The City should have "an environmental use tax" or something named similar. Going forward, all cars that get less than say 20 or 25mpg in the city should be taxed at twice the current tax when purchased (so this would be 20.5%). We need to create a strong disincentive for buying SUVs and other gas guzzlers. Additionally, the fee for a city sticker and license plate renewal should be made much, much higher.

This tax can also be applied to the purchase of non-energy star qualified products. Number 6 plastics (styrofoam and some plastic containers) should be banned in the city, as they are not readily recyclable. All plastic packaging of goods sold within the city must have a recycling code (there's a lot of packaging with no symbol, so it cannot be recycled).

Take a small percentage from each TIF district, similar to the SBIF (small business improvement fund) program, and create Chicago's Green Development Fund. We need a pool of "ready to go" funds for companies expanding and adding green product of service lines. This is not a tool for start ups, but expansions are our best bet for faster and less risky development opportunities.

Chicago Public Schools have made the decision to shorten the summer break for many at-risk inner city schools. This means back-to-school in August.  The Teacher’s union has agreed to this new schedule, under the agreement that the schools will have air-conditioning installed.

Worst-case would be low-efficiency cooling contracts allocated to chummy contractors because of ‘urgency’…

Potential: Suddenly there is an urgency for Air-conditioning installs.  But could we align this urgency to push for Geothermal solutions? They Schools should have large parking-lots, which are perfect for Geo.  If the long-term business-case is there, perhaps we can get a 3-rd-party investor to front the start-up? Create a 'to-scale' business case?

Seems like we could align Geo Experts / Investors / Maybe even the teachers union, school board.  If it works, it could be used as a template for future geo projects.

In the United States, buildings consume 60 percent of our raw materials, and account for 40 percent of the solid waste stream. Deconstructing and dismantling buildings into their original component parts rather than demolishing them allows these materials to be reused in other building and renovation projects, diverting waste from landfills, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs and protecting natural resources. The City of Chicago has a great construction and demolition recycling ordinance. The nest step in this policy process should be an ordinance to require sustainable building deconstruction and material reuse, after all preservation options and opportunities have been considered.

www.buildingreuse.org

When residential units are sold in the City of Chicago, require that they receive an energy efficiency rating.  This rating would be determined by a certified home energy auditor and based on an existing national standard. The energy efficiency rating would be included in MLS just as other characteristic such as the number of rooms, baths, garage spaces, granite countertops, etc. are.

 

In the short term, this requirement could:

 - Create local jobs for building inspectors and home energy auditors

 - Create local jobs for insulation installers, heating and cooling professionals, home renovators, etc

 - Provide the buyer with additional information to make a more informed buying decision

 - Provide realtors  with a nationally recognized standard to differentiate their homes to increase sales

 

In the longer term this requirement could shift the marketplace to:

 - Reduce home owner's utility bills

 - Increase the comfort of the home

 

This energy efficiency rating standard should not be developed locally. It should be based on nationally recognized standards such as RESNET www.natresnet.org or Energy Star for Homes www.energystar.gov.

 

The Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council (www.chicagomanufacturing.org) has initiated a new

project, the Chicago Green Manufacturing Network, in partnership with the Cleveland-based Great

Lakes Wind Network (GLWN). GLWN, a project of WIRE-Net, boasts a successful two-year history of

working closely with international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the wind turbine

industry, and linking Ohio companies into the wind turbine supply chain.

 

The purpose of the Network is to link regional manufacturers with the huge emerging market in wind

energy as a means to strengthen local businesses, and in turn, expand employment in this high-tech

sector that offers family-sustaining career paths for residents. We hope to establish manufacturers as

leaders in the in movement for climate change. This initiative reflects the CMRC’s view that real

sustainability links environmental concerns with social and economic sustainability.

 

This multi-year project will include the following elements:

 

• 
  Four regional conferences for manufacturers to introduce them to the growing wind energy market and to familiarize them with its entry requirements;
• Assessment of local companies’ capacity to become competitive in the wind energy market;
•  Technical assistance to help interested companies meet capacity requirements; and
•  The facilitation of connections between local manufacturers and wind turbine OEMs.

 

 

We will continue to help this network of companies increase their competitive advantages by linking

them to professional development programs for incumbent workers; ensuring that new employees are

adequately trained; and assisting in other ways to expand their capacity. We see this as a tremendous

opportunity for companies, current employees, and prospective employees in a sector that will grow

exponentially in the years to come. We will hold the regional conferences and begin technical assistance

to area companies in the first year of this project.

 

We are working in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Community Development, which has

provided funding for the development stage of this effort. We have convened a group of local partners,

including community-based development and training corporations, including the Jane Addams

Resource Corporation; the Chicago Manufacturing Center; the Tooling and Manufacturing

Association, which represents some 1,200 metal working companies in the area; the Alliance for Illinois

Manufacturing; and the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

 

Capital Bill: Solar Installations for Environmental Preservation and Young Adult Renewable Energy Education

This bill aims to:

1.      Make at least 50% of the junior high schools in the state up to 30% grid independent through clean solar-powered onsite electricity generation.

2.      Enable significant energy cost savings, which may be passed through to increase educational quality at the middle-school level.

3.      Increase awareness among adolescents of the importance of renewable energy by instating a one-week lecture series at each school, for five years (2010-2014). The lecture series shall instruct students on the variety of renewable energy generation technologies available today, energy efficiency, and efficient energy storage (examples include wind energy, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, nuclear fusion, fuel cells, etc).

Program Cost:

Of the approximately 700 middle schools in the state, we approximate 400 will have roofs that are solar-compliant. At an average price of $7/Watt, and an average installation size of 40 kW, we estimate a total program cost of $112 million. The program will enable the installation of 16 MW of distributed solar power in the state.

An additional budget of $1 million per year is estimated to provide instructional materials required for the lecture series at the various schools, bringing the total program cost to $117 million.

Program Benefits:

The energy collectively generated by these solar arrays, approximately 17.6 Gigawatt-hours per year, will result in annual energy savings of at least $1.3 million per year realized by the public schools.

We advocate that the schools also retain ownership to the Renewable Energy Credits generated by the systems, and use proceeds from the sale of RECs either within or outside Illinois to expand their curriculum and to include courses on renewable energy.  Currently, Solar RECs in Illinois are valued at $6-$10/MWh, whereas SRECs in other states are valued as highly as $690/MWh. This program will generate as many as 17,600 RECs per year, creating revenue of at least $105,600 annually if sold within Illinois. SREC prices are anticipated to appreciate in value both in Illinois and around the country.

