Wednesday, December 20th, 2006
December 2006
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Green Looks Good All Year Round
To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.
-Anatole France
For our last newsletter of 2006, we thought we would reflect on our successes this past year. Our dreams for a sustainable future require all of us to take action. As we prepare for the new year, we also want to give you a glimpse of our resolutions and offer you ways to make your community more sustainable.
As the year comes to a close, please consider making a gift to CNT’s 2006 Annual Fund. Your support will help ensure that we can all meet our resolutions for a sustainable future. On behalf of CNT’s board and staff, I wish you a happy new year!
Kathryn Tholin, CEO
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WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2006
I-GO Gained More Cars, Parking and Members
ESPP Won a Chicago Innovation Award
Our Research Created a New Definition of Housing Affordability
Our Portfolio Expanded to Include Climate Work
***Read more of CNT’s accomplishments at http://www.cnt.org/support
IN 2007, CNT RESOLVES TO….
Expand Awareness of the True Costs of Affordable Housing
Promote Diverse Mobility Options
Showcase Green Buildings and Infrastructure
Help Cut Residential Energy Bills
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Help Bring Safe Routes to School to Your Community
Move to a TOD and Ditch Your Car
Create Your Own Green Infrastructure Solution
Support Sustainability with a Gift to CNT
***In 2007, why not attend an interesting event or try out a cool tool?
ATTEND A NEW EVENT
Mark Swartz Book Event
Climate Chicago Town Hall Meeting
USE A CNT TOOL
Field Guide: “Water: From Trouble to Treasure”
Interactive Map: Greenmapping.org
GET A JOB IN SUSTAINABILITY
Research Manager at CNT
Sustainability Programs Coordinator for City of Evanston
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
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WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED IN 2006
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I-GO Gained More Cars, Parking and Members
2006 has seen I-GO Car Sharing grow at its fastest rate yet. The year closes with more than 4,000 members, and 102 cars in 32 neighborhoods plus Oak Park and Evanston, effectively saving Chicago from 6 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and taking more than 1,650 cars off the road!
http://www.igocars.org/
ESPP Won a Chicago Innovation Award
You’ve probably heard of the award the Community Energy Cooperative won for the innovative nature of the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan. This is really just the icing on the cake because in 2007 ESPP will likely see a new, expanded program. Membership registration will be open soon allowing new members to buy electricity at real-time market rate prices.
http://www.energycooperative.org/
Our Research Created a New Definition of Housing Affordability
Three published reports have been generating press and, more importantly, are helping to change perceptions of what affordability truly entails. The industry-standard Affordability Index measures the cost of housing as the indicator of “affordable” places. Our work to include the costs of transportation to that equation reveals a more accurate picture of affordability, which is that places that are located closer to transit zones tip the affordability scale more in favor of places that require long commutes.
Read the reports at http://www.cnt.org/resources
Our Portfolio Expanded to Include Climate Work
We know that climate change affects the sustainability of urban communities, so in 2007 we will focus on its impact on the individual city. CNT was asked to partner with the Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability in developing an online greenhouse gas measurement tool for the world’s 40 largest cities from Chicago, Illinois to Cairo, Egypt. This project will enable cities to establish baselines of their greenhouse gas emissions and measure the impacts of their actions in order to reduce them and slow global warming. Look for some exciting new developments in 2007.
***Read more of CNT’s accomplishments at http://www.cnt.org/support
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IN 2007, CNT RESOLVES TO…
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Expand Awareness of the True Costs of Affordable Housing
CNT’s work on affordability shows that creating access to affordable housing near transit is a way to diversify neighborhoods both racially and economically, reduce congestion, mitigate air pollution and create more economic opportunities in a region. These improvements are all components of a more sustainable way of life. In 2007, we will continue to reveal the combined costs of housing and transportation in determining true affordability. Our first location for this work will be in Southern California where we will be updating our H+T Affordability Index for the region and applying the findings to planning and development activities in targeted communities.
Promote Diverse Mobility Options
Focusing on transportation options for all residents can increase racial and economic diversity in a community, as well as encourage alternate methods that help mitigate urban sprawl, congestion and air pollution.
