One Fish, Two Fish, Green Fish, New Fish! Elgin’s Green Expo
ELGIN — Up close and personal interaction with the Fox River, in the heart of downtown, will be one of the highlights of the Elgin Green Expo, set for May 4-5 at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way.
A 5,500-gallon aquarium, filled with fish collected the day before on the Fox River, will allow residents to get to know the fish they share their river with. Those who want to get a little closer to the water can go on hour-long pontoon boat or canoeing trips on the Fox.
Both the aquarium and the river expeditions are new to the Green Expo, now in its fourth year and are exciting for its organizers. “How often do you get a chance to see fish from the Fox River?” said Sigi Psimenos, one of the event organizers. On Thursday, representatives from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will harvest fish for the tank. Those fish will then be transferred to the aquarium — on the back of a semi-truck and the size of a 20 ft. semi-trailer — with opportunities to learn about the species and their environments. And yes, they’ll be released back into the river after the expo.
Set for 1 to 7 p.m. on May 4 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 5, the Elgin Green Expo this year is also expanding opportunities for attendees to learn more about how to live a sustainable lifestyle, Psimenos said. More than 100 exhibitors have reserved space for the Expo, which began in 2009 with 1,500 visitors to the one-day event. Last year, more than 4,000 people attended, and 5,000 are expected this year. All the events can be found on their webpage www.elgingreenexpo.org/attheevent
Sponsored by the City of Elgin, Waste Management, Davey Tree, Kane DuPage Soil Water Conservation District, and ECCO
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Meet the Fox River Up Close and Personal
(Elgin) As part of the Elgin Green Expo being held at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, the Friends of the Fox River will offer the public an unusal opportunity to meet the Fox River up close. On Saturday May 5th from 11am – 2pm. Canoes & kayaks will be available for the public to paddle north of the Gail Borden Library. In addition, a pontoon boat will offer cultural tours from there up to the toll way bridge and back.
Children of all ages will be able to enjoy the river and learn about points of interest along the way. Safety boats are being provided by the Elgin Fire Department. All participants will be required to sign a waiver, pay a $5 insurance fee, and wear a life jacket.
Sponsored by the City of Elgin, Waste Management, Davey Tree, ECCO, KDSWCD, and Friends of the Fox River.
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The Midwest Green Car Expo
Special Feature: The DeLorean Electric Vehicle
(Elgin, Il) Alternative fueled cars (aka Green cars) will be showcased in Downtown Elgin during the 2012 Midwest Green Car Expo (MGCX) On Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 9am-4pm. Occurring in conjunction with Elgin’s Green Expo, the MGCX brings together alt fuel vehicles, high MPG vehicles, and the supporting infrastructure companies. The show this year is two-pronged; it promotes electric vehicles (EVs) and natural gas vehicles (NGVs); the two best alt fuels on the market thus far.
The special features: the MGCX will be the Midwest Premier of the DeLorean Electric Vehicle. Coming from the New York International Auto Show, this vehicle takes the iconic shape of the car everyone remembers from the Back to the Future movies and combines today’s technology to power the vehicle on Lithium iron phosphate batteries. Price: approx. $95,000.00; production run: 300 cars; battery power pack: 32kWh; top speed: 125 MPH; range: 100 miles; 0-60 time: 5-6 seconds
The other special feature will be Chris Schneider of La Cross, WI. Also known as the hybrid guru, Chris covers the NGV side of alternative fuel vehicles. He will talk about the natural gas powered Honda Civic, new on the market. With his affiliations with NGV America and the Wisconsin Clean Cities organization, Chris has plenty of high tech info on what NGVs are all about and why this is the fuel of the future.
The MGCX is sponsored by the Fox Valley Electric Automobile Association and the Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition. Elgin’s Green Expo is sponsored by City of Elgin, Waste Management, Davey Tree, ECCO, and KDSWCD.
LOCATION: the Elgin Family Rec Center parking lot on Symphony Way
GATE FEE: $5 for show vehicles; spectators are free.