Job Creation

We estimate that with an average size increment of 40 kW, a total installation size of 16 MW will cause the creation of 475  jobs in various parts of the solar supply chain, including electrical equipment and mounting manufacturing, shipping, labor, structural engineering, and finance.

One suggestion made by the Chicago Climate Action Plan is to increase the permeability of pavement, sidewalks, and other covered surfaces. Permeable surfaces return water the ground, reducing runoff and the stress that rainfall causes to infrastructure.

The Center for Neighborhood Technology recently released a report analyzing the feasibility and impact of green infrastructure, including permeable surfaces. The found that permeable surfaces easily integrate with existing infrastructure and effectively mitigate the environmental impacts of stormwater runoff. 

The Chicago Department of Transportation could begin to phase in a permeable surface regime, replacing existing impermeable surfaces in areas of "high impermeability" with permeable surfaces.

Per City of Chicago code, each floor of every stairwell in all office and commercial buildings is lit 24/7, even when the building is unoccupied.  The Sears Tower alone is required to light just under 1,000 fixtures day and night for stairwells.  Sears Tower management has taken the steps to replace every fixture with high efficiency T-8 bulbs, but that is as far as City code allows. 

More energy efficient stairwell lighting codes (in line with the NFPA-101) to allow buildings to further reduce energy consumption.  The code could include allowing buildings to dim stairwell lighting to emergency level when the building is unoccupied, or install occupancy sensors that bring the light level up from emergency level to full level when in the stairwells are in use.

Add renewable energy installations such as wind turbines and photovoltaic panels to the zoning codes.  At present, the lack of definition for renewables in zoning codes encumbers the process of adding renewable technology to buildings. 

Add zoning incentives for building owners to install renewable energy features.  Examples of incentives include increased FAR or an accelerated permitting timeline if a building adds a specific amount of on-site renewable energy.

Most commercial building interiors are lit, heated/conditioned and ventilated for 5 or more hours after tenants have left the building.  These systems are left running to accommodate after hours cleaning contracts.  Day-cleaning or floor-by-floor night-cleaning schedules reduce building owners’ costs as well as carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.  Incentivize day-cleaning or lighting controls that decrease after-hours interior lighting in a way that benefits building owners and the environment.  San Francisco proposed a commercial building interior lighting code which was opposed by BOMA because it did not benefit building owners. 

Currently, residents who produce 1/8 of a cart of trash per week are not rewarded, and residents who produce 3 carts of trash per week are not encouraged to reduce volume.  Change residential trash pick-up to a “pay as you throw” program as opposed to having residents with small volumes subsides residents with large volumes.  Many municipalities do this successfully.

Incentivize recycling of CFL bulbs.  For example, have retailers offer a discount for the sale of a new CFL light bulb when an old one is turned in.  Or a special tax when one is not turned in.

Background: Chicago Public Schools have made the decision to shorten the summer break for many at-risk inner city schools. This means back-to-school in August.  The Teacher’s union has agreed to this new schedule, under the agreement that the schools will have air-conditioning, which they currently do not have.

Worst-case would be low-efficiency cooling contracts allocated to chummy contractors because of ‘urgency’…

Potential: Suddenly there is an urgency for Air-conditioning installs.  But could we align this urgency to push for Geothermal solutions? They Schools should have large parking-lots, which are perfect for Geo.  If the long-term business-case is there, perhaps we can get a 3-rd-party private investor to front the start-up?

Seems like we could align Geo Experts / Investors / Maybe even the teachers union, school board.  If it works, it could be used as a template for future..

MIssing

This is an idea created for testing purposes.

 

The cost of an energy rater should be rebated by the local utility company. This report allows a home to have a HERS Index rating with a detailed report on how to improve the energy efficiency of a home. This will allow the general contractor to bid on a project that has a detailed report on what to fix, and will allow the Realtor to have some sort of tangible measurable number to sell from.

There are many more reasons why the HERS number is so useful.

Our zoning code needs to address the unique opportunities and challenges in the areas around our train stations. Transit-oriented development could provide more destinations and housing options within walking distance of transit. It would promote a healthier lifestyle and allow us to reduce vehicle miles traveled (along with associated greenhouse gases and pollution). While some stations are already surrounding by vibrant walkable areas (such as Belmont Red Line and Damen Blue Line), many others are underdeveloped and surrounded by parking lots. The current zoning code also puts heavy restrictions on density around many of the stations, even though these areas would be most the appropriate for higher-density development.

Chicago currently has a Pedestrian Street designation in its zoning code that could be adapted for transit-oriented development.  This new designation could be applied to a radius (1/4 mile, 5-minute walk?) around all train stations in the city, much like the current zoning code provides for limited exceptions to the parking requirements in transit-served locations (defined as within 600 feet of CTA or METRA station). The Pedestrian Street designation has lower parking requirements, ensures fewer curb cuts interrupting the sidewalk, restricts strip malls, and ensures buildings abut the sidewalk with windows and doors instead of being set back behind parking. All of these requirements would also be appropriate for the areas around the stations. A transit-oriented development designation could also go a step further, allowing for an automatic increase in floor-area ratio and minimum lot area per unit within the existing allowable building height. This would enable developers to provide more diverse housing options near the stations as the market demands, including studios and one-bedrooms that may not be feasible under the existing code.

The City of Chicago spends millions fertilizing, mowing, and maintaining grassy areas in the city and next to highways.  A concerted initiative to replace sod w/ wildflower species (native to the midwest) would create beautiful "greenways" that would require no fertilizing, no mowing, and no watering (native species are drought resistant).  A large scale "Greenway" program would create jobs, reduce fossil fuel costs for the city (weekly mowing), and provide a brilliant cityscape that is maintenance free.  Native wildflowers are either perennial or are self-seeding annuals which require no additional planting after the first year.

 The "Greenways" would support Chicago's image as the greenest city in America, reduce our city's carbon footprint,  and save money on gasoline, equipment, and work crews.  The wildflower corridors would create unique urban habitats for birds and could serve as educational venues for school children.  Let's showcase our Green Chicago by replacing sod with a canvas of wildflowers and native plants!

Implementing these two projects is feasible, and potentially incredibly profitable.

www.urbanlab.com/h2o

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/06/11/chicagos-eco-bridge/

Draft legislation allowing waterless urinals in IL.  Currently, waterless urinals are allowed in 30 states and mandated in municipal buildings in Arizona.  Locally, they are piloted at the Museum of Science and Industry.  They are currently not code in IL.    

My understanding is that 2008 was to be the last year that plastic bags would be allowed at farmers markets in the City of Chicago, since there are biodegradable bags now available, and people can of course bring their own re-usable bag.  Yet now that the markets are open, they are going through tons of plastic bags, same as before.

