Community Green Board

GREEN UP YOUR BLOCK PARTY
Submitted by Robbie Boudreau, Town Clerk

Use printer ‘boo-boos’ or other recycled paper for invites
Advise residents to bring reusable eating utensils
Recommend everyone bring their own cup for punch, beer, etc. and/or insist on only recyclable cans/bottles
Set out labeled recycling bins for bottles and cans, and a separate container for food waste
For decorating, aim for reusable or compostable materials such as fresh flowers
choose food products with minimal packaging that’s minimally-processed
Prepare only as much food as needed to reduce waste
Ask neighbors to turn off all the lights in their house while everyone is gathered for the party
If games are planned, reward the winners with eco-friendly prizes such as reusable water bottles
Visit Deerfield’s Farmer Market for local produce. You’ll not only get pesticide and hormone-free products, but buying local means shorter travel times and less fuel.

"Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Rethink!"

summary of an article by Chicago's Commissioner of Environment, Suzane Malec-McKenna (from Conscious Choice, December 2008)—submitted by Ron Levitsky

For the holidays, and in general, remember that, "What's good for the environment can also be good for our pocket books."

Reduce energy use and waste. Reduce the use of plastic bags when shopping for gifts or food.

Reuse things you plan to dispose of. For example, old furniture can be given to needy families. Books can be given to libraries or hospitals. This is even better than recycling, because it creates less pollution and waste.

Recycle by doing such things as using newspaper or other reusable materials to wrap gifts. Instead of buying a present, think of giving a gift of service (baby sitting, making a meal). When disposing of waste, recycle what you can.

Rethink your actions regarding waste, energy, and other environmental issues. In some cases businesses are … "creating a collaborative effort in which one business' waste is another's resource." For example, a company called Curb Appeal manufactures parking stops from waste plastic discarded by Baxter Healthcare and others.

So think about how your decisions can make the environment more sustainable and save you money.

SHOULD I SHUT OFF THE MOTOR WHEN I'M IDLING MY CAR?

Prepared by Sunset Ridge School District 29, Northfield, Illinois

Click here for information from the California Energy Commission and American Lung Association (reprinted with permission), giving some details about why you should turn your car off and minimize idling.

RECYCLE YOUR OLD CELL PHONE

Bring your old cell phones to Dickinson Hall at the Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Senior Center, 100 East Old Mill Road, Lake Forest. These cell phones will be recycled according to EPA standards or refurbished for use in developing countries. Dickinson Hall will receive 90% of the proceeds earned from the recycling, and the National Council on Aging will receive 10%. What a great way to help the environment and the Senior Center.

EASY WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO GO GREEN

From the New Trier Examiner “Green Issue”

November 30, 2007

Recycle
Turn off the lights
Use bio-degradable soaps and shampoos
Use towels, not paper towels.
Just carry it (don’t bag single items from the store)
Drive less (same money on gas and decrease pollution)
Use both sides of each sheet of paper
Turn off your computer when it’s not in use (use “hibernate” mode)
Buy and download textbooks online
Use reusable containers (for lunches etc.)
Avoid fast food (many fast food restaurants are huge polluters)
Take shorter showers
Veg out (it takes a great deal of extra energy, land, and water to produce meat. “Switching to a PB&J can lower your carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 pounds and your greenhouse gas emissions by almost 3.5 pounds.”)

10 WAYS TO GREEN YOUR FRIDGE

Summarized from Vegetarian Times, March 2008

by Ron Levitsky, Lake Forest

Use glass containers instead of plastic (glass keeps food and beverages colder, can go from fridge to microwave to table, and is all natural).
Upgrade (and downsize). New models are much more energy-efficient.
Forget ice and water dispenser. They increase the unit’s energy use.
Keep refrigerator full (uses less energy than an empty one).
Watch the expiration date on your food.
Keep the refrigerator clean naturally (such as baking soda with a damp sponge).
Vacuum the coils twice a year.
Check the seals to make sure they’re tight.
Place the refrigerator in a cool place (not in the sun). Best locations are a north or east wall.
Keep the temperature between 36–38 degrees F. For every degree below 38, your refrigerator uses 5% more energy.

7 WAYS TO GREEN YOUR LAWN AND GARDEN

By Nic Zerebny, Deerfield Resident

Mulch-mulch-mulch; it really helps conserve moisture during dry periods.
Consider natural or organic fertilizer for the lawn. Minimize use of herbicides.
Cut the grass high and let it lie. This will promote a deeper root structure, recycle nutrients, and reduce air pollution.
Consider removing some lawn space and replacing with a perennial garden, particularly native or prairie plants that need less water.
Water in the early morning to retard evaporation and prevent disease. Deep, less frequent watering promotes a deeper root structure.
Consider installing a rain barrel on a downspout to recycle water into the lawn and garden.
Consider permeable surfaces for your patio, walkway, or driveway. Plant a rain garden. Both measures will promote greater absorption and minimize run-off.