I-GO is growing—in car and member numbers—but also in the ways that make it more convenient to reach the I-GO locations. To encourage members to bike to I-GO car locations, the City of Chicago has agreed to install bike racks near some of the cars. Meanwhile, we are also working to make communities more walkable, which is often overlooked as a priority for enabling residents’ mobility, especially in situations of snow and ice. CNT is also working with the Illinois Department of Transportation on the new Illinois Safe Routes to School Program, which is a federally-funded initiative that will provide approximately $23 million in funding over the next several years to Illinois schools and communities. Funds can be used for projects and programs that encourage and enable students to safely walk and bike to school. And our public participation planning tool, Transopoly, will continue to be used in new communities as we more aggressively market this service.
Showcase Green Buildings and Infrastructure
When CNT’s building was renovated in 2003, we set out to prove that you don’t need a new building or an immense budget to go green; that a small nonprofit in Chicago can lead the way in green, sustainable development. Today, businesses and residents alike understand both the economic and environmental benefits of “going green”. And suppliers and contractors who adhere to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles are becoming easier to find in just about any community.
So in 2007, we will continue to showcase how it can be done, advocate for others to do the same, and use our LEED Platinum-certified building as a laboratory for anyone who wants to plant a native garden, install solar panels or use recycled materials to create a healthy and positive space. To take a tour of CNT’s LEED-certified Platinum building, contact annette@cnt.org
Likewise, in 2007 we will be coordinating some major green infrastructure demonstration projects and will be populating our database for http://greenvalues.cnt.org in order to begin developing a comprehensive inventory of green solutions in the Chicago region.
Help Cut Residential Energy Bills
The Community Energy Cooperative made real-time pricing into a statewide policy and program for 2007 and demonstrated its system benefits at a large scale. This is great news for Illinois residents who will see increased energy rates as deregulation hits the market.
So far, the Energy-Smart Pricing Plan has helped saved participants an average of 10% on their electricity bills, and this winter the program may prove to save customers substantially more. ESPP has also demonstrated that hourly pricing encourages energy efficiency and reduces strain on the electricity infrastructure during hours when demand is highest.
Customers who are interested in receiving more information about how they can enroll in the new, expanded program can fill out an interest form at http://www.energycooperative.org.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
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Help Bring Safe Routes to School to Your Community
Do you remember walking or riding your bike to school? Do you wish that your children, grandchildren or students could be more active? If so, Illinois’ Safe Routes to School is for you! This program follows an international movement and works to increase student physical activity and safety, reduce traffic congestion around schools and enhance air quality.
As a local stakeholder you can play a role in helping to identify how to best use Illinois Safe Routes to School funds. Training sessions are being offered throughout the state in February 2007. Attending a training will prepare you to develop a comprehensive school travel plan and apply for funding.
To learn more about this exciting new program, visit the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes website at http://www.dot.state.il.us/saferoutes/index.html and the National Center for Safe Routes to School at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org.
Move to a TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) and Ditch Your Car
If you live in the Chicago area, there are currently 102 I-GO Cars parked around the city—from Evanston to Hyde Park, from Oak Park to the Gold Coast. Just think of all the money you would save by not owning, parking, filling with gas and maintaining a car. Lose that ball and chain!
And, just think how much you could reduce your carbon footprint by driving less and walking, biking, and taking public transit more, not to mention the health benefits you will enjoy. There is a growing demand for housing near transit. You can help fuel that demand and know that your lifestyle choices will help enable a more sustainable community.
Create Your Own Green Infrastructure Solution
Making a rain garden, composting your waste, planting native vegetation – all these green solutions are simple and easy to execute. And, the process is simpler and materials are more readily available every year; so now is a great time to start planning your green outdoor activities.
CNT has recently published a field guide to green solutions, “Water: From Trouble to Treasure” to help you get started. See below under “Use a CNT Tool” to find out how to get your free copy.