 Has the city caved in on this?

 These markets are supposed to promote green living and sustainability, yet they continue to generate all this plastic waste. 

The city should pass an ordinance banning plastic bags at farmers markets. 

There are great examples of job creation in a number of states that include good paying union jobs and hiring from the community so minorities are included. Below are some important examples. If Manny wants to work on any of these on the council I'll be happy to help.

--Washington State has been a leader in the green jobs arena for the past couple of years. During the 2009 session, Senate Bill 5649 was signed into law. This law aggregates all federal Recovery Act dollars directed towards energy efficiency, and attaches labor standards. Community leaders, including those from faith-based organizations, non-profits, and unions, worked tirelessly on developing and passing this legislation alongside their state legislators.

Among other things, the legislation puts Washington on the path to weatherize and otherwise make more energy efficient, 100,000 homes and buildings over the next five years. In addition, the law creates an Energy Efficiency Improvement Program, which will provide grants and technical assistance to neighborhood energy-efficiency projects throughout the state.

The law also includes requirements that contractors employ workers from training and apprentice programs, pay prevailing wages, hire from the community in which the program is located, and provide opportunities to veterans and low-income individuals. For low-income weatherization programs, the law prioritizes programs which provide career pathways out of poverty and into construction trades.

--A 8377, introduced in New York, creates a Green Jobs Task Force, which will conduct a study of the state's green economy labor market needs, inventory training programs to identify gaps in existing programs, expand existing green jobs training programs, and target training towards disadvantaged populations through a variety of measures including ensuring access and establishing coordinated green career pathways.

In order to support the use of public transit in the City of Chicago, myself and members of the Center for Neighborhood Technology advocate for the passing of a "Chicago Commuter Benefits Ordinance".

This ordinance would allow certain employees in the City of Chicago pre-tax benefits as authorized in the IRS Tax Code 132(f) which allows employers to deduct up to $230 out of each employee's paycheck each month for public transit costs for commuting.  This allows employees to pay for their transit costs BEFORE being taxed, lowering the amount of money they must pay in taxes, saving them hundreds of dollars each year.  Also, by subtracting their employee's costs of commuting before taxes, employers can also be saving money from payroll taxes.

A similar ordinance has already been implemented in San Francisco and has been very successful, increasing public transit ridership and saving money at the same time.  Chicago could build off the successful San Francisco ordinance and add its own improvements, make the paper work for employers easier, adding incentives over penalties, and using the Chicago Card to distribute the benefits.

Many times, businesses will only see supporting the environment as a reduction of their bottom line.  In this case, Chicago would ensure that its businesses save money on taxes and support the city's commitments to the environment while saving money money for employees. 

To calculate employee and employer, click the tax saving calculator below.

 

T

The core of sustainability is social, environmental, and economical development. Saying that, i'd like to hear others perspectives on how the city, the county, and the state procure goods.  Cook County is looking to create a purchasing RFP (duration: two years) for office products that will essentially eliminate the opportunity for local, independent dealers to gain a portion of their business. The only suppliers who could support this action are big box retailers who are not headquartered in our city or our county. Referencing the study done by the Andersonville Chamber, less than half the money spent by our County on office products will stay within our county border. If this money were spent with various local dealers, over 70% would stay within our county. Additionally, local companies are also now being shut out of opportunities within purchasing groups being developed by buildings in the loop (consulted by local taxpayer-funded organizations). These small independents can and do compete with their big box competition on price, service and delivery. How can we create focus on not just environmental sustainability, but also shine light on economic and social sustainability as well and get people supporting local businesses?

All & any efforts put forth by any municapality, for a better eco system and economy within thier borders are a valent effort, and give one a feeling of doing the right thing for the better good of the community, however, all the efforts put forth by any goverment body fail to reconize bottom line issues of the Taxpayer.

Goverment knows how to collect, spend, & resolve these issues for a short term fix, but at the cost of the taxpayer with no visible out come that can be seen. So you ask yourself, self, what did they do with my money? How did that last tax increase help me? but most importantly, were is my return on my investment? As a taxpayer, yes I am investing in the community I choose to live in, and paying for services I expect as a taxpayer. I don't think this is enough of a anwser to current environmental issues, economic issues, or the cost of inflation in todays world, the Status Quo.

Things need to change in better ways for me as a Taxpayer to be satisfied, I for one would like to see reduced utility bills, cleaner water, new sources of Energy, but most of all a reduction of the Taxpayer Burden that is bestowed upon us by goverment, because they can't get it right, well  I think I can get it right, that is why I formed Green Works Environmental Services, my non profit status is pending, and website is under construction, but this not about me. This site was created for new Ideas, so here is just one I will give to the city of Chicago. (aka the windy city)

Yes Illinios has wind farms 

This idea was created by and is being championed on a national level by Cisco DeVries, President: Renewable Funding LLC and Jeff Tannenbaum, Founder and President: Fir Tree Partneres

The Idea: An Overview (From www.pacenow.org)

PACE: Property Assessed Clean Energy

A PACE bond is a bond where the proceeds are lent to commercial and residential property owners to finance energy retrofits (efficiency measures and small renewable energy systems) and who then repay their loan over 20 years via an annual assessment on their property tax bill. PACE bonds can be issued by municipal financing districts or financing companies and the proceeds can be typically used to retrofit both commercial and residential properties.

The PACE bond market, in combination with federal loan guarantees, has the potential to dramatically accelerate the energy retrofitting of America's building stock due to the below advantages. It is estimated that the potential for PACE bonds could exceed $500 billion.

Detailed information can be found at www.pacenow.org

For an evolving summary of the PACE Bond approach and the current status on the progress nationally and in the Midwest click http://tinyurl.com/l2goao

Advantages of PACE Bonds:

Our Nation

• Significant Job Creation
• Accelerates movement toward energy independence & reduces GHG emissions
• Very low fiscal cost & high probability of success

Property Owners

• Lower energy bills and substantially reduced upfront costs for energy retrofits
• Improved return on investment/positive cash flow on retrofits (annual savings>cost)

States, Cities & Municipalities

• Immediate Job Creation
• No credit or general obligation risk
• Obligation is liability of real estate owner
• Greenhouse gas reductions/energy independence
• Opt in: Only those real estate owners who opt in pay for it

Lender

• Virtually no risk of loss as property tax liens are senior to mortgage debt
• 97% of property taxes are current & losses are less than 1%

If you would like to stay informed on the progress of this effort, simply:

1. Log into www.greeneconomychicago.com
2. Click the Related Conversation "Please keep me informed" associated with this idea
3. Enter a reply "Please keep me informed"

As additional comments are posted to this idea and updates are made to the above referenced summary document you will be automatically notified via email.

