Green Living EARTH DAY When it comes to where we work, where 22 2244 we play, what products we purchase and how we see and treat our world, we all have CELEBRATION choices. A small shift in habits and practices can, over time, make an impact; Let's choose to help create a healthier, greener future. Saturday, April 20 Noon – 4:00 p.m. Eco Tip #1. Open the blinds, push back the curtains and take advantage of natural light Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake whenever possible. Partner Booths / Crafts / Earth-Friendly Activities Co-Sponsored with the Eco Tip #2. Avoid Packaging: Try to create a Guided Hikes – 12:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. 100% recyclable and compostable grocery list. Eat fresh food, buy in bulk, bring your Puppet Shows – 1:00 & 3:00 p.m. own bags. Bring your own “No waste” picnic lunch! Eco Tip #3. Stop using/buying plastic bottles. Invest in a water 昀椀ltration system and get your water from the tap. Carry a thermos HOUSEHOLD RECYCLING DROP OFF: and reusable water bottle. Get your spring cleaning done and stop by the event to recycle household items: Eco Tip #4. Walk, bike or carpool once a week to help lower emissions. • Electronics • CDs/DVDs/Cassettes • Textiles and athletic shoes • Household batteries • Fluorescent tubes • Polystyrene foam Eco Tip #5. Rediscover bars of soap and eliminate plastic bottled liquid soap. Some items may require a nominal fee. Eco Tip #6. Pay your bills online to reduce paper. Beyond the Color Wheel - The Bene昀椀ts of a Green McHenry County Every shade and hue of green can be found speckled on our landscape. But the bene昀椀ts Eco Tip #7. Use cloth napkins and dishtowels of being green go way beyond the color wheel. Our human health and viability is vitally and forego using paper towels. dependent upon the health and biodiversity of our natural landscapes and the services Eco Tip #8. Switch from incandescent light they provide: the food we eat, the water we drink, and the sense of place we enjoy for bulbs to compact 昀氀uorescent bulbs which solitude, renewal and physical activity. use 75% less energy. Replace 昀椀ve bulbs and The Conservation District protects and manages over 25,700 acres of open space save up to $100 per year. comprised of woodlands, wetlands, prairies and waterways. Protecting open space reduces air pollution, improves water quality, provides areas for excess 昀氀ood waters, Eco Tip #9. Hang a clothes line and dry your clothes outdoors instead of in the dryer. limits storm water impacts, reduces erosion and increases property values. Open space acts as a sponge and natural water 昀椀ltration system, letting rainwater slowly Eco Tip #10. Use a ceiling fan to push heat soak into the ground, while deep-rooted prairie plants create natural ecosystems capable down to where it is needed and reduce the of holding thousands of gallons of water within the soil. need for air conditioning in the summer. Additionally, our forests and woodlands take in carbon dioxide. The District has planted Eco Tip #11. Turn down the water heater over 12,000 trees throughout the county. One large tree can remove over 1,000 pounds temperature to 120 degrees. Consider an on- of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. An acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 demand tankless version. And, shorten your people. That same acre of trees can remove 13 tons of dusts, gases, and pollutants from showers to under 昀椀ve minutes. the atmosphere each year. Trees can also lower the surrounding air temperatures by as much as 15 degrees and reduce noise pollution by acting as sound barriers. Eco Tip #12. Capture rainwater for indoor and outdoor plant watering. While these functions are not always accounted for in traditional economic indicators, they signi昀椀cantly contribute to the County’s economy and quality of life. The natural Eco Tip #13. Practice composting to areas preserved by the Conservation District and the associated bene昀椀ts provide a return decompose organic waste such as food on investment that is tangible, measurable and essential to sustaining the long-term scraps and yard trimmings. health and viability of McHenry County. Eco Tip #14. Switch to rechargeable or lithium batteries. They are less toxic and save money in the long run. Eco Tip #15. Open the dishwasher and air-dry dishes. Only run with full loads. RESOURCES: McHenry.edu/greenguide Earth911.org Epa.gov Freecycle.org Weg Thomas Footprintnetwork.org 13