Browsing environmental news sources so you don't have to. Contact Laura Barnes (lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu) with questions, comments, and suggestions.
Follow ENB on TwitterRead the full story in the Daily Illini.
Gov. Pat Quinn came to the Illini Union Thursday to announce that the University will be the first recipient of a large Customer Energy Efficiency Grant to help lower energy costs across campus.
Read the full story in Crain’s Chicago Business.
A state task force on the Chicago area’s long-term water needs issued hundreds of recommendations for businesses and residents to start conserving now to prevent future shortages.
High-efficiency toilets and washing machines, increased metering of water use, more-realistic pricing and greater recycling of water is needed to meet the demands of a growing population, the group said in a report issued Tuesday.
The Regional Water Supply Planning Group, funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, has been studying the region’s water consumption for three years.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago is the only major U.S. city that doesn’t disinfect its sewage, and the agency that treats its wastewater has a new reason for opposing the idea:
It’s bad for the environment.
Engineers with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago recently completed an in-house study of its carbon footprint at the request of the elected board of commissioners. Going beyond the assignment, they also decided to look at how the footprint would change if it had to kill bacteria in sewage before pouring it into the Chicago River.
Following is a list of Illinois State Water Survey publications that were released in 2009. Links to the full-text products have been provided.
Contract Report 2009-01: Sanford, Robert, Theodore Flynn, Thomas Holm, and Walton Kelly. Fate of Arsenic in the Mahomet Aquifer: The Influence of Added Sulfate and Nitrate.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D01Contract Report 2009-02: Li, Xuan, Jinwen Wang, James Economy, and Walton Kelly. Development of an Anionic Exchange Glass Fiber Substrate POU Device to Remove Arsenic.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D02Contract Report 2009-03: Flegel, Amanda J., Jennifer L. Byard, and Sally A. McConkey. Big Rock and Welch Creek Flood Study, Kane County, Illinois.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D03Contract Report 2009-04: Westcott, Nancy. Continued Operation of a 25-Raingage Network for Collection, Reduction, and Analysis of Precipitation Data for Lake Michigan Diversion Accounting: Water Year 2008.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D04Contract Report 2009-05: Westcott, Nancy E., Kevin L. Rennels, and Steven D. Wilson. Operation of Rain Gauge and Groundwater Monitoring Networks for the Imperial Valley Water Authority, Year 15: September 2006—August 2007.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D05Contract Report 2009-06: Holm, Thomas R., and Steven D. Wilson. Spatial Variability of Arsenic in Groundwater.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D06Contract Report 2009-07: Meyer, Scott C., George S. Roadcap, Yu-Feng Lin, and Douglas D. Walker. Kane County Water Resources Investigations: Simulation of Groundwater Flow in Kane County and Northeastern Illinois.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D07Contract Report 2009-08: Wilson, Steven D., Nancy E. Westcott, Kevin L. Rennels, and H. Allen Wehrmann. Operation of Rain Gauge and Groundwater Monitoring Networks for the Imperial Valley Water Authority, Year 13: September 2004—August 2005.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D08Contract Report 2009-09: Bekele, Elias G., and H. Vernon Knapp. Hydrologic Modeling of the Fox River Watershed Using SWAT2000: Model Development, Calibration, and Validation.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D09Contract Report 2009-10: Knapp, H. Vernon, and Jory S. Hecht. Evaluating Drought Vulnerability of Small Community Surface Water Supply Systems in the Midwest.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D10Contract Report 2009-11: Lin, Yu-Feng F., and Chang Liu. Smart Pipe: Nanosensors for Monitoring Water Quantity and Quality in Public Water Systems.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D11Contract Report 2009-12: Changnon, Stanley A., David Changnon, and Steven D. Hilberg. Hailstorms Across the Nation: An Atlas About Hail and its Damages.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+CR+2009%2D12Data/Case Study 2009-01: Wetherbee, Gregory A., Natalie E. Latysh, Shannon M. Greene, and Tanya Chesney. U.S. Geological Survey External Quality-Assurance Program Results Reported to the National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network and Mercury Deposition Network for 2005—2006.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+DCS+2009%2D01Reports of Investigations 118: Changnon, Stanley A., and David Kristovich. The Severe Winter of 2008-09 in Illinois.
http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/pubdetail.asp?CallNumber=ISWS+RI%2D118
This announcement is a service of the Illinois State Water Survey (http://www.isws.illinois.edu). Search for other publications in ISWS series at this link (http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubs/isearch.asp). Abstracts and full-text versions of recent publications are available, as is information for ordering printed versions of some publications.
