North Central College, Sustainably

Naperville-area gas prices now firmly center about $4/gallon.

Joe Tyna, Student Affairs Specialist, writes:

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”: a popular phrase. And, as a soon-to-be homeowner, I’m learning the mantra is applicable to remodeling. Inspired by a North Central College Break Away trip to Lynchburg, Virginia, my wife and I are pursuing “green” home improvement.

If you’re remodeling, I recommend a trip to ReStore in Elgin. “But, it is so far away!”, you exclaim. “True”, I reply. “Yet, the drive is worth the distance”.

ReStore Elgin is a 20,000 sq. ft. building materials reuse center benefiting the northern Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity. ReStore accepts donated new and gently used goods from retailers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and homeowners. Building supplies are then sold, at greatly reduced prices, to the general public. The store’s operation generates funds to support the local community while reducing the amount of material that would otherwise go to overflowing landfills.

Soon-to-be North Central College graduates may need furniture, tools, and other household items. For them, the ReStore is a perfect choice. In fact, Robyn Gautschy, a writer for The Chronicle volunteered at a ReStore in Washington and is already considering what Elgin has to offer post-graduation.

• 10am - 4pm
• Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster (Naperville)
• free (including all of Naper Settlement)

• North Central College Green Scene members will be volunteering

See a wide variety of hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles, learn about eco-friendly products and services available in Naperville, bid on a cordless, electric lawn mower or tickets to the Solheim Cup (and many other exciting items) in the silent auction, listen to experts on clean air and respiratory health, with fun activities for children, including a bounce house. Heartland Blood Bank will be on site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To sign up to give blood or to volunteer the day of the event, visit Cool Ride-Clean Choice’s website.

Community Energy, our local provider of alternative energy through the Naperville Renewable Energy Program, will provide CO2 offsets for this event with clean renewable energy generated here in Illinois, and will be present to allow attendees to sign up for the Renewable Energy Program.

Expert speakers throughout the day will include John Walton, manager of the alternative vehicle fleet at Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, as well as Brian Urbazewski from Respiratory Health Alliance and Brooke Emmerich of Edward Hospital to address the health effects of vehicle emissions. Other eco-friendly speakers, businesses and organizations will provide information on conventional car care, building energy audits, natural landscaping, solar composting, and home cleaning and personal care products.

Green Scene member Kristen Nardozzi passes along her greetings to everyone for Earth Day:

Happy Earth Day Everyone!!!

Today is a great opportunity to show respect for our planet by going above and beyond in our efforts of green living. Here are some ideas of how you can have a happy and eco-friendly Earth Day:

• Bike or walk to school/work, if this is not possible look into public transportation or carpool with a friend or two
• Unplug your TV, computers, lights, etc. (energy is used even when items are not running if they are still plugged into an outlet!)
• Turn off your A/C and open your windows
• Take a shorter shower and reduce your hot water use
• Plant a tree
• Recycle!
• Use a reusable bag at the store
• Eat a meal of locally grown fruits and vegetables

There are so many simple ways that our actions today and everyday can begin making a difference. Use this holiday as a way to spread a message of sustainability and conservation to friends, family, and anyone you come in contact with today. And remember, even when today is over, you can continue to celebrate our Earth everyday!

For more information on what you can do to help the environment, check out these websites:

• “An Inconvenient Truth”: Take Action
• Environmental Defense Fund: What You Can Do About Global Warming
• Treehugger: How to Go Green