Our Voices, Green Choices is a blog highlighting green projects and programs happening at the Library as well as providing news about all kinds of "green living" topics both locally and beyond. We want to educate and inspire our community to embrace a greener lifestyle by sharing ideas and conversations with each other.Posts by lmulford
Posted on 03/15/12 | Comments
Have you noticed the ribbons tied on so many of the trees in Arlington Heights? Imagine if all of those trees ended up being removed. The Emerald Ash Borer beetle has now set up shop in AH and is threatening the aesthetics of our beautiful tree-lined streets. To see what a street might look like after the trees are removed, check out the photos from Mt. Prospect. This is the dilemma our village is currently facing.
There are over 13,000 ash trees on public property in Arlington Heights. One-third of those line all of our parkways. This figure doesn’t even address how many are in homeowners’ yards. Many residents do not even know if they have ash trees.
There has never been a better time to live up to our village motto, "City of Good Neighbors”, as we work together to do everything we can to stare down this natural disaster. A good place to start is to join in the community conversation about EAB at the library on Tuesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the Hendrickson Room.
There is a lot to understand about this challenge and Scott Schirmer, Plant and Pesticide Specialist with the IL Department of Agriculture will be discussing EAB and the options that are available to help preserve our neighborhood's trees. Dru Sabatello, Forester for Arlington Heights will also be present to talk about the impact on the village and the People’s Choice Program.
Posted on 12/29/11 | Comments
Here’s one new year's resolution you should easily be able to keep - recycling your old electronic devices. Many of you may have received a new electronic gift or two this past holiday and now want to get rid of the old outdated ones. It’s now easier than ever to find locations for recycling your unwanted items.
That’s good news because effective January 1, 2012, the Electronics Products Recycling and Reuse Act (SB2313) adds 14 new items to its list of electronic products that are banned from going into Illinois landfills. The ban is a result of research that confirms the harmful environmental effects of these items on landfills, while many of the components and metals in them can be successfully recycled for new uses. Items banned include:
- TVs and monitors
- Computers, including laptops and tablets
- Computer accessories (keyboards, mouse devices)
- Printers and scanners
- Fax machines
- VCRs and DVD players/recorders
- Video game consoles
- Portable digital music players
- Small-scale servers
- Digital converter boxes
- Cable/satellite receivers
The Library continues to collect small electronics in the blue bin near the Checkout Desk. We are partnering with Recycling Avenue, a non-profit company run by a group of physically challenged young adults wanting to make a difference. There are tax-deductible forms attached to the bin for you to record your donation. Check here for a list of acceptable items.
If you have a number of items to recycle, both large and small, you might want to consider an upcoming electronic recycling drive being held at the Countryside Center in Palatine on Friday, January 6. For more information, click here.
The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) has a very good list of sources for recycling all kinds of electronic items. The list includes nearby retailers such as Abt Electronics, Apple stores, and Best Buy. Some even offer gift cards when you trade-in old items. Even the nearby Goodwill store will take old computers. For a small fee, SWANCC will even arrange to pick up all your items. For the complete list, click here.
Have a happy, healthy and greener new year.
Posted on 11/15/11 | Comments
For the last 14 years, November 15th has been celebrated across the United States as America Recycles Day. This is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting recycling. With statistics showing that each American produces about four pounds of waste every day, it’s more important than ever to take an active role in promoting recycling and to seek out more ways to recycle waste at home, at work, and at our schools.
An excellent way to become more educated about recycling is to attend the library’s program, “Choose to be GREENer – Know Your Options” on Tuesday, November 29 at 7 p.m. in the Hendrickson Room. Mary Allen, Recycling and Education Director for SWANCC, Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, will talk about the latest technology in recycling as well as resources for disposing of items such as:
- paint
- pharmaceuticals/sharps
- large and small electronics
- batteries
- CFLs and more.
You’ll learn about new ways to incorporate green living habits into your daily life and how to be a greener consumer.
Here are a few recycling ideas that you can do right now:
- Vow to never use another plastic water bottle.
- Get a new reusable shopping bag and keep it in your car.
- Bring your unwanted clothes or household items to a local resale shop.
- Bring your old laptop, cell phone or other small electronics to the library’s small electronics recycling bin near the Checkout Desk.
