The Greening of Northcenter: Resources

Showing posts with label Resources. Show all posts

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Great Lakes Bioneers Chicago - Celebrating Community Resilience

If you are planning on attending this year’s Bioneers event at Roosevelt University on November 1-3, now is the best time to buy your early bird tickets (Oct 3rd). For information and tickets go to www.bioneerschicago.org. This is an event that strongly reflects the environmental committees values!

Elizabeth Wenscott (head of our Environmental Committee) has been hard at work with the Bioneers core team putting together a program that we think will strongly resonate with the folks living within the borders of NNA and beyond. For three full days we will be bringing together leading innovators from all walks of life to exchange ideas, build networks and inspire a shift to live on the Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and future generations. This is a fun, action-oriented gathering for people of all ages and experience levels who want to learn more about taking care of our planet.

The program will include:

• A main stage with 7 nationally recognized keynotes speaking on topics ranging from hydraulic fracking for natural gas to saving honey bees and stopping violence in our city.

• Over 30 workshops, interactive panel discussions and skill-shares on topics including time-banking, workplace democracy, renewable energy and healthy food.

• Six world cafe sessions on FOOD, WATER, WASTE, ENERGY, SHELTER and COMMUNITY RESILIENCE hosted by our keynotes and Chicago area environmental leaders.

• Organizing sessions on tar sands, hydraulic fracking and coal extraction in Illinois

• An interactive discussion on creative methods for non-violent direct action, featuring: Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Non-Violence; Savitri D of the Church of Stop Shopping; Greenpeace activist Kelly Mitchell; and Debbie Southorn of AFSC.

• Friday evening reception with ecologist, cancer survivor and activist Dr. Sandra Steingraber and music by our own Rhapsody Snyder

• Performances by Capoeira Angola; Alex Yoffe on the Javanese gamelan; the women’s African drumming ensemble Sheboom; and our own Wellington Avenue UCC choir, leading the audience in “Sing for the Climate”.

• Sunday closing celebration that includes Nathaniel Braddock and members of his Occidental Brothers Dance Band International.

Please join us for this exciting weekend and pass this message on to anyone whom you think might like to attend!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Save Energy this Winter: Take these Small Steps

$ Lower Your Thermostat.

$ Set Your Thermostat to 65 Degrees (or lower) at Night instead of 70 Degrees.

$ Switch to a Programmable Thermostat so Heat can be Turned Down Automatically at Night or While you are at Work.

$ Get Your Heating System Tuned Up by a Service Professional Annually.

A service professional will know how to keep your heating system running most efficiently, saving you money on your utility bills.

$ Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly or When Dirty.

$ Keep Doors Leading Outside Closed As Much As Possible.

This will help maintain the warmth in your house by reducing cold air coming inside.

$ Use Window Treatments to Help Keep Your Home Stay Warm.

Curtains and blinds add an extra layer of insulation around your windows. Closing them at night will help keep the warm air in; opening them during the day will allow the sun to warm your home.

$ Close Your Fireplace Flue when You're Not Using It.

This will help eliminate drafts and keep the warm air inside your home.

$ Install and Use a Ceiling Fan.

Ceiling fans set at a low-speed in a clockwise direction circulate warm air away from the ceiling and move it around the room.

$ Lower the Temperature of Your Hot Water Heater. (110 degrees or lower)

$ Switch to Real Time Pricing for Your Electricity.

See www.thewattspot.com or call 1-877-WattSpot

$ Monitor Your Energy Use.

Join Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Energy Saver to track your energy use and earn reward points for savings. Points are redeemable at many national retailers. See www.cubenergysaver.com.

$ Get a Home Energy Audit.

Have a BPI or RESNET certified expert identify your biggest opportunities for improvement before you start investing in expensive items around your home—this can save you thousands of dollars and years of frustration.

$ Seal Air Leaks Around Your Home, Particularly Your Windows, with Caulk or Weather Stripping.

Install weather stripping to alleviate air leaks around windows and doors located between heated and unheated areas.

· Air leaks around the window and door trim should be caulked, as well as around cove and baseboard molding on exterior walls.

· Insulated covers should be installed on electrical outlets and switches located on exterior walls.

· Plastic film insulation can also be applied on windows and sliding patio doors that won't be used in the winter.

· If window unit air conditioners cannot be removed, they should be covered with plastic and air leaks sealed with foam rope and removable caulk.

$ Air Seal & Insulate Your Attic.

It's one of the most cost-effective savings measures you can take, and you may be able to do it yourself! Crawl spaces and walls are other key areas for air sealing and insulation.

$ Upgrade to a High Efficiency Gas Furnace or Boiler.

Replacing your old furnace with a more energy efficiency one can save you hundreds annually.

Get a rebate for $600 for boilers, $500 for furnaces and $100 for boiler reset controls through November 30, 2012—see http://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/home/rebates_residential.aspx. Federal tax credits may also be available on boilers and furnaces.

$ Insulate Your Exterior Walls.

This will help to maintain a consistent temperature in your home, keeping it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

$ If you are Having Trouble Paying your Utility Bills, Contact The National Energy Assistance Referral Project.

