Co-chairs:
Christopher Hart - chris {at} hartofthe6thward(.)com
Larry Marks - lmarks18 {at} yahoo(.)com

If you want to become an active member of this Task Group or would like more info about the projects, please contact the co-chairs.

There are 758 tax exempt, non-profit organizations within the City of Evanston that, collectively, have over $14 billion dollars in total assets. Our non-profit communities represent a significant untapped resource in the fight to manage the changing effects of our global climate. In Evanston, our non-profits have the deepest reach into the passions and energy of our citizens…as membership organizations, employers, and service providers.

Over the course of the next year, we will be asking Evanston’s non-profit community to formally join our efforts to reduce Evanston’s carbon footprint.

Our task will be to extend the invitation and help our non-profits evolve their thinking and practices.

Working closely with the Connecting Business task force, our challenge will be to create tools that help all organizations to join the cause.

Co-chairs:
Ron Fleckman - ronf2300 {at} aol(.)com
Tom McMahon - thomas.mcmahon {at} comcast(.)net
Bill McDowell - wmcdowell {at} concepta(.)us
Jim Ossyra - jossyra {at} foley(.)com

If you want to become an active member of this Task Force or would like more info about the projects, please contact any of the co-chairs.

Did you know that Evanston is home to thousands of businesses?  They are neighbors. 

Our job is to raise the awareness of Evanston businesses to the global warming situation and to actions they can most easily take to begin to address the situation.  Every business can take relatively simple actions to save energy and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Save energy. Save money. Save the planet.”

We believe the most effective path to encourage green business practices is to develop and promote “products” that assist businesses in using energy more efficiently, combined with person-to-person contact to help implement the products. 

The “products” we will offer will include a set of options that: (1) are likely bottom-line positive (or at least neutral); (2) result in a reduction in energy consumption (carbon footprint); and 3) are not administratively burdensome.

We are actively reaching out to business organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and neighborhood business associations.

We are working closely with the Not-for-Profit Task Force because there is often very little difference between these two segments of the broader “business” world.

Please email any of us with comments or recommendations.

Co-chairs:
Michael Drennan - michael.b.drennan {at} att(.)net
Jeff Smith - jeffp.smith {at} mindspring(.)com

Residents Outreach operates to introduce the Evanston community to CGE, and involve them with the climate action plan through changes to their homes, travel habits and lifestyle.  If you would like to help condominium associations, cooperatives and home owners learn their own environmental impact and start them on the road to sustainability, please join us.  We meet the first Wednesday of every month at the Civic Center, 2200 Ridge, rm 2402 at 7pm.  Should you have further questions feel free to contact the co-chairs above.

Co-chairs:
Anne Berkeley - berkeley8 {at} aol(.)com
Jim Laukes - laukesy {at} yahoo(.)com

For more information or to join this group contact the co-chairs.

CGE’s Arts and Culture Task Force will serve, inform and catalyze the Evanston arts and culture communities in support of the goals of a greener Evanston. Our definition of arts and culture broadly includes all forms of visual and performance arts, electronic and interactive arts, writing and poetry.

We welcome inquiries, new members and participation in these activities.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Co-chair:
Steve Perkins - steve {at} cnt(.)org

If you want to become an active member of this Task Force or would like more info about the projects, please contact the co-chair.

Occasional suggestions for easy ways of handling energy reduction in everyday situations.

Co-chairs:

Brian Becharas - bbecharas {at} aol(.)com

If you want to become an active member of this Task Force or would like more info about the projects, please contact the co-chairs.

Transportation accounts for a sizeable portion of Evanston’s overall GHG emissions – approximately 355,000 or 23%.  As land use has a major influence on patterns of travel, it is also included in this section.

In order to reach the 13% reduction goal in this area, the T&LU Task Force advocates:

• ‘Green’ building development (affordable, high-density, mixed-use, transit-oriented);
• Adoption by Evanston businesses of strong green employee commuting and telecommuting practices (car-share, telework, carpool, etc.);
• Enforcement of and expansion to passenger vehicles of the citywide anti-idling ordinance;
• An “ecopass” that provides free or reduced fares on public transit;
• Expanded car-share programs in Evanston;
• Improvement of all modes of existing transportation systems; and
• Leadership by City government in reduction of single-occupancy vehicle commuting for City of Evanston employees and in greening of City fleet vehicles.

Action Plan for TRANSPORTATION taskforce

Project Action

Carbon Offset Define program with the Evanston Climate Action Fund.

For Air Travel Launch program among churches, businesses and

other institutions, as well as among individual citizens.

Greening of Review city’s plan to reduce number, size and fuel

City vehicles consumption of city vehicles. Develop comments,

recommend changes to city plan.

Smart Trips Develop voluntary educational program to track

Educational individual auto trips. Educate citizens on alternative

Program means of travel.

