Archive for September, 2008
September 30th, 2008
In case you missed it, Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey recently returned from an trade mission to China and Sweden to attract international business. We have sister cities in both countries, and there’s a green angle: Sweden is known for pushing technologies. China, like America, is a huge energy consumer, and one company is pursuing this local project (photo below from the press conference).
FYI, the mayor blogged about his trip here.
September 29th, 2008
The Natural Land Institute is celebrating its half-century mark this year. The organization might be best-known for its annual Wildflower Weekend. I recall hearing about native plant sales, too.
According to the NLI site, it has protected, managed and restored more than 12,000 acres in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Its next event is a Fall Harvest Festival, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Nygren Wetland Preserve in Rockton.
P.S. If you have a photo from last weekend’s banquet, let me know.
September 26th, 2008
This week, Chrysler announced it will start selling three electric car models as early as 2010.
This news “plug” is important not just for the planet but also because the Rock River Valley has a stake in what this business does.
September 25th, 2008
Winnebago County has announced a used tire recycling initiative where folks can drop off tires at the highway department the first weekend in October. Not something you think about every day, and while my dad is handy, I’m the kind of girl who pays the tire place to recycle mine.
Still, glad to see local progress on this front.
UPDATE: You can recycle metals and clothes, too.
September 24th, 2008
Reader “hokumboy” sent me this timely “Dilbert” strip, so it’s worth a chuckle, though honestly, there are VP’s of sustainability and green MBA programs out there…
September 23rd, 2008
 … and other fall Boone County attractions, you might see a sign for Angelic Organics farm.
There is a walking tour from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 27 at the farm, 1547 Rockton Road, Caledonia. Cost is $15. Call 815-389-8455 to register. Expect to learn about growing food without chemicals — and dress for the weather.
I’ve meant to go there to buy a cilantro plant. I’m tired of buying a bunch and using only a few leaves.
September 22nd, 2008
Babies cost a lot of “green,” but they also can start their little lives in an eco-friendly manner with a Mini G gift set. The cost is $40 or $74, depending on how many organic onesies and bibs you get. Both sets come with “Into the Trees,” a children’s book. Interesting idea, I guess: courtesy of a press release.
I can’t say I had a drawer full of organic onesies. I did get this cute chick one as a gift, though.
September 19th, 2008
i was talking this week with a new acquaintance who is vegan.
she told me she’s looking for new windows for her home that are either “green” in construction or used (aka, removed from a home).
if you have any leads, put them in the comments and i’ll pass them along.
September 18th, 2008
… well, ok, maybe not, but you can recycle crocs into new ones.
this is one of many things i learned reading real simple’s “recycle anything” article.
like, indeed you can’t recycle fake credit cards. i was bothered by one from american express this week.
or you can recycle carpet or donate backpacks or turn juice pouches into purses. holy smokes, people!
September 17th, 2008
if you’re good at science and looking for the new “hot job,” maybe it’s in nuclear energy.
i first heard about this issue last month here, keying off a u.s. news & world report article, which i excerpted below. i was reminded of it this week because businessrockford.com talked to the comed byron nuclear plant about it.
Due in part to the accident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania and the disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine, the nuclear energy sector has been in decline for 30 years. Enrollment at undergraduate and graduate programs has dwindled, and some nuclear engineering programs have merged with other disciplines or shut down altogether. The ones that did survive shifted their focus to more lucrative fields within nuclear research, such as radiation detection or medical physics. According to the American Nuclear Society, 65 nuclear engineering programs existed in the country in 1980; now there is less than half that.
But in recent months, nuclear has re-emerged as a much ballyhooed energy source, and the entire community is scrambling to stave off what could be a massive shortage of qualified workers if the demand for nuclear power does take off. With an aging workforce, including many workers who are near retirement, the ANS estimates that 700 nuclear engineers need to graduate per year to support the potential demand. The organization currently expects only 249 new engineers to be available each year.
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