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

Holiday Lights Recycling

Posted on 11/26/12 | Comments

Planning to buy new energy-efficient LEDs for your holiday lighting this year? Please consider recycling the strings of lights you no longer need as part of the Holiday Light Recycling Program that the Village of Arlington Heights is offering through a program managed by SWANCC (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County.)

From November 19, 2012 – February 22, 2013, all holiday string lighting and extension cords can be dropped off for recycling at Health Services on the first floor of Village Hall at 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, or at the Public Works facility, 222 N. Ridge Ave. See below for hours at each location.

Last year, 28 area communities contributed more than 51,000 pounds of holiday lights for recycling instead of throwing them in the trash. Through this recycling program, materials are reclaimed, reprocessed, and made into new products, making the holiday season much brighter!

Public Works
222 N Ridge Avenue
Monday - Friday: 7:30 am to 2:00 pm
(847) 368-5800

Health Services
33 S Arlington Heights Road
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
(847) 368-5760

Check here for recycling locations in other nearby suburbs.

Happy Holidays!

Tags: holiday lights recycling, LEDs

Green Craft Ideas for Kids

Posted on 07/23/12 | Comments

Are you one of those parents thinking “only one more month until school starts”? The last few weeks of summer vacation can often be a challenge with temps frequently reaching the mid to upper 90s and children becoming a bit stir crazy.

It’s been several years since I fielded the “I’m bored” mantra from my children during summer vacation, but I do remember quite a few times when the heated dog days forced me to call forth some form of crafty creativity. Some of the projects that were the most fun seemed to be those where we were able to use everyday stuff from around the house: styrofoam egg cartons, old crayons that we could melt, toilet paper rolls, extra buttons - the list is endless.

Check out some of these great resources for all kinds of ideas for fun art projects using recyclables. One of the best sources for ideas can be found at the library. We have many books available with craft ideas and our Kids' World summer reading program also offers craft projects for kids.

Have some green craft ideas you’ve tried with your children? Let us know here or on our Facebook page.

Tags: crafts from recycled products, kids craft ideas

Five Ways to Keep Your Cool and Your Green

Posted on 07/03/12 | Comments

Anyone remember the days before central air was commonplace in our homes? As a small child, I remember the thrill of having our meals in the cool basement because it was too hot in our kitchen. This seemed like a great adventure at the time – almost like picnicking or camping out. Going back to yesteryear and adopting some simple, natural ways to cool your home may not seem very adventuresome, but it can save you some green and it’s also a greener way to live. Here are five ways to help cool those kilowatts:

Lighten the Load - Did your parents always remind you to turn off the lights when you left a room? Turns out they were right - incandescent lighting gives off a ton of heat. Now is a good time to update to LEDs or CFLs if you have not already. Also unplug your electronics when you’re not using them.

Be a fan of fans - Using stationary, ceiling and whole-house fans is one of the greenest ways to keep your cool in the summer. They use less energy than central air and window units, are less expensive to install and best of all, can dramatically lower utility bills by reducing the need to rely on air conditioning. I have a whole house fan in my home and ceiling fans in all the bedrooms and using them efficiently is an amazing energy saver.

Dial up Your Thermostat - According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, for each degree you raise your thermostat, you’ll save 3 to 5 percent in cooling costs. If you do not have a programmable thermostat already, remember to turn up the dial a few degrees when you leave your home for an extended period of time. Replacing the air filter on your HVAC unit monthly is an inexpensive way to save a few dollars too.

Green Up Your Landscaping - A landscape designed to properly shade a home can reduce air-conditioning bills by 15 to 50 percent. Join us on Thursday, July 19 for the Green Landscape Makeover program and get helpful tips on how to update your landscape in a more eco-friendly manner. Here's a guide to landscaping for improved energy efficiency in “Plant Your Way to Energy Savings: Landscaping for Energy Efficiency .”

Visit the Library. It’s air conditioned and you can check out all of the summer activities happening at AHML.

Read more about keeping your cool here. Do you have some good suggestions for staying cool during the dog days of summer? Share them with us here or on our Facebook page.

Tags: green landscape makeover, keeping cool

Fresh and Flavorful: The Local Farmers Market

Posted on 06/05/12 | Comments

Ready, set, run! The time has finally come to visit the local farmers market. Farmers markets are busting out everywhere and the Arlington Heights market opens this Saturday, June 9, right behind the library in the parking lot at Vail and Fremont. The market will run from now until Oct. 20 and the hours are 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check this list for other farmers markets in our area that you might also want to visit.

Farmers markets offer farm-fresh, flavorful, affordable, and healthy local products such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, herbs, fish, flowers, baked goods, meat and much more.

Supporting a local farmers market is one of the greenest things you can do. Why?

The produce you purchase will be fresher than anything you can buy in a store.
It will have traveled fewer miles to get to you.
Small local farmers are less likely to use lots of chemicals in growing their produce.
You can actually talk to them to find out exactly what growing methods they use.

You won't want to miss our Green Screening film discussion coming up on Thursday, June 14 at 7 p.m. . We'll be viewing the documentary INGREDIENTS that tells the story of America's local food movement. After the screening there will be a discussion and Q&A with local food movement experts. Register

And If you make it to one of the local markets this weekend, give us the dirt on what you thought was the best thing about it. We’d love to hear from you here as well as on facebook and twitter.

Tags: Arlington Heights Farmers Market, farmers market, Green Screening

Be Idle-Free at the Library

Posted on 05/31/12 | Comments

The library is participating in the village’s new Idle Free Arlington campaign initiated to educate and raise awareness about the importance of turning off your engine when you’re just sitting in your car waiting. You can read more about the campaign here.

Whether it be waiting for a train to go by or waiting for your kids after an activity at the library, idling gets you nowhere. Literally – 0 mpg. Not only does it waste costly fuel, it also pollutes our air. The fact is idling cars in the Chicago area create 25 tons of pollution per day. You can learn more facts about the effects of idling on this fact sheet from the Arlington Heights Cool Cities Coalition.

Tags: effects of idling, Idle Free Arlington

Have You Treated Your Ash Tree Yet?

Posted on 05/22/12 | Comments

I’ve always felt a sense of pride when traveling through Arlington Heights' beautiful tree-lined streets. I would feel a terrible sense of loss if many of those streets were transformed into a sterile, treeless landscape by the scourge of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle.

Of the 13,000 ash trees on public property in Arlington Heights, one-third of them line the parkways in front of residents’ homes. If you have a tree in front of your house that has a ribbon tied around it, it’s an ash tree and is susceptible to EAB. The village recently instituted a cost-sharing program for residents who wish to treat their parkway tree against the spread of the EAB. Residents will be reimbursed 50% of the treatment costs up to $50 per parkway tree. Generally, the cost for the pesticide injection is about $8 per inch of tree diameter. Read the details on the Village website or call the Village Forestry department at 847-368-5848.

Several neighborhoods have banded together to obtain a lower group rate for treating their trees. The Northgate Civic Association is one of those neighborhoods that have been particularly successful. Check out their website to learn more. Let’s keep the green pride of our village streets alive.

Tags: EAB, Northgate Civic Association, Village of Arlington Heights

SWANCC Electronics Recycling

Posted on 05/17/12 | Comments

Have an old TV or computer monitor you’d like to get rid of, but you’re not sure how to dispose of it? Bring it to SWANCC’s Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, May 19, at the nearby Wheeling Public Works Facility, 77 W. Hintz in Wheeling. Remember, as of this year, the Electronics Products Recycling and Reuse Act (SB2313) bans TVs and computer monitors from Illinois landfills. This is a great, green way to rid yourself of those old clunky items.