If you would like to discuss this idea or get involved with it in the Midwest, please feel free to contact Peter Locke 773.551.0761 peterlocke@terralocke.com

2nd Annual Elmhurst Green Fest, Saturday, August 1st from 10 AM to 3 PM.  Location is Wilder Park, Elmhurst College and Elmhurst Library.  Start collecting items that can be recycled at the Recycling Boutique tent.  Several of these items are sent to charitable organizations that help many people.  Go to our website for all the great infomation on speakers, exhibitors and recycling.    www.elmhurstgreenfest.org   

Cool Cities’ mission is to solve global warming one city at a time by reducing citywide carbon dioxide pollution. The goal of the Elmhurst Green Fest is to educate our community on ways individuals can reduce their CO2 footprint through fun, hands on exhibits, interesting speakers, and offering eco-friendly products and services. 

The event will take place at Wilder Park near the Elmhurst Public Library and Elmhurst College. The library and college will have speakers and and other related events that focus on ways we can live in a more sustainable world. The Elmhurst Bicycle Club will have an All-Ages Bike Ride during the event. Additionally, there will be a Recycling Boutique which will include the recycling of various specialty items, some of which will be donated to charities.  Working Bikes Cooperative will recycle unwanted bicycles. We will also collect household electronics, computers and small appliances.   

The Elmhurst Green Fest is a community volunteer-run fair that encourages all community groups to volunteer or participate.   Please go to our website for further information: www.elmhurstgreenfest.org.

About Local First Chicago

Our Mission

As a recent home buyer, I spent a lot of time searching for green lenders and mortgages only to find that there were next to none in Chicago, and the one we found only had incentives for new construction. Chicago needs more green lenders and green mortgage incentives.

I'd like to take advantage of the City's green roof and cool roof grants, but info. on the city's website is outdated, no one at the Dept. of the Environment responds to my emails, and no one can answer my questions when I call. Chicago needs to fund these green/cool roof grants.

I still do not have a blue bin, and they removed the drop off center located at my neighborhood park. Chicago needs to expedite providing every ward with blue bin recycling.

I applaud the Green Tech U certificate program at the Center for Green Technology, and the Chicago Green Homes program. These need to be better advertised. 

No Foam Chicago is a group of environmentally-and civic-minded friends who came together to inform the general public and the city of Chicago of the dangers of using Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) food packaging and service ware. Its massive consumption is filling up our landfills, depleting our natural resource (petroleum) not to mention littering our beaches and parks. This is unnecessary when alternatives exist that are made of a natural and recyclable materials that are not hazardous to our health!

We look to encourage the city of Chicago to join the already 100+ cities nationwide by banning Styrofoam food packaging and service ware. Major cities include: L.A., San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. New York City and Philadelphia are currently working on getting an ordinance passed through their respective councils.

5 Reasons Chicago is saying NO to Styrofoam! 

1. Styrene, the basic building block of polystyrene, is a large environmental health concern as it leaches out of these products into the hot food or beverage that they contain (especially when heated in the microwave.)

2. Chicago Public Schools serve school lunches on Styrofoam trays (approx. 400,000 a day) which in turn endangers our children's health and chokes our landfills. 

3. The process of making polystyrene pollutes the air with toxic chemicals and the products created take over 500 years or more to disinegrate.

4. Polystyrene foam is dumped into the environment as litter in our parks, beaches and lakes. The material is notorious for breaking into little pieces that choke animals and clog their digestive systems.

5. Americans use and discard over 25 billion Styrofoam cups each year! A one time use last many, many life times! 

For more information email: info@nofoamchicago.org, visit our website: nofoamchicago.org or find us on Facebook! 

Have a City of Chicago general contracting licensing program for contractors who meet green standards. Meeting standards in the products they use and the trash they create.

Running a painting restoration business I know a lot more can be done to recycle materials and to make greener products  available.

Want more cyclists and pedestrians? Make the roads safer.

Every day, plenty of drivers can be seen texting, talking on handheld cell phones, stopping in crosswalks, and parking in bike lanes.

All of these are citable offenses, but I rarely see anyone get ticketed for them. Not only does this make the roads unsafe, it's lost revenue, and it discourages alternative transportation.

Why not split the collection of revenue with a third-party? Perhaps even allow a third-party to use special cameras for enforcement, just like the red light cameras? There must be plenty of newly unemployed citizens who could earn a day's living by taking a percentage from a few traffic fines.

 The city wins, the issuer wins, our streets are safer, and the air is cleaner.

Taxi drivers periodically demand a raise in fares, and recently, a price increase was approved as relief from the high gas prices.

However, taxi drivers could easily recoup some gasoline expenses by simply driving more efficiently. I see plenty of cab drivers slam down their accelerators at every intersection. This style of driving wastes enormous amounts of fuel, and during a 10-hour day, probably represents a big portion of their income.

  If we provided a conditional fare increase, or other incentive, only to those drivers who attend an approved workshop regarding the benefits of efficient driving (perhaps even a workshop that's licensed by the city to independent instructors), this would make fare increases are more reasonable request. 

This may not seem like a major environmental issue, but taxi emissions are probably a third of the automobile emissions released downtown. More importantly, efficient driving is usually safer driving, and safer roads, in turn, encourage alternative transit.

The following idea appeared in Springwise, an email of  innovative biz ideas.  (see link below)

It connects well with the recent nationwide water report, that showed Chicago's tap water came out among the
very best in the country.  Maybe the  idea that follows is a way to ramp up
that great-water profile, with a company that's partnering with local
outlets (cafes, restaurants) for free water refills for individuals' water-bottles.

Looks like the company is interested in partnering with other venues--
Chicago's water should certainly not take a back seat to NYC's.

The article below is from
http://www.springwise.com/index.php?page=2
On 5 August 2009

New York's water-toting crowd has a convenient new way to be sustainable
while staying hydrated, as a tap water refilling service officially launches
in the city. TapIt is a community program that enables people to refill
their water bottles at participating cafés, completely free of charge.

TapIt aims to help people stay healthy and hydrated without relying on
single-use plastic bottles. Any restaurant or café with a soda dispenser or
tap that gives clean drinking water can sign up as a partner. Thirsty
consumers can find taps online or via TapIt's iPhone app, and are provided
with information on the type of water that's available, telling discerning
customers whether the water's filtered or non-filtered, room temperature or
chilled.

