CGE Organizational Structure

Citizens' Greener Evanston is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 23 members, all residents of the City of Evanston.
CGE is registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the state of Illinois and has applied for IRS recognition as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
The Board will also nominate and vote on its officers, including a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasure. The officers make up the Executive Committee.  
 
The Board is organized into the following Committees;
Political Advocacy
Education and Outreach
Communications
Research
New members are always welcome.
Directory of Committee and Contacts

The Political Advocacy Committee is a non partisan group encouraging local, state and federal government agencies to adopt policies that support the reduction of CO2 emissions. We raise community awareness of policy issues pertinent to this goal. We welcome your participation and inquiries.
Contact: advocacy@greenerevanston.org

The award winning Education and Outreach Committee of CGE works to increase energy efficiency by reaching out to Evanston residents where they live, work and play. We help to organize many events including Bike the Ridge, Green Living Festival and the Bag It film showing. The Cook County Economic Development Assistance Corp. awarded CGE the 2010 New Initiatives Award for reaching six thousand homes with information on the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program. Ask us about our Carbon Footprint Workshops held in select locations throughout the city.
Contact: outreach@greenerevanston.org

The Communications Committee works on developing an internal and external communication plan for CGE. Past projects have included identification of brand, logo, tag line and the development of a web site and presence in social media such as facebook. Future goals include continuing to improve visible marketing and inter and intra agency communication. This group has formed a database of service providers, and identifies approximate metrics to quantify a monetary value for CO2 reduction. All plans aim to support the efficiency and visibility for CGE.
Contact: communications@greenerevanston.org

The mission of the CGE Research Committee is to facilitate research needed to advance CGE's action agenda. Examples of current projects include climate adaptation plans, assessments of greenhouse gas budgets and methods to reduce green gas emissions.
Contact: research@greenerevanston.org

Various task forces meet separately to work on current goals and projects. Contact information for each group can be found in the description. New members are very welcome.

The Renewable Energy Task Force works to reduce Evanston's CO2 emissions by increasing the community's knowledge of and access to alternative energy sources. Technologies investigated include: solar PV, solar thermal, off peak cooling and wind turbines. We were instrumental in a proposal to the Evanston City Council to investigate the possibility of a wind farm installation nine miles off the Lake Michigan shore. Our work on this proposal was highlighted in 4/20/2010 article in the Wall Street Journal. Members of this group include architects, engineers and design professionals. Whether you are knowledgeable in the field or just curious about installing solar panels we welcome your inquiries.
Contact: renewable@greenerevanston.org

CGE's Energy Efficiency in Building's Task Force works with Evanston residents and building owners to increase the energy efficiency of any building in the city. Our most recent project is Carrotmob. Carrotmob events draw additional customers and revenue to a local business that commits a portion of its revenue to improving its own energy efficiency.
Contact: buildings@greenerevanston.org

CGE's Forestry, Native Plants and Water Conservation Task Force engages Evanston residents in adapting to current climate changes in Northern Illinois. Our projects include analyzing the air pollution uptake of Evanston's urban forest, planting a rain garden of native plants and co-sponsoring the seminar "Adapting gardens to climate change." Our current areas of focus include: encouraging sustainable landscaping (including the use of native plants,) encouraging water conservation and green solutions to storm water management and developing an adaptation plan for Evanston. We welcome your inquiries and participation.
Contact: conservation@greenerevanston.org

The Evanston Interreligious Sustainability Circle was founded in 1999 and has met regularly since then. Members are from diverse traditions, united in their commitment to the care of our Earth. The Circle has sparked the creation of a number of other local sustainability groups focused on energy, transportation, housing and food. Working together, as The Network for Evanston's Future, these groups, in cooperation with the City of Evanston, successfully drafted Evanston's Climate Action Plan.
Contact: interreligious@greenerevanston.org

The Arts and Culture Group is part of CGE Community Outreach Sector. Each year they reach out to artists and art organizations in Evanston to celebrate the process of going green. The annual Artists for Greener Evanston Showcase features twenty local artists or more whose work brings attention to environmental resources. This lively event also presents guests the opportunity to learn the zerofootprint.org software. New members are welcome.
Contact: arts@greenerevanston.org

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Task Force is a work in progress. Volunteers are sought.

The Transportation Task Force works to increase public awareness of and remove barriers to transportation options that reduce carbon emissions.