200 Acres of Parks

In another initiative to green the city of Chicago, officials are turning vacant lots and river edges abandoned by private owners into small, green park spaces. In addition, they are converting asphalt school yards into green landscaped parks for kids to enjoy during the week and neighbors to enjoy on the weekends.

Not only do these mini-parks, totaling over 200 acres so far, provide green places for people to recreate, but they also become home to new trees, grasses and flowers, helping to cool temperatures in the city.

Clinton Foundation Grants

In yet another move to solidify Chicago as a leader for green projects, the William J. Clinton Foundation gave the city a grant to retrofit the Sears Tower, Merchandise Mart and smaller, residential buildings with energy-saving enhancements. By working on such a high-profile building as the Sears Tower, city officials and Clinton foundation staff hope to prove the financial long-term viability of such projects and inspire others to follow suit.

Chicago: Taking the Lead

A few months back, I wrote a few entries on Chicago's green roof movement, which is cooling the city and recycling water. Well, city officials are at it again, so I'll be featuring some of their innovative projects all week.

The first starts with the "green alley" initiative. Chicago has the largest network of intertwining alleys in the country and they are slowly replacing the pavement in older alleys with recyclable material. This material absorbs the sun rays, keeping the city cooler, allows water to pass through it to the underground water table and even costs less than traditional concrete.

Telephone Books

Did you know that 10 percent of trash at the dump is actually telephone books? Call your local distributor, cancel your delivery and use the on-line versions instead.

Bike Programs in Europe

Innovative thinkers and supportive government officials in Lyon, Paris, Vienna and Brussels are making history with "free" bike programs. In Paris alone, over 20,000 bikes were placed all over the city this summer for citizens and visitors alike. The first half hour of your ride is free and then only one euro for each hour afterwards. All in the attempt to reduce pollution, traffic and encourage exercise.

Portable Solar Charger

There's nothing worse than running out of juice for your cellphone or iPod, which is why this ingenious charger is a must-have. It runs on solar power and comes with every kind of adapter you could need - Stay off the grid and always have a back-up for your electronics.

EcoSpot Update

The results are in and people from all over have voted for their favorite green commercial. There were over 5oo submissions, so check out the winners and pass them along to spread the green message.

Shop Responsibly

With holiday shopping looming before you, try a socially responsible company like Nau, which produces athletic clothing. Not only do they use sustainable fabrics for their clothing lines, but they also feature a "ship-to-you" mail order program to reduce visits to their retail stores, saving you 10 percent on each purchase.

Safecoat

If you're working on a home improvement project or perhaps building a new home, don't forget to check out Safe Coat. This company produces paint and finishes which do not give off dangerous emissions and better yet, are not made with all the toxins of traditional paints.

Win $25,000 from Keen

Keen Footwear wants to hear your sustainability story, in the hopes that it will inspire others to think green. Visit their "STAND" web site to enter the contest in one of three categories worth $25,000 each - From activists to artists to athletes, let your passionate ideas make a difference for the environment and your wallet.

Sadie Cove, Alaska

Alaska holds a dear place in a corner of my heart - Anyone who's been there knows - You can't forget it.

Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge sits in the middle of this pristine wilderness and offers the weary traveler an eco-lodge experience. The lodge built from driftwood and powered by alternative energy sources sits in the cove of the Kachemak Bay State Park. Don't miss it.

Eco-Traveling in Wisconsin

Wisconsin is known for world-class cheese, friendly people, Packers mania and Friday night fish fries, but I'll let you in on a little secret you might not know. Wisconsin is also home to the Journey Inn, a wonderful eco-retreat on 66 acres of prairie in Maiden Rock. From solar design to organic food to an air exchange system, this hotel sets the standard.

Soul Fabric Films

Not only do "green" ideas come in the form of tips or housing projects, but they also emerge through art. Visit Soul Fabric Films to read about "Last Hat in Town" to learn about the personal and compelling stories of three people who have been affected by the oil and gas drilling in Western Colorado. Hopefully with the viewing of this film, the world will learn about the devastating effects of this industry on farm and ranch lands.

Twist

A huge kudos goes out to my new favorite sponge company made in my own backyard of Colorado, Twist. Not only do they use cellulose sheets from a renewable tree farm to create their sponges, but they also reuse 99.97 percent of their waste in the production process.

Organic Cotton

As the holidays approach and the shopping begins, if you're on the lookout for clothing, be sure to check the tags for organic cotton. Farmers from around the US and the world are starting to plant this organic crop in growing numbers. From using less chemicals in the soil to harnessing beneficial insects, organic cotton is a great example of innovative farming techniques.

121,000+ and Counting

A collaboration of environmental organizations have created an AMAZING web site to help stop the deluge of catalogs which get delivered via snail mail.

Visit Catalog Choice to sign up for this free service which has helped over 121,000 people across the US. The only downsides are that (1) you need to input your customer number off the catalog for them to process the request and (2) it takes about 10 weeks for them to contact the catalog companies and remove your name from their lists.

Green is Universal

All this week, NBC is hosting a myriad of segments and programs about innovative technology and tips about the green movement. Check out this link for a schedule: http://www.greenisuniversal.com/programs.php There are a number of ads and relatively lackluster content in other sections, so browse at your own risk... :)

What's Your R-Value?

Physics 101: R-value is the measurement of heat loss through glass and when you have older windows with a single pane, extensive energy is lost. Instead, try replacing those windows with double pane windows, which utilize a thin layer of air, trapped between the panes. Or really make an impact with triple pane windows with a special glaze that reflects heat.

Picture courtesy of http://www.arielwood.com/

More Flooring - Kirei Board

Another option for environmentally-friendly flooring is kirei boards. These boards are made from leftover stalks of Sorghum plants and are pressed together with adhesive. (Sorghum plants provide food for millions of people around the globe.) By utilizing "leftovers," farmers make additional revenue and forests can remain intact, as less trees are cut down to build houses.

Bamboo Flooring

What's not to like about bamboo? It's strong, hardy (doesn't need pesticides to keep it growing) and matures in only three years. And did you know that bamboo is actually a grass, not a tree?

EPEAT - Fancy Name for Awesome

EPEAT, otherwise known as an on-line database of computers, allows consumers to conduct research for environmentally friendly laptops and desktops. Categories measured include energy consumption, use of recycled parts, reduction of toxic chemicals in the production phase, corporate policies regarding the environment and lots more.