Cool Cities Committee - Green Initiatives Page

Here are resources and link URLs that the Cool Cities Committee recommends that are relevant for both adults and young people to become more educated about reducing their carbon footprints. This information is meant to educate and promote individual actions.

Online calculators to help you determine your carbon footprint. Fun and educational for you and your children!

http://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/

http://www.carbonindependent.org/

Tips for Residents are some little things we can do at home, work and at the store. 

Support your Local Farmer and buy Organic Foods: Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community. Here are some Farmers' Markets in our area, one of which is even open in the winter months. And, did you know that organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soil from conventional farms?

Goshen Market - Open select days during the winter! http://www.goshenmarket.org

Alton Farmer's Market at http://www.altonmainstreet.org/page/farmers-market

Find other Farmers' Markets in the Metro-East and St. Louis at www.localharvest.org

Buy fresh foods instead of frozen or canned.  Frozen and canned food use much more energy to produce and deliver (unless, of course, the "fresh" has been shipped in such as bananas from South America). Know what's in season and don't buy things that are out of season...they will have been shipped or flown in.

Investigate Food Co-Ops/Community-support gardens.

Biver Farms at https://biverfarms.com/, 7307 Pin Oak Rd., Edwardsville, IL, 62025, 618-656-9082

Reducing Carbon Footprint in Your Yard and Garden

Cultivating an Ecosystem Esthetic:

 www.stroudcenter.org/livable-landscape/

The Buildings We Live In and the Types of Energy We Use Greatly Impact the Environment

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) represents excellence in green building design, construction, renovation, and operations and maintenance. This continuously-evolving standard provides a concise framework to measure sustainability in all commercial building types – office, retail, schools or healthcare – as well as tenant improvements and significant retrofits.

http://environment-ecology.com/environment-and-architecture/81-the-leadership-in-energy-and-environmental-design--leed-.html

Solar Energy-Harnessing the Power of the Sun

Solar Energy: Illinois has more sun power per square mile than Germany, the world’s leading producer of solar energy. Solar panels work in cold temperatures. Panels are actually a little more efficient when it’s cooler outside. They can work in snowy climates as well. You get the most solar power on a clear, sunny, day, but your panels won’t stop working when it’s cloudy. Solar panels protect and preserve the portion of the roof they cover. For customers in Illinois, 100% financed solar is a better investment than the stock market. If you are interested in learning more about a special bulk purchase discount program for the installation of solar panels in Glen Carbon and the Metro East area, go to www.growsolar.org/.

Here are some additional current references to help you become more informed about solar power in general:

http://energy.gov/eere/energybasics/articles/solar-energy-resource-basics

http://energy.gov/eere/energybasics/articles/photovoltaic-technology-basics

Choosing Alternative Ways of Getting Around Can Save Energy and Reduce Carbon Emissions.

There are many ways to reduce our carbon emissions by the judicious use of our means of transportation. Here are some alternative transportation resources:

Ridefinders: Carpools for getting to work

Madison County Transit: public transportation in Madison County

MCT Bike Trails: opportunities for safe recreational cycling

Getting Your children Involved—for a better future!

Games and activities for kids of all ages:

http://climatekids.nasa.gov/

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov