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Reported by: Nicole Kilmer Wednesday, Apr 2, 2008 @03:43pm CDT WTVO/WQRF - Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains made in our environment and to accelerate environmental progress. It's a time many unite around new actions to improve the health of our planet. How can we each make a difference?
- Paper or Plastic? The answer isn't so easy. Plastic bags are clearly bad for the environment since these petroleum-based carriers can hurt marine life in the ocean and can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. But paper bags, although made from renewable trees, generate 70 percent more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags and require more energy to recycle than plastic. The solution? Boycott both and bring in a reusable shopping tote. - To idle or not to idle? Most people believe it takes less energy to let your car idle when stopped than to turn your car off and then on again. In fact idling cars get zero miles per gallon. So, if you are stopping for more than 10 seconds, turning off and restarting your engine is more efficient for late-model cars. - Recycle. Don't think recycling matters that much? Think again. A television can run for three hours from the energy saved by recycling just one aluminum can.
- move the thermostat up two degrees in the summer and down two degrees in the winter and save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. - Caulk and weather-strip doorways and windows and save 1,700 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. - Install a low-flow showerhead and save 350 pounds.
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Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
| Oregon, IL Bed & Breakfast Goes Green New owners take steps to make an old building a little greener. |
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
| Byron Public Library Goes Green The new Byron Public Library was built environmentally-friendly. |
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
| Governor Quinn Announces Guidelines for Illinois' ENERGY STAR® Appliance Rebate Program Over $12 Million in Federal Recovery Funds Available to Increase the Use of Energy Efficient ... |
| Governor's Green Youth Awards Illinois EPA accepting project applications from Illinois students. |
| Electric Car Maker Gets Federal Loan Tesla will borrow $465M loan to build a factory in Southern California. |
| IDNR Makes Plans to Restock Rock River Catfish among target species for 2010. |
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
| $6M Recovery Grant for Green Jobs in Illinois Rockford will benefit from green energy grant. |
Monday, January 18th, 2010
| Pine Mulch Now Available in Winnebago County Get pine mulch from recycled Christmas trees. |
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
| Christmas Tree Recycling Program 2010 Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful Christmas Tree Recycling Program |
