Household
“A Guide to Safer Products” – Brochure compiled by Peggy McGrath
Websites with a Wealth of Information
The Village Greener – Household Cleaning
Partnership for Children’s Health and the Environment
Kids and Chemicals (DVD) with Bill Moyers at films.com – Films for the Humanities & Sciences
A Simple Question: The Story of STRAW
Sunday, Mar 3, 12:30P/River Forest Village Hall - Tickets
David Donnenfield; Kevin White/2010/36 min/Family
A Simple Question looks at a remarkable program that brings together school children and their teachers with community groups and agencies to undertake habitat restoration on privately-owned ranch land. It all started more than 16 years ago when Laurette Rogers, a fourth grade teacher, showed a film on endangered species to her class. Stricken by the weight of species extinction, one student plaintively asked what he and his class mates could do to save endangered species. That simple question, innocent yet profound, ignited something in Laurette that launched her and her class on an inspired voyage of discovery and transformation.
Two of the kids from the original “Shrimp Club,” John Elliott and Lucia Comnes, return to Paul’s ranch, marveling at theirs and their classmates’ handiwork. They’re amazed at how their efforts have so dramatically transformed the barren landscape. And, as we listen to them, it’s clear how the experience sixteen years ago transformed them — into articulate, passionate, capable citizens committed to making the world a better place.
Nomination, Northern California Emmy Awards; Spirit of Activism Award, Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival; Best Educational Documentary, Mammoth Mountain Film Festival; Best Educational Value in the Classroom, andConservation Hero of the Festival, Laurette Rogers, International Wildlife Film Festival;
Best Short Film, Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival, New Zealand
Programming note: will be screened with Stories of TRUST Arizona.
One Earth Film Festival
One Earth Film Festival 2014
Energy Efficiency Workshop for OP-RF Congregations
Start the New Year off right and learn how faith-based institutions in Oak Park and River Forest can achieve PlanItGreen goals and save energy and thousands of dollars every year!
This complimentary workshop, co-sponsored by PlanItGreen, the Interfaith Green Network, and the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF), provides actionable steps and timelines for how Interfaith Green Network and PlanItGreen-affiliated religious organizations can significantly lower utility bills, provide a healthy environment for their congregations, and support congregational and PlanItGreen sustainability goals for 2013.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
WHERE: Oak Park Public Library (Veteran’s Room, 2nd Floor), 834 Lake Street
WHO: This workshop is ideal for Oak Park and River Forest faith-based organizations operating in older facilities. Pastors, green team leaders, building operations managers, and congregation decision-makers are strongly encouraged to attend.
Participants will learn how IFF can:
- Assess your facility's energy use and evaluate your best options for energy savings
- Explain which grants and incentives are available to your organization to help cover costs
- Provide affordable, flexible loans for upfront costs—and use the savings from your lower energy costs to pay the loan back
- Oversee all energy upgrades and train your staff to help maximize savings
IFF's Energy Performance Program (E2P) has identified hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy savings for nonprofits and institutions of faith—join us on the 14th to learn how IFF can help your organization!
To RSVP or to learn more, contact SGA at admin@sevengenerationsahead.org or Dick Alton at richard.alton@gmail.com.
Sugar Beet Membership Kick-off Party
The Sugar Beet Co-op Membership Kick-off Party and Winter’s Eve Market A celebration of local food, growing partnerships and a year of good work is being planned by The Sugar Beet Co-op for Saturday, January 12th at Unity Temple. Memberships to the co-op will be made available for the first time at this community gathering and hundreds of people are expected to turn out to show their support.
Just a year ago, a group of neighbors from northeast Oak Park came together and decided that the Oak Park, Austin, and surroun
ding communities needed something new: a full-service, cooperative grocery store that would provide a neighborhood source for local, sustainable, healthy foods and a way of connecting farmers and producers to their customers.
Throughout 2012, The Sugar Beet team has participated in community events, connected with farmers and supporters of the Oak Park Farmers' Market, forged relationships with local individuals, organizations, and businesses, and organized events and workshops with the goal of bringing our community together around good food.
The Sugar Beet Co-op Membership Kick-off Party will include a Winter’s Eve Market featuring vendors of local foods and goods for purchase as well as The OPRF High School Jazz Quartet. Wine and craft beers, a crepe station, seasonal foods and Sugar Beet Home Movies will make this a cozy evening of fellowship and inspiration. Tickets are $20 which includes 3 drink tickets and are available at www.sugarbeetcoop.com.
Green Tour slide
Sugar Beet Coop's Edible Garden Tour
Saturday, August 11 11am-3pmOnly $5!
At the peak of growing season we will get an insider’s peek into the edible gardens of our neighbors in Oak Park. We will be invited into over 20 beautiful gardens to learn more about urban agriculture and get inspired! Seasoned gardeners and refreshments to be on-site at every stop to make this a day of learning, fun and enjoyment. Stay tuned for more details and please contact us if YOU know of an amazing edible garden in Oak Park!
For more information and tickets: www.sugarbeetcoop.com
Saving Money and the Planet with Home Energy Retrofits
by Doug Burke
A new program in Illinois offers homeowners “one-stop shopping” for home energy retrofits. It provides guidance in saving energy and money in homes. Since buildings use more energy than cars or any other single sector, saving energy use in homes saves more greenhouse gases than anything else that most individuals can do.
Many people would like to have more energy-efficient homes, but don't know exactly what to do, what is efficient, how much will it cost, how much will it save, how can they tell if the work was done right, etc. The goal of Energy Impact Illinois (EI2), a government-funded program, is to guide people through these questions.
A presentation at Oak Park Village Hall on March 21 laid out the program. EI2 checks out qualified contractors who are certified in energy efficiency. They can refer you to a contractor (their site lists a number of qualified contractors). They will inspect the work after it is done. They will give you a Green certificate at the end, certifying that your house is energy-efficient. They have lined up lenders to make loans to pay for the work, if that is needed. In other words, they will guide you step by step through the process.
Gary Cuneen, executive director of Seven Generations Ahead, and his wife Erica shared their experience with the process as it was implemented at their Oak Park two-flat. The contractor recommended $10,000 worth of work. With the help of EI2, they got a seven-year loan with payments of $170 per month. The energy improvements are saving them about $200 per month, which means: they are much more comfortable from day 1, they are helping the planet from day 1, they are saving a little money from day 1, and in the long run, after the loan is paid, they will be much better off with a more valuable house. The contractor the Cuneens used, Green Energy Improvement, says they can typically cut energy bills by 30-50%, which is equivalent to taking a car off the road.
There is nothing you can do as an individual that will fight global warming more than retrofitting your house. Please check out this website operated by EI2: Energy Impact Illinois. At that site, I recommend clicking on Learn How to Maximize Your Savings.