Transportation Refine Transportation taskforce emissions estimates.

Emissions Initiate annual transportation emissions reporting.

Reporting

Combat Diesel Support Illinois Campaign to Clean Up Diesel Pollution.

Pollution

Evanston Recruit participants in public hearings.

Multi-Modal Promote strengthening of the Plan.

Transportation Support its adoption by the City Council.

Plan

Adapting Our Gardens to Climate Change Workshop - April 10
Co-chairs:

Eleanor Revelle - (er {at} revelle(.)net)
Neal Blair - (n-blair {at} earthlink(.)net)

If you want to become an active member of this Task Force or would like more info about the projects, please contact the co-chairs.

While other CGE task forces concentrate on reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases, the Forestry, Native Plants and Water group focuses on adapting to anticipated changes in climate. Many of our activities will also contribute to a lower carbon-footprint.

Higher temperatures and changes in the water cycle may stress Evanston’s urban forest, other vegetation and infrastructure. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, trees help mitigate global warming by storing carbon, reduce energy usage by shading buildings from the summer sun and providing wind-breaks in the winter, and reduce run-off from more frequent and severe rainstorms. Maintenance of our arboreal resource is critical.

Replacing turf grass with native plants and other sustainable landscaping features will help reduce the use of fossil fuel associated with turf maintenance, reduce water consumption (thereby saving energy required for water treatment), decrease polluted runoff, and enhance wildlife habitat.

This task force focuses on:

• Developing planting and management guidelines for Evanston’s urban forest
• Encouraging sustainable landscaping, including the use of native plants
• Encouraging water conservation and green solutions to stormwater management

Reports, Guides and Links

How much carbon does the Evanston urban forest sequester? See a study by a Northwestern student.

C-sequestration Summary and Evanston Tree C-sequestration report

The C-sequestration study and the general benefits of urban forests are discussed in an Evanston Round Table article.

For a quick guide to sustainable water use, see Water Tips.

A primer on rain gardens is provided in About Rain Gardens.

Below are links to web sites containing information about past and predicted climate change in Illinois, climate change adaptation plans, urban forests, sustainable landscaping, and water management.

Climate Change in Illinois and Adaptation Plans

Changes in plant hardiness zones between 1990 and 2006

For climate change predictions see:
Union of Concerned Scientists, Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Midwest — ILLINOIS

For adaptation issues see:
Chicago Area Climate Change Quick Guide: Adapting to the Physical Impacts of Climate Change — For Municipalities and Other Organizations

Climate Change Adaptation Options for Toronto’s Urban Forest

Local Governments for Sustainability Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plans

Urban Forests

General information about urban forests including identifying and choosing trees for plantings, maintenance in response to disease and climate stress, and benefits:

Arbor Day Foundation
The Right Tree in the Right Place
Chicago Tree Initiative
Lower Midwest Community Tree Guide: Benefits, Costs and Strategic Planting, a USDA Forestry Service publication
National Tree Benefit Calculator (stormwater, property value, energy savings, air quality, CO2 sequestration)
American Public Power Association Tree Benefits Calculator (energy savings and carbon sequestration)
Migrant Bird Habitat Study (tree species important to foraging migrant birds)

Sustainable Landscaping

The Sustainable Sites Initiative (rating system for sustainable landscapes)
Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009
Energy Savers Guide on using landscaping to reduce heating and cooling costs
Landscaping for Energy Efficiency (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
EPA resources on Heat Island Effect
Safer Pest Control Project
a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the health risks and environmental impacts of pesticides and promoting safer alternatives in Illinois
Native Plant selector – select for sun/shade, color, height

Rain Gardens

EPA Green Acres
Wild Ones handbook
Rain Garden Network
Plant list for rain gardens

Rain Barrels

Cook County Rain Barrel Program
How to install a rain barrel

Co-chair:
Dick Peach – rdpeach {at} comcast(.)net

If you want to become an active member of this Task Force or would like more info about the projects, please contact the co-chair.

Many are familiar with the ‘Three Rs’: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Reduction is the most important step: buying and using less; selecting products that have less packaging; using durable rather than disposable items. Reuse is next: donating used goods to a charitable group; maintaining and repairing rather than replacing broken items. Finally, recycle what cannot be reduced or reused. By implementing these three steps, Evanston’s waste could be cut by more than half, which would help the city reduce its emission output by 28,980 MTCO₂.

The Waste Reduction and Recycling task force focuses on:

• Increasing participation in recycling and waste reduction (commercial and residential);
• Creating a City ordinance to eliminate plastic bags at retail stores;
• Encouraging the recycling of construction and demolition waste;
• Keeping clothing and fabric out of landfills; and
• Increasing recycling and waste reduction at public events and festivals.