Read the full story from the University of Illinois.
Origami is the ancient art of folding paper into delicate, intricate creations. But in University of Illinois labs, origami is also a science. Illinois researchers have found a way to fold microscopically thin slices of silicon into all kinds of useful shapes, which could have applications in many areas, including solar energy.
Specifically, researchers have found an effective, efficient way for silicon to fold itself into three-dimensional spheres, which could be used as solar cells, says Ralph Nuzzo, U of I chemistry1 professor. A spherical solar cell would be able to absorb the energy of the sun much more efficiently than a typical, flat solar cell.
The Office of Sustainability is pleased to announce the Campus Series on the Scholarship of Sustainability. This ten week series of presentations and discussions will begin on February 4th, 2010.
Sessions will be held Thursdays, 4:10-5:50 p.m., in 213 Gregory Hall. Students, staff, faculty, and community members are invited to take part. To enroll for credit, please check NRES 499, sections A, XM, NC or 395, section C at http://sustainability.illinois.edu/academic_resources.html.
Please go to www.sustainability.illinois.edu for a comprehensive outline of the Series.
Read the full story at ABC7.
The same trucks that transport our food across the country could be using byproducts of what they haul for fuel.
There may be a ‘green’ benefit to that hamburger and fries you might’ve had for lunch. The oil they were cooked in could be reused for fuel.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a total of $800,000 to five state government agencies to support state efforts to work with communities to address environmental and public health issues, such as childhood lead poisoning and exposure to air pollution. The funding will help address concerns in communities disproportionately exposed to environmental risks.
The following organizations received $160,000 each for the projects described below:
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for developing a system to ensure the participation of Alaska Native tribal organizations in the state permitting process.
California Department of Toxic Substances Control for creating and implementing public education programs, developing compliance assistance programs for small businesses, and focusing on generating green jobs in communities identified as having environmental justice concerns.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for conducting community outreach on residential lead paint contamination and proper handling and abatement throughout the City of East St. Louis.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for providing remediation and education to reduce community exposure to air pollution and solid waste.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for offering technical assistance to communities in a pilot program to conduct environmental assessments and address environmental issues using the collaborative problem-solving model
EPA provides funding for state-lead environmental justice projects under the agency’s State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement program with the goal of developing approaches that can be replicated in other communities with similar concerns.
Information about state funding through the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement program: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-sejca-grants.html
Information about funding for local governments and non-profit organizations through the Environmental Justice Small Grants program: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
Read the full story from the Decatur Herald & Review.
Rising 125 feet in the air, the wind turbine on the Richland Community College campus can’t be missed.
Read the full story in the Daily Illini.
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, or ISTC, held the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Awards at the I Hotel, 1900 S. First St., on Wednesday. Various companies and organizations throughout the state were awarded for their dedication to improving the environment through conservation and energy efficiency.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
Mayor Richard Daley wants to make Chicago the greenest city in America. By one measure, he’s done it. Chicago now has more certified green buildings than any other city in the country, according to figures from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Read the full story from Mother Nature Network.
Growing Home works with the homeless and low-income population in Chicago to provide organic agriculture training.
Read the Chicago Tribune architecture critic’s post and view snapshots of this interesting exhibit to mark the 100th anniversary of the Burnham Plan. The exhibit, titled “Big. Bold. Visionary. Chicago Architects Consider the Next Century”, is on display at Chicago’s Tourism Center Gallery. Many of the entries incorporate environmental/renewable energy elements into their designs.
