"As Chicago continues to expand and evolve its environmental agenda, there is an opportunity to create quality jobs, improve our neighborhoods, and build a higher quality of life for our residents," said Mayor Emanuel. "These plans allow the city to focus its environmental efforts on key goals which will lead to economic development and greater opportunity for all Chicagoans."

Many of the goals in the plan deal with the economic opportunity that comes with environmental awareness, which is a key factor Mayor Emanuel has highlighted for businesses. A sustainable Chicago is a Chicago that spends less on energy usage, creates jobs in up-and-coming industries, responsibly maintains and upgrades its infrastructure and ensures that every Chicagoan has the opportunity to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Decisions made by civic leaders in the past protected our 26 miles of public lakefront, created 580 parks, built the 224 miles of L track, and laid the foundation for the Chicago we all enjoy. 

The roadmap outlines 24 goals in 7 areas critical to Chicago:
1. Economic Development and Job Creation
2. Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy
3. Transportation Options
4. Water and Wastewater
5. Parks, Open Space, and Healthy Food
6. Waste and Recycling
7. Climate Change

Some example goals include a commitment to improve citywide energy efficiency by 5%, reduce municipal fossil fuel consumption by 10%, decrease water use and improve stormwater management, increase access to parks and recycling, as well as reduce carbon emissions and establish Chicago as a hub for the growing sustainable economy.   

The Chicago Department of Transportation has selected the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) to manage the Chicago Sustainable Backyards Program (SusBy).  SusBy promotes simple, low-cost measures that residents can use to enhance the environment and reduce neighborhood flooding.

Educational workshops will continue to be offered to residents who want

to learn more about the SusBy program and the basics of making their green spaces more sustainable.

Sustainable Backyards is part of CNT's "Smart Water for Smart Regions" initiative, which includes research, inventive solutions, and regional advocacy focused on water supply and stormwater management in the Great Lakes region.  Sustainable Backyards will complement CNT's wet weather retrofitting program, "Wetrofit," to test and install fixes for flooding, currently being piloted in Chicago's Albany Park and Rogers Park neighborhoods.

Funding for rebates currently comes from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Pollution Prevention Program and a USDA Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant.

Find more information at www.cityofchicago.org/rainbarrel or by contacting susby@cnt.org or 312.743.9283.

Great Lakes Bioneers Chicago invites you to join local and international visionaries to create nature-inspired solutions to society's most important challenges. Programming for all ages, including speakers, workshops, visual and performing arts, and an exhibit hall. Keynotes by Vandana Shiva, Nina Simons, John Edel, Gerould Wilhelm, Mark Lakeman, Starhawk, and Richard Heinberg. Help us start a long-term, local movement that will create a vibrant, environmentally healthy, and socially just city through positive solutions that follow nature's principles.

Early Bird registration ends 9/28!

To register or learn more please visit  http://chicagobioneers.org or search #chibioneers on twitter.