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.

Co-chairs:
Nate Kipnis - (nkipnis {at} nkainc(.)com)
Jonathan Nieuwsma - (jnieuwsma {at} yahoo(.)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.

For media inquiries and information requests regarding the proposed Evanston offshore Wind Farm, please contact windenergy {at} greenerevanston(.)org.

Evanston Offshore Wind Farm FAQ 3.0 pdf

Renewable energy is any form of energy that is naturally replenished. Examples include wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric. As opposed to fossil fuel-based energy, renewable resources are “clean” and do not produce GHG emissions. Developing and using renewable energy will not only help reduce our GHG emissions, but also will lesson our dependence on fossil fuels.

The Renewable Energy Resources task force focuses on:

• Exploring development of wind energy (including studying feasibility of an offshore Lake Michigan wind farm)
• Encouraging use of solar photovoltaic (electricity-producing) and solar thermal (water-heating) energy, including modification of zoning regulations to encourage use
• Encouraging use of biofuels (E85 ethanol, biodiesel, vegetable oil, methane from landfills, etc); off-peak thermal storage (primarily geared towards office buildings); and waste to power energy production.

Co-Chairs:
Susan Besson - swbdesign {at} gmail(.)com
Gladys Bryer – gnbryer {at} sbcglobal(.)net
Elliot Zashin - emzashin {at} hotmail(.)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.

This task force is concerned with boosting awareness of Evanston’s climate action plan and communicating ECAP strategies to the Evanston community via a CGE button and poster campaign, themed information campaigns, and outreach to the Evanston community’s three main audiences: individual citizens, private businesses (and not-for-profits), and institutions. (Evanston’s ‘Big Six’ institutions are School Districts 65 and 202; NorthShore University HealthSystem and St. Francis Hospitals; the City of Evanston; and Northwestern University.)

Outreach & Communication is currently focusing on:

• Development and implementation of a multi-year communications plan, including advertising
• Encouraging use of the Zerofootprint Evanston carbon calculator
• Initiating and coordinating outreach to ‘Big 6’
• Maintaining CGE web site (including monthly newsletter)
• Encouraging press coverage of CGE efforts

Co-chairs:
Laura Little - laura.rose.little {at} gmail(.)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.

This sector contributes the largest amount of GHG emissions in Evanston and nationwide. Based on the Evanston GHG Emissions Inventory, Evanston produces approximately 866,000 MTCO₂ from electric and natural gas consumption. This represents 83% of total GHG emissions!

The total emissions reduction goal for this sector is 118,675 MTCO₂. Representing more than 80% of Evanston’s overall reduction goal, this sector offers the greatest potential for direct reductions in GHG emissions.

Some of the EE & B task force implementation areas are:

• Improving energy efficiency in residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings;
• Reducing emissions and increasing efficiency in public places (City-owned and operated buildings, parking lots, garages, and streets);
• Encouraging participation by individuals and businesses in various energy efficiency incentive programs
• Encouraging weatherization programs, including those for low-income households
• Supporting use of CFLs by all community members