FOR MORE INFO: www.MidwestGreenCarExpo.weebly.com
Elgin’s Green Expo-2012
May 4 (1-8pm) & May 5 (9am-4PM)
Four years ago, Elgin’s Green Expo was launched out of a need for a common conversation for decision makers influencing the greening of the built environment. Today, we continue to serve individuals, businesses and the community to realize its true potential.
As this is our 4th annual green expo, and it’s the International Year of Water, we’ve added a special component to this 2 day event. We’ve invited all of the municipalities along the Fox River to join us for a special symposium called Watershed Wanderings. As always, our overall focus will once again be on all things green and energy efficient, but this year we’ll have a special emphasis on our waterways, recycling, trees, home retrofits, new technologies and innovative products.
Public attractions will include a 5,500 gallon aquarium stocked with fish from the Fox River, canoe/pontoon trips, a green car show, farmer/garden/wellness/kids exhibit areas, exhibits showcasing green products & services for the individual, home and business , a locavore deli & bar, entertainment, live recycled art shows, a huge petting zoo, entertainment plus much more.
So, this year, add to the excitement and get involved as a partner, sponsor, exhibitor, or volunteer. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to market your business or organization. Through our success, we move together toward a world where all live in prosperity.
Why do we do this? That’s easy. For a love of humanity.
It takes all of us working together to make a difference!
Applications/Registration, Levels of Support, Schedule of Events….all can be found on our website. http://www.elgingreenexpo.org/
General Information can be found by clicking on the tabs at the top, more specific information can be found by clicking on the individual drop down menu categories. EXAMPLE: To find out information on Partnership levels, or how much booth sapce cots and basic ” Levels of Support ” click on the GET INVOLVED tab, click on the drop down tab for Partner, or Sponsors/Exhibitors.
To find what events are scheduled, click on the tab at the top called At The Event. Also, you’ll want to check out the latest news once we get stated.
(Created/Organized by ECCO in partnership with Waste Management, Kane DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District, Davey Tree and the City of Elgin Sustainability Commission.)
http://www.elgingreenexpo.org/
on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elginsgreenexpo
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DIRTY BUSINESS The Film
Dirty Business:
“Clean Coal” and the Battle for Our Energy Future
Join us
November 10, 201 @ 6PM
Elgin Public Museum (225 Grand in Lords Park, Elgin)
Can coal ever really be made “clean”? If we were to try to wean ourselves off coal, how would we keep the lights on? Is renewable energy ready for prime time? Guided by Rolling Stone reporter Jeff Goodell, DIRTY BUSINESS seeks answers in a series of stories: citizens fighting to build a solar power plant instead of a new coal plant in Nevada; a Kansas cowboy saving his cattle ranch with wind power; doctors tabulating the true cost of coal pollution in the damaged health of newborns in China, where a new coal plant goes up every week; innovators making a southern Rust Belt factory so energy efficient that it will steal jobs back from China.
America burns more than a billion tons of coal a year—and coal-fired power plants are the single greatest source of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Many of us are not aware that even now, in a world globally connected by the Internet, half our electricity still comes from this dirty, nineteenth century technology. DIRTY BUSINESS investigates the coal lobby’s $40 million dollar campaign to convince us that the technology to make coal “clean” already exists. In fact, that technology—called “carbon capture and storage”—is not in full commercial operation anywhere in the world, and experts say that may not happen for 15 years or more, and even then may not be economically viable.
DIRTY BUSINESS is the first major public media project to explain and demystify “clean coal” and to explore the extent to which increased energy efficiency and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar thermal power might make “clean coal” unnecessary and uneconomical.
Free Admission/Free Parking/Refreshments
RSVP on our Facebook link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190166027726790
http://dirtybusinessthefilm.com/
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Moving Planet:Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels
350 Bike riders will be converging on the Ruggard Gazebo, Prarie Path at Ardmore Ave, Villa Park on September 24th, 1:30 PM sharp, for a unique international photo-op. Festivites will include music, food & special speakers to honor this worldwide event.
