most paper. Submit an application by May 7, 2010. The competition begins on June 5, 2010.


Vote for the 2010 Earth Day Student Video Contest Viewer's Choice Award

Chicago students answered the call and created 90-second video clips telling everyone how they're taking action against climate change.  Winning videos were announced on Earth Day (April 22) at a special event on Daley Plaza. Now's your chance to take a simple action against climate change by supporting  their efforts: cast your vote for your favorite video through May 18. The "Viewer's Choice" will be announced at this year's Green Festival.  

Help Bring Free Trees to Our Parks 


The Chicago Park District is competing with Illustration of fruit treecities across the country for a chance to receive free fruit trees for our parks. Vote online once a day, every day until August 31st for your favorite park. The parks in the running are Douglas Park, Humboldt Park, Jackson Park, Washington Park and Garfield Park. One winner will be announced each month.

Create a Sustainable Backyard  

RainbarrelLearn how to make your backyard more environmentally friendly with a rain barrel and compost bin and receive a rebate form for $30 off your rain barrel and compost bin purchase. Join us:

  • May 8 - South Shore Library, 2505 E 73rd St

  • May 13 - Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St.

Additional workshops are scheduled through August.  RSVPs are required. Participants are automatically entered to win a free rain barrel or compost bin. Rebates are available only to residents who attend a Sustainable Backyard Workshop.

Think Clean and Green this Spring


Properly dispose of your unwanted chemicals and E-waste computer and cell phonecomputers at the City's Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility at 1150 N. North Branch (two blocks east of the Kennedy at Division St.). Open the first Saturday of every month from 8:00AM - 3:00 PM,  Tuesdays from 7:00AM-noon and Thursdays from 2:00 - 7:00PM. Visit our website to view instructions for dropping off, directions and a complete list of accepted materials. Sorry, latex paint and working televisions are not accepted.

Environmental Events Around Town

5/1 - 10/31: Chicago Farmers' Markets City of Chicago and private

05/1: A Guided Bike Tour of Neighborhood Green Initiatives (Logan Square and HumboldtPark) Active Transportation Alliance

 

5/3, 5/6 & 5/13: Bungalow Masonry: Keeping up Appearances, Keeping down Energy Costs Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

5/3: Sustainability Careers Seminar (Combined Early & Mid-careers Levels) Foresight Design

5/4: Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance: Evening Nexus
Foresight Design

5/8: Chicago River Day Friends of the Chicago River

05/13: Creative Living in the City Lecture: Treasured Chicago Destinations by Foot, Bike and Public Transit  Friends of the Parks and Active Transportation Alliance

5/15: Solar Schools Ride Climate Cycle


5/18: Sustainable Operations and Management for Affordable Residential Properties Chicago Community Loan Fund

 

5/21: Bicycle Parade and Safety Clinic Chicago Park District

5/22 & 5/23: Green Festival Global Exchange and Green America


5/30: Bike the Drive Active Transportation Alliance



CCGT Programs & Exhibits

Chicago Solar POWERUP!
The Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT) is currently recruiting for this year's Solar POWERUP program.  Open to kids age 9-13, Solar POWERUP teaches children about renewable energy and sustainable technologies while they design, build and race a solar powered car. Two sessions will be held at CCGT from 8:30 AM-12:00 PM:

  • Session I: 7/13-7/16
  • Session II: 7/20-7/23
The finale event takes places on 7/24. Register by June 30. Registration is limited to 20 students per session. Call (312) 746-4155. Fee is $75. Limited scholarships are available.

 

Big. Bold. Visionary. Chicago Considers the Next Century.

5/4 -8/28

2nd Floor, Chicago Center for Green Technology

 

Green Inside Out
In partnership with the Chicago Architecture Foundation

5/15; 6/12; 7/10; 8/7

10:30 AM-12:30 PM

Archicenter Shop, Santa Fe Building, 224 S. Michigan Ave.

In This Issue
2010 Neighborhood Paper Drive
Vote for Your Favorite Earth Day Video
Bring Free Trees to Our Parks
Create a Sustainable Backyard
Think Clean & Green This Spring
Around Town
CCGT Programs & Exhibits
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Increase your knowledge of sustainability, green building and public policy. Attend a workshop or seminar at the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT). Unless otherwise noted, all classes are free of charge and held on site. See the program brochure for full descriptions.

 

Working with a Green Architect

5/1

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

 

Chicago Riverwalk

5/5

12:15-1:00 PM

@ Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 South Michigan Avenue

 

LEED™ EC: Economics and Feasibility for Onsite Solar Energy Systems

5/6

5:30-8:00 PM

 

Composting with Worms

5/8

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

 

Anatomy of a Sustainable Enterprise Business Plan (CSBA 106)

5/10

3:00-5:30 PM

@ Women's Business Development Center, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 400

 

Case Study: Logan Square Kitchen

5/11

6:00 -8:00 PM

 

Transformative Systems

5/12

12:15-1:00 PM

@ Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 South Michigan Avenue

 

Clean Energy Policy and Energy Programs for Illinois Consumers

5/13

6:00-8:00 PM

 

Green Renovation: Materials Options

5/18

6:00-8:00 PM

 

Chicago's Sustainable Branch Libraries

5/19

12:15-1:00 PM

@ Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 South Michigan Avenue

 

Energy Retrofit Results: Experience from Chicago Case Studies

5/22

1:00-3:00 PM

 

Navigating the Environmental Asset Maze-Carbon Offsets, RECs, RINs, and Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs)

5/25

6:00-8:00 PM

 

A Look at Frank Lloyd Wright's Organic Principles in the Context of Today's Sustainable Initiatives

5/26

12:15-1:00 PM

@ Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 South Michigan Avenue

 

Designing Wrightwood Crossing: A Case Study of a LEED™ Platinum For-profit Residential Building

5/27

6:00-8:00 PM

 

Getting the Ideal Lawn, Naturally

5/29

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Share your questions or feedback with the Department of Environment. We'd like to hear from you.
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Get involved and lend a hand helping our environment. View volunteer opportunities around Chicago through the Chicago Conservation Corps and its partners.