The National Energy Assistance Referral Project is a free service for people who are interested in applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which may pay a portion of the energy bills of eligible low-income persons. Call 1-866-674-6327 or email energy@ncat.org.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Bird List - Chicago River, Berteau to Montrose

Below is a list of birds spotted during one day! 4/30/12 Clearly the river and the green space up and down the river is a great asset to all of us and one we should continue to take great care of.

Canada Goose 15
Mallard 8
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Green Heron 2
Ring-billed Gull 3
Mourning Dove 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 12
Gray Catbird 2
European Starling 3
Northern Waterthrush 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 20
White-crowned Sparrow 3
Northern Cardinal 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 6
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
House Sparrow 10

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Friday, March 30, 2012

Anthropocene

The Anthropocene is a recent and informal geologic chronological term that serves to mark the evidence and extent of human activities that have had a significant global impact on the Earth's ecosystems. The term was coined by ecologist Eugene F. Stoermer but has been widely popularized by the Nobel Prize-winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen, who regards the influence of human behavior on the Earth's atmosphere in recent centuries as so significant as to constitute a new geological era for its lithosphere.

Welcome to the Anthropocene from WelcomeAnthropocene on Vimeo.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant

This is great, watch all three parts!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Studies on Cell Phones Convincing Enough To Promote Limited Use in Canada

Earlier research links just a half an hour's use a day with up to 40% higher odds of brain cancer. Children's maturing brains are especially susceptible, and will have decades of use before middle age. How to negotiate a reasonable relationship with this dangerous technology? Can you turn off your phone when not in use? Or carry it in a purse or bag away from your body? How about texting or using the speaker phone instead of putting the phone directly to your ear? Use old fashioned land line when not in travel?
"December 9, 2011

Health Canada Admits Studies on Cell Phones Convincing Enough To Promote Limited Use

Ignorance may or may not be bliss, but one thing is certain -- it is very profitable. At least that's what cell phone companies count on to increase their bottom line. Health Canada may not be the most reputable agency when it comes to protecting the health of Canadians, but a promising initiative from the regulating body is proposing to adopt a precautionary approach and guidelines for limited cellphone use.

Canadians are encouraged to limit cellphone call length and to text message or use a hands-free device whenever possible (to increase the distance between the cellphone and the user's head). Those under 18 should be especially careful to limit all cellphone use. Children are still growing and are therefore much more sensitive to external agents such as radiation". For the complete article follow this link.

Friday, December 16, 2011

What is the Value of Nature?

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Chicago Sustainable Backyard Program

FOR ALL THE DETAILS FOLLOW THE BELOW LINK

Link to the Chicago Sustainable Backyard Program

2011 Sustainable Backyard Workshops

Learn how to make your back, front or side yard more environmentally sustainable. These workshops will cover the basics of installing a rain barrel, setting up a compost bin, planting a tree, planning a native garden and more. Unless noted otherwise, registration is not necessary.

2011 Sustainable Backyard Rebates

Rebate forms are available to Chicago residents for up to 50% off their next local purchase of:

TREES (up to $100 back)

NATIVE PLANTS (up to $60 back)

COMPOST BINS (up to $50 back)

RAIN BARRELS (up to $40 back)

TREES

The benefits of trees, beyond aesthetic appeal, are well documented and include the following:

Improved Air Quality. Trees absorb air pollutants and help reduce smog.
Stormwater Management. Street trees intercept and absorb rain, reducing and slowing the amount of runoff that makes its way to the sewer system.
Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. As a tree grows, it sequesters carbon dioxide and converts it to woody and leaf biomass.
Improved Wildlife Habitat. Urban forests provide food and shelter to many important native and migratory birds and animals.
Improved Energy Conservation. When strategically planted, trees can cut heating and air conditioning costs by providing shade and cutting the wind.

NATIVE PLANTS

Native Midwestern plants have evolved to thrive in our natural conditions and once established, require little maintenance. Native plants are deep-rooted plants and help direct rainwater into the soil. If planted in a rain garden in conjunction with a disconnected downspout, native plants are especially effective for managing stormwater. Native plants are ideal for rain gardens because many can withstand a range of wet-to-dry conditions, and their long roots absorb more water. Plus, they are beautiful and attract birds and beneficial butterflies and insects.

COMPOST BINS

Composting is a natural way to turn your fruit, vegetable, and yard waste into a dark, soil-like natural fertilizer for your garden, lawn, or indoor plants. Backyard composting helps recycle valuable organic resources, reduce air pollution from refuse trucks, and extend the life of our landfills.

RAIN BARRELS

Up to 40% of the water we use at home is spent on watering our lawns and gardens during hot summer months. Instead of using water from the tap, which requires energy and money to treat and deliver to our homes, we can use a rain barrel to collect and store rainwater from our roofs through a disconnected downspout.

STAY CONNECTED

To receive periodic updates about the program including new incentives and workshop dates, send us an email at rainbarrel@cityofchicago.org or call us at 312.743.9283. We will automatically add you to our contact list.