You can always drop off smaller electronics like phones, iPods, and laptops for recycling at the library. The collection bin is located near the Returns Desk. Don’t forget, this Saturday the library is hosting a Cool Tools Day on the first floor. Come learn about all types of electronic devices as representatives from Apple and Best Buy will be here to give demos and answer questions. There will also be a drawing for store gift cards.

Tags: Cool Tools Day, electronic recycling, SWANCC

Green Party Planning

Posted on 05/14/12 | Comments

'Tis the season to party – BBQs, grad parties, holidays – summer fun is in full swing! But parties also create an abundance of trash. According to the Clean Air Council, we toss out enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons to circle the equator 300 times per year. Make a difference in the environment this season by making your party planning a little greener.

Join us on Sunday, May 20, at 2 p.m. for "Green Party Planning," a panel presentation of green vendors who will share tips for summer and future party planning with an environmentally friendly focus. From the invitations to the food to the decorations, come hear the pros and cons of hosting a green party. Register.

You might also want to check out Simply Green Parties by Danny Seo. He offers lots of tips for fun and creative green entertaining. Read some of his ideas here.

Do you have a tip for planning a more eco-friendly party? Let us know here or on our Facebook page.

Don’t forget, the library is collecting used eyeglasses during May and June and continues to be a collection site for small electronics. Check here for a complete list of accepted recyclables. Both collection bins are located near the Returns Desk.

Tags: Green Party Planning, recycling programs, Simply Green Parties

School Gardens: A Foundation for a Green Future

Posted on 05/01/12 | Comments

Many Arlington Heights students are learning outdoors these days by digging, planting and nurturing their school gardens. These gardens are serving as outdoor classrooms offering opportunities to learn about different types of gardening, while observing and studying our natural ecosystems.

Here are a few examples of local school gardening activities:

A sensory garden that includes a new butterfly garden at Windsor School
A vegetable garden with a pollinator patch at Ivy Hill School, plus the foundations for a prairie garden. The prairie garden will include plantings of native shrubs and plants. You can view photos of their student gardeners here.
Jim Platt, former owner of Sylvia’s Flowers in Arlington Heights has instituted a greenhouse renovation project at Miner School, an NSSEO facility for individuals with developmental disabilities. Students are assisting Mr. Platt with the project and, in turn, learning important life skills.

The gardens have also been a great way to involve the community. Support and encouragement for these programs is being provided by parents and families, school personnel, as well as the expertise and guidance from local Master Gardeners. One of the outcomes of this hands-on learning experience is reconnecting students with our community’s rich traditions. Many of the farming techniques that were used by immigrants that flocked to this prairie town 125 years ago are now coming into vogue again, as sustainability and ecological cycles have been researched and found to be “tried and true”. Students are creating a foundation for a green future by learning to nurture school gardens for those that will follow them.

When you drop by the library this month, be sure to view all the student artwork from Arlington Heights School District 25. For the past 20 years, the library has set aside the month of May to feature works from all nine schools that highlight the art units and artistic techniques that students have learned throughout the current school year.

Tags: gardening with children, school gardens

Be Green while Spring Cleaning

Posted on 04/20/12 | Comments

Growing up in Chicago, I remember spring break week was always called Cleanup Week and was always in April. To this day, I still think of April as a time for cleaning out all of the clutter that’s hanging around closets, garages, basements, and that proverbial “junk drawer”.

This year, it’s easy to be green while you clean out the clutter because the Village of Arlington Heights is holding a

Spring Sweep Recycling Day on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – Noon at the Nokia Siemens campus, 1475 W. Shure Drive in Arlington Heights. They will have a number of recycling stations for all sorts of items including bikes, shoes, school supplies and more. They will also be passing out light bulbs, tree saplings and lots of information on gardening, recycling and the emerald ash borer. Time to get a jump on that junk drawer!

Don’t forget – the library is still collecting small electronics and, during the month of May, will again be collecting used eyeglasses. Look for both drop-off boxes near the Returns Desk.

Tags: Arlington Heights Spring Sweet Recycling Day, eyeglasses recycling, Small Electronics Recycling