Read the full story from Environmental News Service.
With the summer drawing to a close, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed new legislation into law Friday creating statewide minimum energy efficiency standards for new homes. The new standards are intended to save Illinois families money on energy costs, reduce energy waste and cut carbon emissions.
The product of years of negotiations, House Bill 3987, the Energy Efficient Building Act, brings Illinois in line with the latest International Energy Conservation Code for new residential construction, updated automatically every three years. The measure expands the existing Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act first enacted in 2004 to cover both commercial and residential buildings.
Where: Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook IL
When: September 30, 2009
Who should attend: Mayors; city managers; public works, parks, planning, development and environmental department heads and staff; elected officials; policy makers; environmental leaders in Illinois.
This conference offers a day of nuts-and-bolts advice on energy conservation, stormwater management, waste reduction, green building, sustainable landscaping and potential funding.
Registration is $150 until Sept. 10, then $175, with group discounts available. Registration closes Sept. 23. For more information or to register, contact Mary Horek at the University of Illinois Extension, 630-445-3216, e-mail mhorek@illinois.edu, or view the conference web site at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/elc/.
Watch the video at Vimeo.
Students at the University of Illinois are experimenting with ways to convert food waste into compost for their campus farm.
Todd Rusk of ISTC is working with this group.
Eighty Chicagoans will receive critical job training funded by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced today at a Chicago press conference. These workers will be trained for various environmental jobs, including the clean-up of so-called “brownfields,” which may be contaminated by hazardous chemicals or pollutants, turning sites from rundown eyesores to revitalized, productive properties. Workers will also be trained to weatherize buildings, lowering energy costs and reducing wasteful energy usage.
“The Recovery Act is not only helping to train individuals for good jobs in their communities, it’s helping them rebuild a lasting foundation for prosperity. By restoring undeveloped lots through the Brownfields program, or weatherizing buildings to lower energy costs, these workers will generate new economic possibilities, bringing new opportunities and jobs here,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “EPA is providing solutions in these challenging economic times, and making clear that – in Chicago or anywhere else in the country – protecting our health and our environment is a great way to rebuild our economy.”
OAI, Inc., a Chicago non-profit, will receive a $499,047 grant to train 80 workers for green jobs. The grant is provided through EPA’s Brownfields Job Training Program. OAI plans to place at least 75% of its graduates in environmental technician jobs. OAI will work with an Employer Advisory Council, including the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation, and DNR Construction, Inc., to place graduates in environmental jobs.
EPA established the Brownfields Job Training Program to help residents take advantage of jobs created by the assessment and cleanup of brownfields and to ensure the communities reap the benefits from brownfields redevelopment. The target areas for this grant include the 9th and 24th wards in Chicago’s South Side and seven south-Chicago suburban communities, according to OAI. After evaluating the local labor market, the City of Chicago identified a need to fill a growing number of positions in weatherization and site clean up.
Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant, including mine-scarred lands or sites contaminated by petroleum or the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs. EPA’s Brownfields Program encourages redevelopment of America’s estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites.
EPA expects to announce additional brownfields and job training grants across the country in the coming days.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009, and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.
Additional information on EPA Region 5 brownfields activities is available at http://www.epa.gov/r5brownfields.
Information on ARRA brownfields job training grants and other EPA Brownfields activities under the Recovery Act: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/eparecovery/index.htm
Information on brownfields job training grants: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/job.htm
Read the full story at GreenerBuildings.
A Chipotle Mexican Grill in Illinois with its own wind turbine and a 2,500-gallon underground water cistern to harvest rainwater was certified by the U.S. Green Building Council at the organization’s highest rating.
Read the full story in EcoStructure.
New residential buildings in Illinois will use less energy and cost less to operate thanks to the residential energy-efficient building code passed by the Illinois General Assembly. House Bill 3987, sponsored by Rep. Julie Hamos and Sen. Don Harmon, will require all new buildings, including houses, to conform to the International Energy Conservation Code.