Elgin riders will meet & start at the Prarie Path at Army Trail Road @10AM. Additional bikers from the area will also meet here. It’s about 17 Miles to Ruggard Gazebo in Villa Park. Of cours…e, you can start in Elgin(we’ll have someone at Gail Borden with bike streamers), Dundee, etc. if you have the stamina…or closer if you don’t. Riders from Elmhurst, Lombard and further east will join us in Villa Park.
We’re also encouraging those that can’t ride, to walk or share a ride there. We just want to see you there in support of this effort. (White t-shirts are the preferred.*)
Everyone will get special streamers for their bike handlebars.
*T-Shirts: We’re requesting white but feel free to have your org name on them.
To join us comment here!! Additional Details will follow!!
Supported by Elgin Climate Change Organization,River Prarie Group Sierra Club of Lombard, LWV of the Elgin Area, Moving Planet and 350.org
Elgin’s Green EXPO- May 7th
The Third Annual Elgin Green EXPO is being held the day before Mother’s Day, Saturday, May 7th from 9AM-4PM at the Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, in Elgin, Illinois. With thousands of visitors, this green event is the largest of its kind in the Fox Valley.
The day will be filled with a truly hands-on opportunity to learn all about the benefits of go-green/save some green, sustainable lifestyles. More than 100 of the best exhibitors in the area, including speakers and interactive programs providing everything from renewable energy installations, green remodeling, ancient building techniques, testing energy efficiency of building materials/designs to what’s my tree worth, how to grow your own community garden and can a goat really mow my lawn.
This family friendly event includes a wellness center, with eco friendly products & chair massages, a Farmers Market with artisan breads, cheeses, wines, an EcoBazzar where you can get the latest recycled goods, plus food & drinks from the Locavore Cafe/EcoBar and entertainment, music and activities for the kids. The children will be treated to everything from a huge petting zoo to the world’s greatest Green Magician making a Waste Management dumpster disappear, or maybe appear, on the parking deck. Everyone will want to walk through the solar shack and visit Destination: Green – ECC’s semi-truck classroom powered by sun and wind. From watching junk being turned into recycled art to using the river for power-there’s something for everyone!
In order to keep this a minimal impact event, recycling bins will be scattered throughout. Depending on where guests are coming from, visitors are encouraged to take the Metra train or PACE bus or car pool. Elgin residents are encouraged to ride bikes, take a brisk jog or leisurely walk to get here. But, however you get here, remember to treat Mom to one of the many gifts you’ll find at Green Expo 2011.
Follow us on Facebook @ Elgin’s Green EXPO.
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The Carbon Footprint of War
Why Earth cannot afford war
The Pentagon wants to go ‘green’ and not only with its light bulbs. War-that elephant in the greenhouse- has become the ultimate environmental oxymoron. Let’s explore how many years riding a bike would take to offset one F-15 flying for one hour , and all the other aspects of why we can no longer afford war.
ECCO is partnering with the Elgin Public Museum, and Fox Valley Citizens for Peace & Justice.
Thursday, April 7th, 2011 @ 6:30 PM @ Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd. @ Lords Park… RSVP 847-888-1197 or this site.
Elgin’s Green EXPO 2011
“Superb event.. Great exposure to the public…Outstanding to have everything under one roof… Didn’t know all of these green businesses were around…So many interested in green technology that we could have used more information & space…Free, family-friendly, fun event -my husband had cars, mechanics & technology, my kids enjoyed the environmentally friendly activities & I was able to get a relaxing chair massage & shop-topped off by a wonderful lunch together-it was a perfect day!…”
These were just some of the comments made by the 150 plus exhibitors, and thousands of people who attended last year’s EXPO……so, back by popular demand… Elgin’s Green EXPO 2011. This year we’re particularly pleased and excited to offer a larger venue with all vendors having a 10×10 area, and ALL vendors will be indoors with the exception of the electric sports cars and latest fuel efficient models.
Elgin Climate Change Organization (ECCO) is once again partnering with the Elgin Heritage Commission and Elgin’s Sustainability Master Planning Committees to produce this event.
Additional applications online www.cityofelgin.org/green/expo
Questions sigiusa@yahoo.com or
Facebook Elgin’s Green Expo 2011
Phone 312-953-8216
Fuel, The Movie
ECCO, the LWV oif the Elgin Area
and Izaak Walton League present this award winning movie on alternative energy. We can get away from fossil fuels! Come and see one man’s journey into the history of oil and alternatives that can work for us now. Discussion to follow. Join us Sunday, January 16th from 2:00-4:00 PM at the Gail Borden Public Library.
Found Treasure-The 3 R’s Rule!
Come see and learn about the importance of recycling as children of Fox River Country Day School’s Green Troupe perform a play on the negative impact of littering, plastic grocery bags, what we can do to stop the over use of water bottles and benefits of shopping at thrift stores.
After the play, join ECCO as we recycle old holiday cards. Children will have the option to recycle old holiday cards into new cards, postcards or ornaments. Plus, free raffle with prizes and free popcorn!
Sponsored by ECN, ECCO, Gail Borden Public Library and the City of Elgin.
Energy Challenge Panel Discussion
Join us Thurs., Nov. 4 at 6:30 PM for a panel discussion of geothermal energy, Dirk Dypold presenting, solar energy, Dewaine Nelson, and Blue Star Energy with Lon Johnson. Q & A to follow. See which is best for you!
10/10/10
Community garden time at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center. Join us to help 10/10/10 of 350.org, worldwide–over 5300 worldwide locations doing something for climate change! Sandy K. ECCO Chair
Come join us for a tour and discussion with Marko Spiegel of his One Watt House! Tues., Sept. 28 at 6 PM across from the Rec Centre. Email sakaptain@gmail.com. to save a spot! See you then. Learn how to reduce your energy output!
PRIVATE TOUR-ONE WATT HOUSE
• a 2000 ft2 house heated with only twenty 100W incandescent light bulbs or one powerful hair dryer!
• a 300 ft2 living room heated with 10 candles.
• Spending less than $1 a day to heat an average-sized Midwestern home.
Let’s visit our own local One-Watt House in LaFox for a private tour on Tuesday, Sept. 28th. The owner, Marko Spiegel. is an engineer and entrepreneur born and educated in Germany. His lifelong passion for building along with a desire to conserve and innovate in construction led him to launch Conservation Technology International. (Marko also works on redesigning existing homes-see aricle at bottom of page)
To lessen our own impact we’ve gotten a van to accomodate the first 8 RSVP’s, we’d like to ask you to meet us in the parking lot across the street from the Centre & Library. The rest of us will just carpool.
RSVPs are necessary so Marko knows how many people to expect. Additional questions: Sandy Kaptain sakaptain@gmail.com
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=364413
and their website
http://www.conservationtechnologyinternational.com/
Jarrod McKenna, the Australian peace & environmental activist
Fox Valley Citizens For Peace & Justice is pleased to co-sponsor along with with Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren and ECCO the upcoming appearance of Jarrod McKenna, the Australian peace & environmental activist. Jarrod is active in The Peace Tree Community, Together for Humanity, and the award-winning initiative Empowering Peacemakers in Your Community.
That’s at 6:30 PM at
Highland AVenue Church of the Brethren
783 W Highland Avenue
Elgin, Il 60123
Plan to listen and learn from this dynamic speaker. Discussion will follow.
EPYC’s Founder and Creative Director Jarrod McKenna and his team have gained permission from the Education Department to conduct these seminars which use music, media and visual arts to engage students in engaging our world.