TapIt is better for the environment, better for people's wallets, and helps
businesses connect with new customers at almost zero cost. The initiative is
currently only up and running in New York, where it now has over 100
locations after a year of soft-launching. But it intends to extend its
bottle-less initiative further afield. In the meantime, there's no reason
why councils or community organisations can't get inspired and help TapIt
launch in their own town.

Website: www.tapitwater.com
Contact: www.tapitwater.com/contact


Let's go for it in Chicago!

bjmwriter

As a CPA in Chicago, my idea is simple.  Accountants and other professionals, like lawyers and consultants, should use less paper.  Accountants can file tax returns electronically and use document management systems which means less paper to print and less toner which is a toxic material.  Unfortunately, not filing tax returns is just a "green" dream, because there will always be death and taxes.

Submitted by Albert (Big Al) Spenadel

We've been looking into two pieces of technology to save energy at our bar and grill operations.

 http://www.freeaire.com/

http://www.melinkcorp.com/pdfs/intellihood/IntellihoodBrochure.pdf 

But we haven't found a reliable way to verify their energy savings claims and be sure they are worth the investment.

We've also been trying to figure out if ComEd has any incentives for businesses to install these sort of things.

Anyone here have any ideas for this?

Why is it that insulating windows is not part of the current discussion on energy conservation?  

The State of Colorado recently determined that it would no longer include replacement windows as part of its weatherization program as the return on investment has proven to be negligible.  Even the most highly rated new windows only come in with an R-value of 4.5 - still a fraction of of the adjacent walls.  Energy losses due to thermosiphoning, radiation and conduction remain even if infiltration has been addressed.  We've been "taught" over time that storm windows are necessary - yet that practice still only adds an R-value of 0.86 - hardly worth the effort or expense.

HeatSaver Thermal Shades effectively address all of these concerns.  And does so with a locally custom manufactured product that has proven over time (we've had shades installed for over 20 years that are still operating well) to be a far better investment.

We estimate our R-value to be 6.5.  Add that to the insulation value of your existing windows and you can see that approximating the adjacent wall values is possible.  Independent testing of HeatSaver is due to begin soon with clinical trials at the University of Bath in the U.K. and full scale trials at Queen's University in Kingston Ontario.

We can stop the heat loss through your windows and keep local, small industries thriving at the same time!

http://www.heatsavershades.com/ 

Many housing units are not energy-efficiency, wasting energy and money. Weatherization (adding insulation and air-sealing) will fix this problem. This is also a green job economy, but workers need to be trained. Why not use a public housing renovation as a real-life training site? This would be a great project for the Lathrop homes.

A recent phone call to downtown Chicago's Building Dept yielded a lofty $715 permit price to install a residential wind turbine,

more than 10% of the cost of product itself.  One would think a better incentive should be in place to encourage such 

innovation, certainly less than $715 per, if homeowners decide to embrace such new technology. 

Require Developers of properties with over 200 dwelling units to provide residents with at least one carsharing parking space.

 

Carsharing provides an excellent opportunity to reduce the need for personal vehicle ownership for residents who need to drive a car occasionally, but do not need to own one.  The shared use of a vehicle has been repeatedly shown to improve driving habits; increasing member’s use of public transportation and active transit, effectively cutting congestion and harmful environmental effects that accompany driving. 

Parking and congestion are endemic problem in urban areas and Chicago is no exception.  Parking can average 20% of the cost of owning a car and, in some cases, equal the entire monthly cost of a vehicle itself.

Developers dedicate valuable land for parking and, as a result, lose significant income.  Cities recognize that increasing the availability of parking only leads to greater rates of driving and have increasingly removed parking requirements in an attempt to reduce congestion and pollution. However a desire to reduce parking must be mindful of everyday people’s transportation needs. 

Therefore, by requiring the presence of carsharing in large housing developments, Chicago can save money for itself, its business community and its residents while simultaneously cutting reducing two of our cities biggest problems: Pollution and congestion.  

This requirement has already been implemented in San Francisco while other Cities such as Austin, Texas and Vancouver, BC have begun to move in this direction by reducing parking requirements for developers who include carsharing in their project. 

Only certified carsharing organizations as defined in the Code may be used and parking spaces must be made available free of charge.  In order to gain certification an organization must submit an independent study demonstrating that it achieves environmental goals such as reduced car ownership or vehicle travel.  Enforcement mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that developers meet their requirements under the proposed law and to ensure accurate and timely reporting from carsharing organizations regarding benefits. 

I suggest that our local, county, and state governments learn that buying local from independents is an integral part of becoming green/sustainable. In addition to environmental and social development, we need economic development. This is not accomplished by awarding business to large, national firms. For instance, when the City of Chicago's Department of Environment jumps into bed with Office Depot, they allow almost 70% of their money spent to leave our city, county and state. Look at the Green Office Challenge; why is Office Depot the only sponsor? Were any independents asked? is it not "greener" to work with local independents in our city instead of Boca Raton, Florida based Office Depot? How many of our Aldermen order their supplies from big box retailers? You'd be surprised at the answer, but I can assure that over 95% of them don't support local businesses. All this talk about sustainability and being green, yet our elected officials can't properly lead by example. I suggest we introduce procurement procedures where local, independent suppliers get the largest portion of spending. Empower small businesses and promote sustainability correctly. Buying recycled paper doesn't make you green' buying recycled paper from a local independent does.

In an effort to sustain the "shop local/ eat local" movement, Chicago could initiate a program where a certain percentage of land within each (or many) local neighborhood parks is designated as public garden space.  The gardens' health could be sustained by a composting program where fresh healthy dirt is distributed back into the garden.  The gardens' produce could be maintained by those in the neighborhood willing and wanting to donate time.  The food itself could either be enjoyed by those who shared in the responsibility of maintaining the gardens... or sold at local farmer's markets and the profit recycled back into the program. 

Another maintenance approach could be taken that Chicago area non-profit groups maintain the gardens and they also reep the benefits of the produce, using them to feed their tenants and those in need.

Give Chicago kids an assignment - help them drive sustainability initiatives in their home and in their neighbourhood. They can be given a list that they take to their parents with tips such as:

·         Ways to reduce energy use in the home

·         How to recycle more effectively

·         What Chicago is doing as part of its big sustainability initiatives

Key to this approach is that its homework and measured in an ongoing fashion throughout the year.  For example, kids will need to measure energy use and recycling and provide a "story" on how they are helping to improve it.

Chicago Principal for a Day could be a way to launch the initiative.  I participated in this initiative last year and it’s a great way to local businesses to see how our schools work and a cross-City event with ongoing engagement, it’s also a way to monitor the event as the businesses would help the schools.  Kids could also have homework to improve sustainability in their schools.