August 10-13, 2009
Collinsville, IL
Conference website: http://www.conferences.uiuc.edu/mississippiriver/index.html
Join a diverse group of participants with interest in our nation’s largest river, including stakeholders in the recreational, navigation, and agricultural sectors, researchers, and natural resource professionals.
Through conference presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, attendees will formulate policy recommendations on four issues critical to the sustainable management of the Mississippi River and the human communities that depend on it.
The conference will culminate with a special Policy Forum where recommendations will be delivered directly to key elected officials and decision makers.
Read the full story in the Daily Illini.
Samantha White, 6, ran behind a bush and found a wrapper and a fountain drink cup. She picked them up and threw them into her reusable green grocery bag.”I’m trying to collect garbage to help the Earth,” White said.
White already had six pieces of trash in her bag that she found from scouring the grounds surrounding the Savoy Recreation Center, 402 Graham Dr. She said she hoped to find more trash than the 11 other children roaming around collecting garbage in their reusable bags.
White and the other children collecting trash were participating in a contest to see who could find the most garbage littered on the ground. But no matter who had the most in their bag at the end of the search, everyone was a winner. They had all won because they had improved the environment for themselves and for others.
This was the concept their instructors, Courtnie Swearingen, a senior at the University, and Julie Zientek, a junior at Eastern Illinois University, said they hoped the children would learn from the day’s activity at Go Green Camp, a new summer program at the recreation center aimed at teaching children ages five to 12 how to protect the environment.
Read the full story in the New York Times.
The 1970s-era modernist building in Chicago will undergo a $350 million green retrofit, which includes the installation of wind turbines on its roof.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
When the state ordered Crestwood officials nine years ago to test their community well for toxic chemicals, they said it wasn’t necessary because all of the village’s drinking water came from Lake Michigan.
“This sampling would not apply to our facility,” Frank Scaccia, the village’s certified water operator, wrote in an April 2000 letter to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
Citing Scaccia’s letter and other documents, Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday that accuses Crestwood officials of lying more than 120 times about their secret use of a community well contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. The suit outlines a systematic coverup of Crestwood’s routine use of its tainted well and provides more details about actions first publicly revealed by the Tribune in April.
Read the full story in Waste & Recycling News.
Dell and Goodwill Industries International are expanding a free drop-off program for consumers to recycle any brand of unwanted computer equipment.
The program is expanding to 451 new donation sites in seven additional states ù Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and West Virginia. The program in Wisconsin is also expanding to the southeastern and South Central parts of the state.
The Illinois legislative session is in full swing and legislators are considering several bills that would impact the state’s policies relating to environmental protection and energy policy.
A new report from FollowTheMoney.org examines the energy industry, pro-business organizations and environmental organizations that are working to impact the outcome of this legislation. The report shows that contributors interested in climate-change policy gave $7.2 million in 2008, 7 percent of all contributions given to candidate and party committees. Of this, $4.3 million came from 13 industry groups and associations opposed to carbon regulations.
All 53 lawmakers who sit on the relevant committees that hear the bills or serve in key leadership positions received money from the interested parties. The four people in leadership positions received $573,550 from members of the 13 industry groups and associations and an additional $312,881 from other associations, organizations and individual companies–eight times as much as the 49 members of the pertinent committees, and almost ten times the amount received by other lawmakers.
Associations and businesses in favor of stronger climate-change policies gave $21,450. Of that, $17,500 came from the Illinois Corn Growers Association.
The nonprofit, nonpartisan FollowTheMoney.org collects and analyzes campaign contribution information for state-level candidates, political party committees, and ballot committees. Its free, searchable database of contributions, as well as the full text of this report, are available online at FollowTheMoney.org.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
In the early 1990s, Mary Dye began walking her dog in a large, grassy meadow at the Miller Meadow Forest Preserve in Maywood.
Back then, piles of limestone sat in a fenced-off area, the result of the ongoing Deep Tunnel project. As she strolled through fields of wildflowers, Dye said she waited for the day when Miller Meadow would be restored to its original state.