Got a good green idea of your own? Enter the Illinois Library Association’s “Go Green, Win Green” contest by Friday, November 18, and you may win one of four $1,000 cash prizes. To learn more and to submit an entry, click here.
Posted on 10/26/11 | Comments
Who hasn’t, at some point, picked up a 24-pack of bottled water at the store, or grabbed that nice cold plastic water bottle at a fast food restaurant or a community event? We didn’t give it a second thought, but now we are learning that we definitely should be thinking about the practice.
If you have long suspected that bottled water is not good for the environment, but only had a vague notion about its specific consequences, you will definitely want to attend the library’s screening of the film, Tapped, a documentary about the bottled water industry on Wednesday, November 2 at 7 p.m. in the Lindsey Room.
The film chronicles the practices of the bottled water industry and the consequences it has levied on our collective health, communities, environment, economy and policy. We’ll have a discussion about the topic after the screening, so register to participate. Watch a trailer of the film, Tapped.
Got a great green idea? Don't forget to enter the Illinois Library Association’s “Go Green, Win Green” contest by November 18, and you may win one of four $1,000 cash prizes. To learn more and to submit an entry, click here.
Got a great green idea? Don't forget to enter the Illinois Library Association’s “Go Green, Win Green” contest by November 18, and you may win one of four $1,000 cash prizes. To learn more and to submit an entry, click here.
Posted on 10/20/11 | Comments
It’s the spookiest time of the year! Have fun this Halloween in a more eek-o-friendly way with these easy and fun tips:
- Choose Make-Up Over Masks. This year, rather than buying your kids those plastic masks that only wind up in the trash, have them put on some non-toxic make-up or make your own. It can even be more fun for them by allowing them to paint each other's faces before the big night.
- Give Your Kids a Flashlight: Rather than buy a few dozen of those neon glow sticks that usually only last a few hours, give each one of your kids a flashlight to carry with them throughout the evening. Those neon glow sticks are made of plastic and filled with toxic chemicals that can only hurt the environment.
- Lose the Loot: If your kids come home with a bounty of sugar filled treats, consider having the Switch Witch come. Tell them to put their leftover bag of treats outside their bedroom door and the Switch Witch will replace the bag with a special toy or treat.
- Save the Costumes: Once Halloween is over, save your kid's costumes and have other neighborhood parents do the same. Next year have a local swap to trade last year's costumes and/or accessories with some of your neighbors. This way each child gets a different costume each year and each costume gets more than one use out of it.
For lots more green Halloween tips and resources, check out the Green Halloween website. 
Have a green tip or idea to share about Halloween? Let us know here or on our Facebook page and have a happy green Halloween.
Posted on 09/28/11 | Comments
What does it mean to be a “green pioneer”? An extraordinary example can be found in legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold. Join us on Wednesday evening, October 5 at 7 p.m. for the library’s next Screening Green film, Green Fire:Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time. Although probably best known as the beloved nature writer of the conservation classic A Sand County Almanac, Leopold’s vision of a community that cares about both people and land—his call for a land ethic—continues to encourage us to see the natural world “as a community to which we belong.”
After the film screening, the audience will have the opportunity to become part of a “thinking community” discussion. Volunteer naturalist, Trisha Steele will lead the discussion in talking about the film and how Leopold’s legacy can shape other ideas for fostering a more sustainable community. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to be the next “green pioneer”.
If you've been inspired by a green idea, share it with us either here or on our Facebook page.
Posted on 09/21/11 | Comments
Did you miss our Green Parenting program last week? Cecelia Ungari, Education Director for the Green Mama organization, offered information on the latest research to help parents decide which green choices are most important for protecting the health of their children and the planet. Check out her five tips for going green, saving money and improving health.
Do you have a green parenting tip to share? Let us know here or on our Facebook page.
Posted on 09/01/11 | Comments
If you missed our Home Greening presentation by architect Bill Scholtens earlier this week, here are a few of his simple green tips for conserving energy and natural resources in your home:
- Use an Infrared thermal leak detector to be aware of heat loss/gains throughout your home.
- Did you know a DVR uses more electricity than a refrigerator? Measure your appliances and other electronic devices’ energy consumption with a Kill A Watt meter. The library has three meters available for checkout. for a two week period.
- Buy low VOC products. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include a variety of chemicals commonly found in products such as paints, pesticides, cleaners, etc., which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.