Chicago area bars, pubs, and restaurants dump literally thousands of beer bottles and liquour bottles into the landfill every single DAY.

I would love to see the City of Chicago make it illegal to simply "trash" all of that recyclable glass.  It's pretty easy to tell if someone has a huge bag of glass bottles as it's pretty noisy - therefore it would be relatively easy to "ticket" and/or "fine" the proprietor who tries to "trash" their nightly empties.

My village of Oak Park requires that anyone dumping "yard waste" into the landfill/trash is ticketed/fined.

When I lived in Los Angeles, residents found putting recyclables of ANY kind into the trash was also ticketed/fined.

Why can't we do this for businesses who dump out virtual 'mountains' of recyclable glass every single day? 

I believe it would also greatly stimulate the "green economy" in Chicago as new companies would need to be created to pick up these bottle recyclables from every bar in Chicago daily.  You can see right away that this idea has huge economic growth potential.

Thanks,

Kelly Burns

In any given large town there is a large supply of people looking to make an additional income, who hate their jobs and want to do something else or who are looking at setting up their own business.

Small businesses create far more jobs than larger businesses and they are also far more flexible. 

It makes sense to advertise to people looking for alternative ways to make a living. The goal of the advertising would be to point people to a resource that can inspire them to do something different. This can be done through the chamber of commerce, through accountants, solicitors and bodies offering advice. A poster campaign on buses and public transport might help.

I have tried to create one such resource on my website which I authorize you to use in the event you want to help the people of Chicago find green business ideas that inspire them to set up green businesses. I would recommend however that you consult with other people providing similar resources and hire them to build a more extensive database that will help to point people in the right direction.

 The key with a green economy is to realize that there is the potential both to green up existing businesses and to create a host of new green businesses.

 The database I built is available at: http://www.ecochanges.co.uk/educational/business_ideas.html

 

 The concept of the Do-Gooder Economy was launched in a Press Release in May, 2009

www.natcapclub.org/home/press-release/

All that needs to happen is for this idea to get more publicity.  To go viral. 

What is the Do-Gooder Economy?

The Do-Gooder Economy is

every business & organization

do’in their honest best,

all the time,

to Reduce the Damage they do

to People & the Planet.

while being Money Smart.

 

It’s a step-by-step, continuous improvement process.

Encouraging organizations to participate in the Do-Gooder Economy can happen in many ways:

The Do-Gooder Economy is based on the following:

 

1) Everything everyone currently does every day has some negative impact on people or the planet.

 

2) Eventually everything we come in contact with has to be made in such a way that is Good for People and Good the Earth.  And of course is financially responsible.

 

Example:

It’s great if your shirt is made of organic cotton and soy-based inks, but wouldn’t you feel bad if it was made by some poor woman in a Sweatshop down in Mexico. And traveled using non-renewable resources.

The name Do-Gooder is taken from Mike Royko, but is transformed from his negative into a positive.  For example, he used to criticize the "Do Gooders" who got rid of the flophouses in the south Loop, but didn’t have a plan for where these people should live.

I've been doing this mostly all on my own.  Some support would be a beautiful thing.

Bob Oehmen

The NatCap social Club is a place for us Regular Guys ‘n Gals to hang out and get to know each other. Good folks just being part of the Do-Gooder Economy.

It ain’t about getting us to change.   

But it encourages folks to ask the places they spend their time or money,

“Is this place doing anything to reduce the destruction it’s doing to people and the planet?”

That’s it – if anyone asks this just one time,

I give them a Cool award.  More than a few times, a Way Cool award.

 Lots of times, youse get a You Rock award.

The club accepts that most of us are stressed out just trying to survive and raise our family.  It accepts that we are flawed – some of us smoke, or drink, or have other not-so-nice traits.  And some of us talks like South Siders, if youse knows what I mean.

The club has everything people need to cut thru the Bulls**t and wrap their arms around the Do-Gooder Economy, the Green Economy, Sustainability, whatever you want to call it. I’m a sharing kinda guy, so I share lessons I’ve learned from me screwing up.  And resources.  And tips on keeping your sense of humor.

As a club, there’s no membership or fees. It fosters an online and in-person community.  A place where people can share different sides of themselves, like what inspires you.  I blog about ideas that cut cross all fields of understanding.  So too can others.  The in-person is via www.Meetup.com. Thus local clubs can be started anywhere in the world, with the website is the hub.

It comes from the book “Natural Capitalism,” by Hunter Lovins, Amory Lovins and Paul Hawken.  Capitalism that values all Living Systems.

 

Six years ago I developed the idea as a student club for junior high students.  Just like a Spanish club or chess club.  It’s a business club where students enjoy learning how to make money without damaging people or the planet. 

Since then the project has stopped and started a number of times, but always going forward.  In 2004 I got the written support of Sadhu Johnston and engaged Hunter Lovins and her staff. I wrote a grant proposal.   In 2007 the club was my C3 project (Chicago Conservation Corp) and within the 49^th Ward Green Corp.  In this form, I went after high school students.  In 2008 I switched to college students. I can connect every major, every class, to the Do-Gooder Economy.  And assist students networking with current members of their profession.

Last winter the focus evolved into a social club for us regular folks.  Kindof a throw back to the social clubs that came about in the early 1900’s – the Elks club and such.   I still believe that NatCap student business clubs will happen.  Eventually the Do-Gooder Economy must become part of education at every level.

 There are many practical efficiency measures that should be applied 100% of the time that are now applied as little as 0%.  Many are immediately applicable, though some merit study, specification, installer training, etc.  The list goes on, though let’s start with full wall insulation to accompany new siding.  Installers often sell a ¼ inch fan fold insulation, sometimes placed over existing siding.  Homeowners may be led to believe this will reduce energy use.  Instead, require wall cavities to be filled with blown/foam-in-place insulation – 3.5 inches or more.  A public role is appropriate to help introduce non-customary practices – test one so that millions of others may have confidence to follow. The list of non-customary efficiency items will be extended following each comment to this post.

Educating students in Green/Sustainable business practices is the key to creating a Do-Gooder Economy future. 

To start this process, six years ago I developed the idea of a business club for students. A club just likes a Chess Club or Math club. 

I chose the name NatCap Club.  It’s a shortened version of Natural Capitalism – capitalism that values all living systems.  See the book by this name for more details.

The name NatCap Club is easy and fun to say.  And remember.

The members would develop business projects that made money and implemented the Triple Bottom Line – People, Profits, and Planet.   They would have an opportunity to meet and work with sustainable business leaders, thus developing long lasting relationships.

Teachers & student from all courses would be inspired to participate - Science, Social Studies, Math, Art, English.  After all, a business project needs many skills.

Initially I tried to bring this into grade schools, Junior High especially.  Then I tried to high schools, then colleges.   I did collaborate with Hunter Lovins, co author of Natural Capitalism.  I’ve written up a grant proposal, and obtained the support of leaders such as Sadhu Johnston and Alderman Joe Moore.  I used the club as my C3 project (Chicago Conservation Corp), and have promoted it at numerous Green events.  I currently have it on the back burner.

Getting sustainable business practices integrated into the education curriculum will take years.  The NatCap Student Business Club is a great start.

Green means also doing good to people.  It’s hard, if not impossible, to get people interested in Green if they are in financial survival mode.   

I am seeking out people who are interested in uniting unemployed people so that we can work together get the changes we need to survive this economic disaster. 

I know some of you will think this is a bit of a stretch, or that it’s not appropriate here.   But it’s critical.  And I’m not gonna have my life savings destroyed without a fight.

I’m in the computer industry, and barely survived the Dot-Com bubble bust.  This is much, much worse. 

In the 1930’s we had make work programs that gave people the basics they needed to survive.  Three hots and a cot, as they used to say.  Plus self esteem.   The same thing is desperately needed today. 

My website, www.NatCapClub.org currently has a page for unemployed people to share ideas.   It could easily be combined with a Meetup.com group(s) to mobilize people all over the country.  To start a Meetup.com group costs less than $80 per year.

Chicago has a history of being a Workers town.  This is a chance for us to once again be a leader in supporting the workers.  And inspire the country as well.

Green means also doing good to people.  It’s hard, if not impossible, to get people interested in Green if they are in financial survival mode, when they are forced out of where they live.  

When neighborhoods get gentrified, many good things happen.  The gang bangers and hookers are forced out.

But many bad things happen too.  One of this is that the Good people and businesses get forced out because of increased taxes and such.

This is simply not fair, and it goes against the Triple Bottom Line – People, Profits and Planet.

The people and businesses who have been good neighbors when things were bad deserve to be given financial perks that will allow them to stay once the area gets good.

These are the people who fought to keep the neighborhood safe, they called the police, they did all the right things.  In a very real way, these are the people who kept the neighborhood decent enough so that it could be ‘Yuppy-ized”. 

In Rogers Park, at a pizza place on Morse avenue, one of the owners wanted to move out when things were really bad.  Like gang shootings across the street.  But another co-owner over ruled him - “we are in this area, and we are going to stay.”  It would be a sin if they got forced out now that things are improving.

People who play by the rules and do the smart things to get ahead shouldn’t get hosed when property values drastically go up and nationally owned companies suddenly want to open up stores

The Good Neighbor Bill/legislation would provide financial help that would enable the good people to stay.  The longer you’ve lived there (and haven’t been in jail) the more help you get.  After all, doesn’t everyone always say that good neighbors are invaluable?

The details of this thing can get worked out.  

Hey, I don’t mind the Developers making a profit.  But they need to give a piece of the action to thems that enabled them to make it.

The Delta Institute recently released a report commissioned by CMAP on the Regional Green Economy, called Green Economic Development Strategies for the Chicago Region. You can view it here: http://www.delta-institute.org/publications/DeltaREDI_CMAP_GreenEconDevtReport_June2009_v2.pdf 

Delta is currently working with CMAP to determine how to best use the information collected to ensure a strong green economy for the future of Chicagoland. 

Chicago needs a bicycle-friendly business award.  As the New York DOT has done, the Chicago Department of Transportation could work in collaboration with an experienced bicycle advocacy group, such as Active Transportation Alliance, to recognize businesses that promote commuting and travel by bike, as well as helping to ensure the safety of their working cyclists.  Additionally, the award could acknowledge Chicago building owners that provide secure bike parking.

Award categories might include:

·         General Bicycle Friendly Workplace. This category would be judged on employers’ efforts such as:

o   installing indoor bike parking,

o   allowing bicycle storage near employee desks,

o   providing showers and lockers,

o   offering loans or reimbursements for bicycle purchases,

o   providing free bicycle servicing,

o   offering office bike pools,

o   authorizing mileage allowances for cycling,

o   promoting available pre-tax bicycle commuter incentives for employees,

o   holding Bike to Work Days, and

o   providing education, alerts and tools for bicycling safety.

 

·         Bicycle Friendly Workplaces for Working Cyclists. Companies would be judged for incorporating the safety, health and well-being of working cyclists (such as bicycle messengers and delivery persons) into their business operations.

 

·         Bicycle Friendly Building Owner.  This award would recognize building owners for providing bike access to tenants.  Best practices would include:

 

o   freight elevator access to tenant space to bike parking on loading docks,

o   indoor bike parking rooms, and

o   locker and shower facilities.

 

·         Bicycle Friendly Retailer/Food Service Operation for providing amenities such as:

o   superior bike access and parking options to customers or guests, and

o   discounts for cyclists.

 

·         What else?  I hope that other contributors can come up with new categories and other examples of bicycle-friendly policies that I have not listed here. 

 

There are myriad environmental benefits associated with increasing the number of bike commuters in Chicago.  Such benefits include decreased congestion, reduced noise pollution, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.  A Bicycle-Friendly Business award is a low-cost means of incentivizing employers and building managers to make bicycle commuting a viable option for more Chicagoans. 

Chicago needs a bicycle-friendly business award.  As New York’s DOT has done, the Chicago Department of Transportation could work in collaboration with an experienced bicycle advocacy group, such as Active Transportation Alliance, to recognize businesses that promote commuting and travel by bike, as well as helping ensure the safety of their working cyclists.  Additionally, the award could acknowledge Chicago building owners that provide secure bike parking.

Award categories might include:

·         General Bicycle Friendly Workplace. This category would be judged on employers’ efforts such as:

o   installing indoor bike parking,

o   allowing bicycle storage near employee desks,

o   providing showers and lockers,

o   offering loans or reimbursements for bicycle purchases,

o   providing free bicycle servicing,

o   offering office bike pools,

o   authorizing mileage allowances for cycling,

o   promoting available pre-tax bicycle commuter incentives for employees,

o   holding Bike to Work Days, and

o   providing education, alerts and tools for bicycling safety.

 

·         Bicycle Friendly Workplaces for Working Cyclists. Companies would be judged for incorporating the safety, health and well-being of working cyclists (such as bicycle messengers and delivery persons) into their business operations.