Today, Dye said she is still waiting, and now environmental groups have joined her in raising concerns about the restoration of Miller Meadow, contending that the site poses hazards to visitors and the environment.
Specifically, they are concerned about numerous shards of broken concrete, glass, brick and metal pipes that are scattered across the site — and the erosion that is carrying debris and gray sludge, used to promote vegetation, toward the nearby Des Plaines River.
Read the full story in the Canton Daily Ledger.
Spoon River College has announced a $75,000 grant award from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to fund an energy savings project at the Macomb campus in partnership with Control Technology and Solutions (CTS) which will design and install energy efficiency improvements.
Read the full story at enews Park Forest.
The Village of Park Forest and the Park Forest Environment Commission have arranged for Upcycle Products to provide rain barrels for $49 each – an extremely reasonable price if you have researched the costs of rain barrels on-line.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
Federal agents raided government offices in south suburban Crestwood on Wednesday, less than two weeks after a Tribune investigation revealed the village had secretly pumped drinking water from a polluted well for more than two decades.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
Exelon Corp. will unveil on Wednesday plans to build a $60 million solar power plant on Chicago’s South Side, a small step to fighting climate change that leans heavily on government funding due to the high cost of turning sunlight into electricity.
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency information about sustainability and historic preservation.
Read the full story in the Daily Illini.
Gov. Pat Quinn is marking Earth Day by ordering state agencies to reduce waste and taking steps to make the Governor’s Mansion more eco-friendly.
Read the full story in the Daily Illini.
University environmental organizations are making it easier than ever to go green this Earth Day. From water-drinking contests to “Wall-E” screenings on the Quad, organizations on campus are trying to spread the word about recycling, the use of green energy and conservation.
Read the full story in the Peoria Journal Star.
Just in time for Earth Day, some very goopy earth is finally moving on one of the area’s most long-awaited environmental projects.
Overall, 200 acres of muck and silt may be dredged from Lower Peoria Lake to create three islands in the Illinois River. The effort begins with one 21-acre island north of the McClugage Bridge.
Read the full article in Time Out Chicago.
Earth Day comes around next week, but a give-and-take model of cost-effective, eco-conscious practices is at work every day in Chicago’s restaurant world.
Read the full story in the Chicago Tribune.
Like every town across the nation, south suburban Crestwood tucks a notice into utility bills each summer reassuring residents their drinking water is safe. Village leaders also trumpet the claim in their monthly newsletter, while boasting they offer the cheapest water rates in Cook County.
But those pronouncements hide a troubling reality: For more than two decades, the 11,000 or so residents in this working-class community unknowingly drank tap water contaminated with toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems, a Tribune investigation found.
Read the full post at Treehugger.
Ah, it’s good to see those stimulus dollars at work in such a productive, renewable energy generatin’ way. Using those fresh funds for exactly the kind of green project Obama had in mind, Invenergy Wind LLC and GE have teamed up to expand the Grand Ridge Energy Center in Illinois with 74 wind turbines—increasing the total generation capacity by more than 110 megawatts.
The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (formerly the Waste Management and Research Center) is accepting applications for the 2009 Governor’s Sustainability Awards. Applications must submitted by May 29, 2009 for consideration.
The Illinois Rain Garden Initiative is designed to empower students and communities to confront local flooding concerns, restore native Illinois prairie habitats, and learn about green solutions to storm water management. The Lt. Governor’s Office will award 20 grants of $500 each to plant rain gardens.
This year we are pleased to announce that as part of the grant, we will be awarding rain barrels that can be integrated into the rain gardens for a more sustainable project. Eligible organizations include: public institutions, non-profit groups and schools.
For more information and application materials, please visit: www.raingarden.il.gov or contact Jamie Campbell at 312-814-6671.
