Go Green Newsletter

March-April 2010

In This Issue

  • Green Events
  • Recycling A-Z
  • Chicago’s Solar Future
  • Go Green: Growing Veggies on Your Balcony

GREEN EVENTS AROUND CHICAGO

Alfred Caldwell: Dynamics Between Landscape, Architecture, and People-March 1st. How does one incorporate architecture, landscape, and the needs of those who live and experience the landscape? Joel Baldin, ASLA, Hitchcock Design Group, discusses selected Alfred Caldwell designs and their dynamic restorations. Click here for more information.

Transition Roger’s Park Film Series: No Impact Man- March 10th. Tells the story of Colin Beavan after his decision to eliminate his impact on the environment for one year. Click here for more information.

Chicago Earth Day Kayak- Sunday, April 18th. Join Chicago Kayak as they help clean up the trash in/around the Skokie Lagoons. www.chicagokayak.com

Earth Day 5k Chicago- Saturday, April 24th. Celebrate Earth Day’s 40th anniversary to celebrate “the intersection of health, the mainstream green movement and diverse community engagement” in Humboldt Park/Logan Square. Check out http://www.earthday5kchicago.com/ for more information.



RECYLING A-Z:

Each Go Green newsletter will give you tips on how to recycle common items in your home and office.

K and L Recycling:


Keys and nail clippers: For many recycling centers, any metal that isn’t a can is considered scrap metal and can be recycled


Leather Shoes: Donate shoes in decent condition to solesforsouls.org, a nonprofit that collects used footwear and distributes it to communities in need.


Click here for more information about how to recycle A-Z.



CHICAGO’S SOLAR FUTURE

Illinois has a very aggressive plan for renewable energy. While developments over the past several years in solar system technology in Illinois have been lacking, it appears that Chicago is prime for solar power success. Several factors have come together to create an ideal environment for solar energy development.

Funding from the stimulus package, reduced panel costs, and readily available labor all could lead to solar energy potential. One example of this convergence of factors is the 10 MW Exelon solar facility in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood. Set to start operating in 2010, it will be the largest urban solar plant in the country.

Additionally, Illinois gives strong tax credits for solar. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has a solar energy rebate program which provides tax rebates of up to 30% of a project’s cost (with a maximum of $50,000).  When joined with similar federal tax credits, solar systems have a formidable economic value.

Lastly, Illinois’s renewable energy standard requires that a small portion of Illinois’s renewable energy must come from solar, starting in 2015.  Illinois also allows for limited “net metering” – meaning that your electric meter runs backwards for excess solar power fed back onto the grid.

All of these factors seem to have set the stage for solar power’s success in Chicago. Learn more about Chicago’s solar future at http://www.illinoissolar.org/.

(Source: Afreshsqueeze.com)


GO GREEN: GROWING VEGGIES ON YOUR BALCONY


With Spring right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to start planning what vegetables you will be growing yourself this year. A few veggies are easier for the city resident—those which require less space and either intense sun or little/no sun. Check out the suggestions below for a successful summer crop of your own vegetables!

  1. Lettuce and Other Greens: Lettuce, spinach, mesclun, and many other dark leafy greens are ideal crops for fire-escape gardens. Greens are easy to grow (although they do need constant watering) and don’t mind a fair amount of shade.
  2. Beets: Surprisingly, beets are great in containers and also like a fair amount of shade. Try ‘Detroit Dark Red,’ ‘Bull’s Blood,’ or ‘Chiogga,’
  3. Beans: Pole beans are great for people who are extremely tight on space. Beans grow vertically, up a trellis, rather than using horizontal space. There are many different varieties, so try a few different types to add diversity to your garden.
  4. Herbs: Mint, lavender and chives will all hold up great against the strong winds off Lake Michigan. Almost all herbs are excellent choices for container gardening.
  5. Chile Peppers: Like beans, there are several varieties of chile pepper plants. Chiles are great container plants if you are overloaded in sun. Try Serrano, Thai chilies, or Chile de Arbol.

Seeds for your garden are available (often for free!) from Craig’s List and Freecycle. Local gardening groups will often help inexperienced gardeners get started with seeds and helpful tips. Good luck!

(Sources: Treehugger.com; Chicago Garden Blog)

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