 

·         Bicycle Friendly Building Owner.  This award would recognize building owners for providing bike access to tenants.  Best practices would include:

 

o   freight elevator access to tenant space to bike parking on loading docks,

o   indoor bike parking rooms, and

o   locker and shower facilities.

 

·         Bicycle Friendly Retailer/Food Service Operation for providing amenities such as:

o   superior bike access and parking options to customers or guests, and

o   discounts for cyclists.

 

·         What else?  I hope that other contributors can come up with new categories and other examples of bicycle-friendly policies that I have not listed here. 

 

There are myriad environmental benefits associated with increasing the number of bike commuters.  These include decreased congestion, reduced noise pollution, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.  A Bicycle-Friendly Business award is a low-cost means of incentivizing employers and building managers to make bicycle commuting a viable option for more Chicagoans. 

The basic concept is to build a garden on a flatcar train and to let it travel with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) as part of their regular transit service. The extended idea is to, while beautifying the transit system, promote native plants as a way to green the city's vacant spaces - and also as a means to remediate brownfields.

noisivelvet has started the application process for 501(c)3 non profit status. The board members include: Carrie Menendez, MPA, Research Assistant, Great Cities Institute, Doctoral Student, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs; Molly Meyer, Green Roofing Consultant, Molly Meyer LLC; and Madiem Kawa, organizer of the Smart Garden at the Museum of Science and Industry, and Environmental Program Organizer at the University of Illinois Extension.

An official proposal has been submitted to the CTA with positive feedback and is currently estimated by the CTA to cost roughly $350,000. There is already a donor lined up for all of the plants for the garden but there will still be considerable costs for promotions, materials, and seed for distribution. This project is completely being funds raised by noisivelvet.

If you would like to help make this project happen email: chicago.mobilegarden@gmail.com and or check out the web site: http://www.themobilegarden.org or look us up on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=ts&gid=37178751892

Hi,

There are millions of High-Bay and Low-Bay lights in Factories, Big Box Stores, School Gymnasiums ect. There is no reason the cannot be converted to LED lighting. There are direct line-voltage replacements for street lighting that are screw-in replacements removing the ballasts. I have a sketch of a possible replacement lamp, just need an electrical engineer or LED manufacturer to make it work.

If this were to be instituted it would take a 400 watt Metal Halide fixture to possibly 40 watts, multiply that times 100 fixtures and the real energy savings are abundant!

 Thank you,

Matt Tirpak

Green Guy Solutions

Greenguysolutions@yahoo.com

Avego (www.avego.com) is a system that facilitates on demand, flexible carpooling.

From their site:

"Avego^TM Shared Transport enables private cars to become part of the public transport network by providing a marketplace for drivers to offer their empty seats to others in real time. Avego's iPhone app dynamically matches drivers with riders, provides real-time passenger information and automatically manages the payment transaction at the end of the journey. "

This system to be effective needs to get to a critical mass.

Organizations like Green Economy Chicago, community groups, and the city itself should encourage use of this system - or something similar.

The benefits of this could be incredible - less energy used, less traffic, more social interaction.

Note: I do not work for Avego, and am not affiliated with them in any way, I just think the idea is a great one.

Public schools in Chicago as well as many cities across the U.S. need help.  Many schools are under-funded and don’t provide adequate programs and education regarding the environment and sustainable living practices to students.

Project Earth 2.0 incorporates local businesses and citizens into the process of raising much needed funds so schools can implement environmentally based initiatives and projects.  Traditional fundraising methods generally do not take into account the environment, local economy or a community based approach to support schools.

Businesses that become a part of Project Earth 2.0 would encourage employees to go online to GreenNewEarth.com and purchase products such as organic coffee, eco-friendly cleaning products and CFL light bulbs.  30% of that purchase would go to local schools and their specific projects.  These projects could range from recycling programs, school energy audits, composting, school gardens, bio-diesel production and solar panel installations to name a few. 

By simply purchasing an everyday product a local citizen from a local business can create an enormous positive impact on the environment, schools and support the local economy.

• Offsetting emissions from 2,900 cars in a full year
• Saving water equivalent to 171,000 swimming pools
• Avoiding the use of 1,000,000 lbs of pesticides for cotton growth
• Reducing the use of 1,500,000 lbs of fertilizer for cotton growth

Why waste paper printing ads in the Sunday paper?  Readership is down, it is outragously expensive, and there are better ways to get your message out without being so wasteful.

Why send out tens of thousands of pieces of direct mail that most people consider junk anyways and throw right in the trash?  Nobody wants to get this junk in the mail (do you?).  This is wasteful of our resources and our advertising dollars.

So why do people continue to use these outdated methods?  It could be a variety of reasons.  Maybe they actually do get the response from these ads that they feel justifies the expense (both dollars and resources).  Maybe they choose to be stubborn and accept change, "this is the way we have always done it, and will always do it".  Maybe they don't realize their are better options out there.  Maybe they are open to change and are aware that change is an option, but are unsure how to go about it, or too busy, or think it would take to much effort on their part.

So what is the solution.  There are many, and any good marketing strategy will have many different ways of reaching out to your target audience.  But one of the most effective ways in todays world to reach out to your target audience in a green fashion is through SMS Text Marketing.  Done properly, Text marketing is not only GREEN, but extremely effective bringing response rates in the 10-20% range.  You may be thinking, if this is so effective why isn't everyone doing it?  See the last paragraph for your answer.  Most people either don't know about it, are too stubborn to change, or think it will take to much effort to make it work.  And if you don't know what you are doing you are right about thinking it will take too much effort to make it work.  That is why so many companies that have tried text marketing with "Do-it-yourself" style packages have failed.

Find a marketing agency who specializes in Mobile (text) marketing and have an effective campaign put in place today.  You will be happy you did.  If you reside in the Chicagoland area I recommend www.gogreentextdeals.com.  They focus exclusively on Chicago, they offer full service packages to make life easy on you, and they are there to help you go green in your marketing efforts.

This one would require some biological engineering that might not even be possible. First, build a good trellis system that runs above the highway. The idea is to get as much ivy/other type of plant above the highway. The plant would absorb carbon dioxide at a rapid rate (and here's where the biological engineering might be necessary if the project would be worth it). By turning carbon dioxide into oxygen near the source, the carbon dioxide wouldn't have a chance to mix into the atmosphere as much (it would be more concentrated just above the highway), so a high percentage of CO2 could be converted IF there was a plant that could 1) grow like a "ceiling" above the highway (I imagine ivy of some sort) and 2) absorb CO2 and convert it to oxygen at a rapid rate.

 Could be far out, or just far off, but it might be worth it.