The Green Youth Award is an annual program sponsored by the Illinois EPA that recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of youth in Illinois who are working on environmental and conservation friendly projects. Eligible projects involve one or more of the following categories: waste reduction, prevention or reduction of pollution in the air (climate change/global warming), land or water; restoration, preservation or enhancement of natural areas; and energy or water efficiency. Applications are due by March 20, 2009 and can be obtained online at www.epa.state.il.us/green-youth/index.html or by calling 217-557-7826. The Awards ceremony will be on Earth Day, April 22 in Springfield at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
Read the full story in the Chi-Town Daily News.
A potentially toxic substance linked to paint pigment and recently found in Chicago air poses new challenges for environmental regulators.
University of Iowa researchers recently reported finding high concentrations of PCB 11 in air samples taken throughout Chicago between November 2006 and November 2007.
They reported their findings in the September 24 online issue of the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
Although other PCBs have been found in Chicago air, this is the first time PCB 11 has been detected in the air, says Keri Hornbuckle, who led the study.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Registration and Exhibits open at 9:00 a.m.
Speakers and Workshops from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Hosted by the Village of Lisle, Benedictine University, and The Morton Arboretum. Presented by the State of Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council.
Benedictine University Krasa Center
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL 60532
Registration for the 2008 Sustainable Cities Symposium is free.
Willie Cade, CEO, PC Rebuilders and Recyclers
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, 10:00 -11:00 a.m.
134 Temple Buell Hall, 611 Lorado Taft Dr., Champaign
Are you concerned about the environment? Are you interested in making a difference? Willie Cade is. As CEO of PCRR in Chicago, he is passionate about reusing unwanted personal computers. Mr. Cade founded PC Rebuilders and Recyclers in 1996 to help intercity students use technology to meet their maximum potential. He heads one of the first organizations in the United States to be designated a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher, allowing refurbished computers to take advantage of the vast installed base of Microsoft Windows. A stakeholder in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Responsible Recycling discussions for the past two years, Mr. Cade specifically represents the reuse community so that unwanted electronics are not destroyed but rather, that our carbon investment is more fully utilized. Mr. Cade also consults with Microsoft on computer refurbishing issues and for the past five years has co-sponsored the annual International Computer Refurbishers Conference.
I would like to transform the concept of e-waste to e-opportunity. I believe that we are at the beginning of a radical change in our world especially when it comes to education. I believe we have gone beyond the new stage and now we can concentrate on harvesting value and opportunity. Willie Cade, CEO, PC Refurbishers and Recyclers
Sponsored by the Environmental Council, Facilities and Services Division of Safety and Compliance and the Product Interaction Research Laboratory (PIRL), Industrial Design, School of Art and Design.
Following the recent storms that took the Chicago area by surprise, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is launching a free contest that will allow three lucky Illinois residents to win an artistically painted rain barrel and a way to “rein in the rain.”
http://www.cleanwaterillinois.org
Rain barrels offer a simple and effective solution to excess water. By collecting water that runs off the roof, homeowners can conserve water for later use and reduce the often-damaging impact of stormwater flow.
“This is a simple solution that can save your home from unnecessary water damage and your pocketbook from excessive water bills,” Quinn said at an August 8 news conference at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. “We want Illinois to be the rain barrel capital of the world, and we want to salute Austin Grammer and Isaac Sinnott for helping to make it happen.”
Austin Grammer, who manufactures rain barrels in Champaign, is donating the three painted rain barrels that will be awarded to Illinois residents through a random drawing. Isaac Sinnott, a 16-year-old Oak Park resident, converts recycled food storage containers into rain barrels and distributes the barrels to Oak Park residents through the village’s Public Works Department.
Both Austin and Isaac joined the Lt. Governor to launch the Rain Barrel Drawing. Illinois residents can enter to win one of three artistically painted rain barrels by visiting CleanWaterIllinois.org, or by visiting the Lt. Governor’s tent at the Illinois State Fair. The last day to enter is Sept. 12, 2008. Winners will be announced the following week.