Support Sustainability with a Gift to CNT
Don’t sit back and watch CNT do all the work. Partner with us! Contribute to our 2006 Annual Fund and support sustainability in its many forms. With your help, we can change how residents use their electricity and save on their household expenses; we can help decrease the use of cars and increase air quality throughout Chicago; and we can develop more diverse communities in transit zones and improve the economic viability of urban neighborhoods. You can be part of an innovative team that is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions around the world.
You can make a secure contribution to CNT at https://ssl.cnt.org/.
***In 2007, why not attend an interesting event or try out a cool tool?
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ATTEND A NEW EVENT
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Author Mark Swartz, January 19th, 7:00PM, Quimby’s Books
There are so many good books out there, past and present, but sometimes it’s hard to take your nose out of all the newspapers and blogs to read a creative work of fiction. There are many that capture the ideas of sustainable issues, told in creative and thoughtful ways. Often it takes a work of fiction to spark creative thought and discussion on how to approach real problems.
Join author Mark Swartz as he introduces his new novel H2O, set in Chicago in the year 2020. With the entire world facing a dire shortage of drinkable water, filters and drains, engineer Hayden Shivers stumbles upon a method for synthesizing fake water, but the new product may not be the miracle it’s cracked up to be.
CNT’s Senior Engineer, Bill Eyring, will be introducing the native Chicagoan. Bill manages green infrastructure projects at CNT that focus on managing stormwater naturally, reducing flooding risk, and improving water quality, so expect some real-life insights on the fascinating subject of water shortage in the 21st century.
Climate Chicago Town Hall Meeting, January 20th, 10:00AM, Whitney Young High School
Take part in this engaging town-hall style meeting about real solutions to curbing global warming, participate in Q & A with panelists, and connect with dozens of grassroots organizations.
The event features Sadhu Johnston, Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Environment, with Rev. Calvin S. Morris Ph.D., Exec. Director of Community Renewal Society moderating, and panelists Rev. Clare Butterfield, Director of Faith-in-Place, CNT’s Steve Perkins, Sr. Vice-President, and Lori Morrison Contreras, Vice-President of Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.
***To check more CNT-endorsed events, go to http://www.cnt.org/calendar
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USE A CNT TOOL
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Field Guide: “Water: From Trouble to Treasure”
“Water: From Trouble to Treasure” is a pocked-sized handbook for understanding and advancing green stormwater management, a critical component of a sustainable future. The guide gives community groups, homeowners, and others practical ways to capture raindrops where they fall that are simple, affordable and can replace more costly conventional stormwater approaches.
Free copies of the 5.5” x 4.25” guide can be obtained by contacting CNT Natural Resources Engineer Julia Kennedy at 773-278-4004 or are available for downloading at http://www.cnt.org/resources/Water_booklet_final.pdf
Interactive Map: Greenmapping.org
CNT and Openlands partnered to develop a set of online maps that you can use to search through 20 counties in the Chicago region, including Wisconsin and Indiana, and compile layer upon layer of useful information. The map is highly customizable, so you can choose an area by zip code, municipality, county, state or even watershed. Then you are able to choose what layers of data you want to see about that particular area, including floodplains, soils types, conservation easements, streets, wetlands, trails, and greenways.
Check out the site http://www.greenmapping.org/map to explore all the possibilities.
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GET A JOB IN SUSTAINABILITY
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CNT Research Manager
City of Evanston, Sustainable Programs Coordinator
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
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Thanks to all of you who supported CNT this past year. Your generosity has allowed us to grow and expand. Thanks for your partnership!
You can still support our efforts in building more sustainable urban communities by donating to our 2006 Annual Fund. Visit http://www.cnt.org/support. You can also support CNT as part of Earth Share of Illinois workplace campaigns.
For more information about workplace giving, contact Nicole at nicoleg@cnt.org. Thank you for your generosity!
Questions about anything you’ve read or interested in learning more? Contact Annette at annette@cnt.org
Sure, it’s 20 degrees in Chicago and from this vantage, spring is a mere fleck on the map, but what better time could there be to start dreaming about your future outdoor activities?! CNT has some new tools to assist with your green thumb fantasies!