“Around the world there is an emerging generation of young leaders who are rediscovering the radical implications of Jesus message and are letting their lives speak of these alternatives to the cycles of violence, poverty and environmental destruction. Jarrod McKenna is one such young leader Australia has to offer, and his EPYC program promises to empower many more.” Rev. Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia
June 3rd -Tour of Elgin Passive Solar & Geo-Thermal Home
Tour Dirk Dypold’s, of Advanced Geothermal Plumbing & Heating, home . Check out his passive solar system, his geothermal setup, and his rain garden too. He’ll follow this with a discussion on geo-thermal. All are welcome! Thursday, June 3rd @ 7PM at 323 S. Commonwealth-Elgin.
DIRECTIONS TO ELGINS GREEN EXPO
Sautrday May 8th 9am-4pm
The Centre is centrally located on a six-acre parcel in the heart of Elgin’s business district, bordered by Kimball, Douglas, North Grove Streets, and Symphony Way. Centrally located, residents can reach The Centre within 10 minutes from all city borders.
Exit Route I-90 at Route 31 south. Take Illinois Route 31 south to Kimball Street. Turn east or left. The Centre is located on your right.
From the South
Take Lake Street / Route 20 to Illinois Route 31. Follow Illinois Route 31 north to Kimball. Turn east or right. The Centre is located on your right.
From the East
Take I-90 west to Illinois Route 25 south. Follow Route 25 to the split and continue on Dundee Avenue to Kimball Street. Take Kimball Street west into the downtown Elgin City Center area. The Centre is located just past Douglas Street, on your left.
From the West
Take I-90 east to Illinois Route 31. Follow Route 31 to Kimball Street. Take Kimball Street west into the downtown Elgin City Center area. After the river, on your right.
Earth’s Changing Climate
Lecture Three
At the Elgin Public Museum
Ice Ages and Beyond
Thermometer-based temperature records go back only 150 years. This lecture explores the techniques scientists use to push global temperatures back thousands, millions, and billions of years. In particular, we’ll explore the cyclic pattern office ages punctuated by brief warmer spells. Our understanding of this pattern involves a complex interaction among astronomical effects on Earth’s orbit and axis, along with feedback effects that drive changes in the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and other gases. The picture of past climates developed in this lecture will be important in the next few lectures, where we seek to understand the scientific principles that establish climate, and in later lectures where we show why recent climate change is largely attributable to human activities.
Lecture Four
In the Greenhouse
What determines a planet’s temperature and, thus, establishes its overall climate? Ultimately, stable climate results form a balance between incoming solar energy and heat that a planet radiates to space. Well-established fundamental principles of physics govern that balance. But a planetary atmosphere complicates the picture, absorbing outgoing energy and, thereby, altering the energy balance. The result is the greenhouse effect, which can keep a planet significantly warmer than it would otherwise be. For Earth, the naturally occurring greenhouse effect – mostly the result of atmospheric water vapor and, to a lesser extent, carbon-dioxide – warms our planet by nearly 60°F (33°C) over what it would be absent these gases. Changes in atmospheric composition will alter the quantitative value of this greenhouse effect, and that’s the primary reason for concern about human-caused climate change.
Coming Soon! Elgin’s Green EXPO
Elgin’s Premier Green Event – Family Friendly -Free Admission
Celebrate, explore and take in the remarkable cornucopia of sustainable living ideas, services and products in our community.
Hundreds of exhibitors coming together in one location-once a year! This year we’re pleased to be partnering with the City of Elgins Sustainability Master Planning Committees, Elgin Heritage Commission, and most recently Elgin High School. From gigantic wind turbines to wiggly worms…from the City’s largest yard sale to a live recycled art show…..from the largest selection of native prairie plants to kids seed necklaces….from Farmers Market to handcrafted goods.
Speakers & Presentations
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How to retrofit your home without going broke
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Successful home landscapes with low maintenance native plants
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Greening Elgin’s Food Industry
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How do you do a One-Watt House
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Elgin’s Tree Assessment Survey
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What the heck do you do with those pesky plastic bottles & other tossable horror stories
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