One inch of rainfall on a typical residential roof can produce 625 gallons of water – enough to fill 11 rain barrels. And because Illinois typically receives 36 inches of rainfall every year, a standard 55-gallon rain barrel could be filled 400 times in a 12-month period. That’s especially helpful during the summer months, when nearly half of all water usage goes toward watering lawns and gardens.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
A Celebration of Illinois Rivers Through Education, Recreation, and Conservation
On Saturday, September 20, a statewide celebration of our precious resources will occur in towns across Illinois. It’s Our River Day will feature dozens of activities and events promoting recreation, conservation and education about Illinois rivers.
The goal of It’s Our River Day — which will be held on the third Saturday of every September — is to boost awareness of rivers by offering hands-on conservation activities as well as lively recreational opportunities. Broad citizen participation is needed to protect this natural resource, and It’s Our River Day is an important organizing tool for private and public agencies concerned with protecting this asset.
For details on the many “It’s Our River Day” activities on September 20, call the Lt. Governor’s Office at 312-814-5220 or visit www.cleanwaterillinois.org.
Proposals due: October 24, 2008
Proposals Selected: December 15, 2008
Funding available: May 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010
The Illinois Water Resources Center (IWRC) requests proposals to fund one graduate student from a college or university in Illinois who is conducting research that will lead to publication of a thesis related to Illinois water resources issues.
Graduate students from colleges and universities in Illinois who are enrolled as of August 2009 are eligible to apply. IWRC will fund one M.S. or Ph.D. student at 50% for 9-12 months to conduct research on Illinois water resources issues. Funding is available for a 9 to 12 month period between May 2009 and August 2010.
IWRC will pay the departmental student stipend rate, fringe benefits, tuition, and fees for the selected student. The student’s department must provide travel, supplies, space, equipment, and all indirect costs, which can be used as match. The matching requirement for IWRC grants is two non-federal dollars for each federal dollar received.
The proposal must be submitted by a faculty member. The graduate student to be funded should be listed as a co-PI. Proposals to support unknown future graduate students will not be considered.
DCEO’s Illinois Recycling Grants Program is now accepting applications for traditional and e-waste recycling. Application deadline is December 22, 2008. Visit http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Energy_Recycling/Recycling/ for more information.
Read the full story in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.
Bill Bagby calls his business Tiny Greens Organic Farm, but with it he’s gone green in big ways.
Foremost among those is the underground cement building in which sprouts and baby micro-greens are grown, some hydroponically, and some in the company’s own compost mix.
He calls the structure an “eco-builder’s dream.”
The south-facing building sports a green roof – believed to be the first on a commercial building in this area – and uses passive solar lighting, radiant heating and cooling, and super insulation.
So do the five other buildings on the 30-acre piece of idyllic land in Urbana Township where Tiny Greens is located, along with the Ananda Liinda yoga community.
Read the full story in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette.
The city council will discuss a “sustainability inventory report” Tuesday that is meant to show where the city stands in terms of energy usage and conservation.
The Illinois Water Resources Center (IWRC) and members of the planning committee invite you to join us for the 10th anniversary Illinois Water Conference, October 8-9 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign. Started in 1998, this biennial conference brings together agency personnel, scientists, educators, and community members for a two day discussion of the latest scientific advancements on topics of importance to water resources across the state.
For our 10th anniversary, former IWRC director and designer of this conference, Dr. Richard Sparks, will be giving a keynote address on Illinois waters past, present and future. Now the Research Director for the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, Dr. Sparks has been actively involved in the Illinois water community for over 30 years. Much of his work deals with aquatic biology and invasive species, but he has also become an ambassador for water resources around the world. Recent trips to Brazil and China have allowed Dr. Sparks to share success stories and encourage conservation of water resources internationally.
Plenary sessions topics will include:
Papers will be presented on:
Students are encouraged to attend this conference. Conference sponsors have graciously offered scholarships to cover the conference registration fee for student from Illinois colleges and universities. On October 8th, a panel discussion for students interested in pursuing careers in water resources help define opportunities and obstacles. Students will also present posters and papers during the conference sessions.
For more information and a full agenda, visit http://www.iisgcp.org/ilwater/.
