Governor's Mansion Going Solar

On 10/10/10, Governor Pat Quinn announced plans to install solar panels on the Executive Mansion in Springfield.

The solar panels were donated by Wind Free Energy Company in Chicago and BYD America in Arlington Heights. The racking and bracketing was provided by B. Weinstein Engineering in Highland Park. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 193 has donated the labor to install the panels.

The new, 1-kilowatt array will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30 tons of CO2 over the next 25 years (equivalent to approximately 100,000 car miles or the planting of 1,100 trees, according to the Governor's Office of Sustainability).

The Governor's Mansion already boasts energy-efficient LED lighting, rain barrels, and a community vegetable garden.

Living Downstream Event Sunday

On Sunday, Oct. 17, join the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Sustainable Springfield, Inc., and the Pesticide Action Network of North America in welcoming Dr. Sandra Steingraber and film-maker Chanda Chevannes to Springfield for a screening of the new documentary, Living Downstream, that explores the connections between chemicals in our environment (including agricultural chemicals) and cancer.

The film is based on the acclaimed book by Illinois native, ecologist, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. This film follows Sandra around North America—and back to central Illinois—as she works to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.

Learn more about the film here.

The screening, at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing with Sandra Steingraber and filmmaker Chanda Chevannes. Signed copies of the new and updated second edition of Living Downstream will be available for purchase before and after the film.

Tickets are $8 and are available online, in person, or by phone (217-523-2787).

Recycling Works Training for Business

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 28.

That's when the Illinois Recycling Association (IRA) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will be hosting a free recycling training workshop, "Recycling Works: A Toolkit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace."

The workshop will introduce attendees to the new statewide Online Workplace Recycling Toolkit developed by Shaw Industries. In addition, it features a light lunch and an introduction to the new Springfield Green Business Network.

The agenda includes:

10 a.m. to Noon - Workplace Recycling Toolkit
Noon to 1 p.m. - Light lunch
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. - Springfield Green Business Network

Sign up by visiting the Illinois Recycling Association website or contact Mike Mitchell at executivedirector@illinoisrecycles.org or 708-358-0050.