- An average family of four uses 400 gallons of water a day. By Installing low-flow aerators on your faucets and dual-flush toilets you will be able to realize a decrease in your water bills.
You can view Mr. Scholtens entire presentation here.
Posted on 08/25/11 | Comments
This is one of my favorite times of the year. Ripe, juicy, luscious tomatoes of all kinds are ready and waiting to be devoured in a range of recipes. Or there is my mother’s favorite - straight from the vine with just a sprinkle of salt. However you like yours, get out there and get some.
As promised a week ago, here are a couple of my favorite ways to use tomatoes, especially if you happen to be lucky enough to have a wonderful harvest of them on hand.
Gazpacho
I’m not usually a fan of cold soups, but you have to try this recipe. Absolutely delicious and refreshing! Add a crisp green salad and a fresh loaf of crusty bread and you’re set for dinner.
Chili Sauce
It wouldn’t be summer if I did not make a batch of my husband’s favorite chili sauce. Here’s the recipe, compliments of his mom.
1 gallon of tomatoes (about 24 large), chopped
2 C onions, chopped
2 C sweet red peppers (about 6 peppers), chopped
1 pod jalapeno pepper, chopped
3 Tbsp. salt
1 Tbsp mustard seed
1 Tbsp. celery seed
3 Tbsp. mixed pickling spices
1-1/2 C vinegar
1 C sugar
Place the first four ingredients in a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Place the spices in a little mesh bag. I use cheesecloth and tie with string. Add the tied bag of spices and continue cooking until thick. Add the vinegar and boil down until there is no more liquid on top. Add sugar last to avoid burning.
At this point, you can either ladle the mixture into canning jars for preserving using traditional canning procedures or share the fruits of your labor with friends and family right now.
The process takes several hours so make it on a day when you’ll be around home. The aroma from this as it’s cooking down is magical. It awakens all your senses and for my husband, brings him right back to a favorite place from his childhood.
That’s the beauty of handing down those treasured recipes we all latch onto along the way. What’s yours? Do you have a treasured recipe using tomatoes? Send it to us and we’ll share it here and on our Facebook page.
Hope to see you tonight at our seminar on Preserving the Harvest presented by Master Gardener Barb Ottolino. She’s a pro on all the methods so come armed with your questions.
Posted on 08/24/11 | Comments
It is estimated that each American child produces 67 pounds of lunch packaging waste each school year! That’s not being very eco-smart. Start the school year by helping your children put their “green” foot forward. Use packing their school lunch as a green lesson on the environmental 3 Rs- reduce, reuse, and recycle. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Ditch the single-use items. They’re easy, and may save a few minutes, but single-use paper bags, paper napkins, plastic baggies and cutlery, pre-packaged foods and juice boxes are wasteful. Their convenience comes at a high price. Not only does it cost more to buy them, but they are also clogging our landfills with toxic-emitting plastics.
- Buy in bulk –It’s easier to pack a more green school lunch by buying food items in big bags or tubs rather than those small-sized packages. This way, you can cut down on the amount of packaging as well as packing the amount that’s perfect for your child. Also bulk items are always less expensive than the individual packages.
- Be BPA-free. Some plastics are made with chemicals called phthalates or bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach from items such as food storage containers, plastic bottles, and sippy cups to name a few. They usually carry the numbers 3, 6 or 7 inside the recycling symbol. Scientists and doctors are learning more everyday about these chemicals and their health effects, especially on children. Learn more about choosing safer plastics with this guide.
- Pack Organic. Organic choices are good for your child’s health as well as the environment. Parents sometimes avoid choosing organics because they often cost a little more, but at a minimum, try choosing organic versions of the so-called "dirty dozen" -- those fruits and vegetables that contain higher amounts of pesticides. Shopping at farmer’s markets or grocery stores that buy locally-grown produce and other foods are also good green choices.
Here are more helpful tips to keep in mind when packing a lunch.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming Green Parenting 101 program on September 15 at 7 p.m.. Parent consultant Cecelia Ungari of the Green Mamas, will explain some of the latest information on everything from kids’ toys to the food we buy at our local grocery stores to help you determine what green choices you should be making to protect the health of your child and our environment.
Do you have a green tip to share about packing school lunches? Let us know here or on our Facebook page.
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