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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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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(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

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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“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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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

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The Third Annual Elgin Green EXPO is being held the day before Mother’s Day, Saturday, May 7^th 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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