Posts filed under 'Green awards'
May 21st, 2009
I could not attend the Winnebago County Green Business Awards tonight, but I’m happy to see the winners announced.
Large business category: Anderson Packaging
Small-medium business: First Hand Harvest LLC, a small business that produces sustainably, naturally grown vegetables for direct sale to Winnebago County residents through a cooperative enterprise.
Green public policy award: No Idle Zone initiative, which encourages drivers to change their driving habits.
Large organization: Rockford Park District, which adopted an environmental policy in 2004 that has resulted in many green-minded initiatives and business practices.
Small-medium organization: Rockford Computers for Schools, a nonprofit group started 12 years ago that refurbishes discarded computers and supplies them to schools in the Rock River Valley.
Green building: Willowbrook Middle School, an environmentally-friendly school designed by McClellan Blakemore architects.
Honorable mention: Spring Creek Development for its East Riverside Retail Center, which features a 90-ton geothermal HVAC system.
Special recognition for continuing excellence: J.L. Clark for its extensive recycling and green-minded business operations.
See this link and post about all the nominees here.
May 20th, 2009
The Winnebago County Green Business Awards will be handed out for the second time from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Webbs Norman Center, 401 S. Main, Rockford — aka, the old post office.
The 2009 nominees are:
All American Electric Co.
Amazing Foam Insulation
Anderson Packaging
Blackhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts
Center For Sight and Hearing
Choices Natural Market
Eco Home Expert
First Hand Harvest
Green Tone
HD DTAILN and Car Wash
Illinois Growth Enterprises
J.L. Clark
Just Goods
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful
Natural Land Institute
No Idle Zone
Perfect Wood Profiles
Rock Valley College
Rockford Computers for Schools
Rockford Geothermal
Rockford Park District
Spring Creek Development Group
Vegetarians In Motion
Willowbrook Middle School
Willow’s Cleaning
Winnebago County Freedom Field
Womanspace
April 20th, 2009
The deadline for submissions for the second annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards is May 1.
So you have two weeks to turn in your forms, found at the bottom of this site, www.winncogreenbiz.org.
Categories for 2009 are:
– Large business
– Small to medium business
– Large agency
– Small to medium agency
– Best government agency/policy (new this year)
– Best green building (new this year)
The awards will be presented by Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen at an expo and reception from 4:30 to 7 p.m. May 21 at the Webbs Norman Center, headquarters of the Rockford Park District, 401 S. Main St. The event will be free and open to the public.
Any business or organization that is implementing environmentally friendly practices, strategies or technologies is encouraged to submit a nomination. Any green practice is worthy of consideration.
Last year’s winners were Choices Natural Market, J.L. Clark, Zion Development Corp. and Freedom Field Renewable Energy Project.
April 17th, 2009
In case you missed it, earlier this month, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful handed out its second annual Earth Day Awards.
According to WREX:
Forest City Gear in Roscoe received the Outstanding Corporate Friend of the Environment Award. The company has been working to improve the environment for more than 25 years, making changes to its facility and production process.
Harlem Middle School teacher Jackie Plaetzer was given the Outstanding Individual Friend of the Environment Award. Plaetzer is the leader of recycling efforts at the school and she spreads the message to her students, their parents and other teachers.
The Hutchcroft Environmental Youth Award was given to the East High School Key Club. The club planted hundreds of oak trees, placed 125 recycling containers throughout the school and educated school staff and students on the value of recycling.
November 13th, 2008
On Wednesday, Natiotnal Philanthropy Day, one of my past Go Green subjects received an award from the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Here is what I saw on WREX’s site:
Outstanding Young Fundraising Volunteer - Stephanie Baliga
After her freshman year at the University of Illinois, Champaign, Stephanie embraced a meaningful, unpaid internship to raise money for Severson Dells while furthering their mission to connect more people to nature. She founded The Hall Creek Scamper, the “green” run/walk that raised $15,400 through her 400 hours of volunteer work over two summers. Her fundraising efforts resulted in increased program dollars and a raised public profile for Severson Dells.
Congrats, Stephanie!
October 6th, 2008
The stock market is bombing, and you can feel anxiety in the air. Here is some perspective: one reminder of how good we have it in America. From a profile on one of Time magazine’s environmental heroes, Jack Sim:
Some 2.6 billion people have no access to toilets, and groundwater contaminated by fecal matter is a major killer; as many as 2 million people die every year because of waterborne diarrheal diseases, often caused by poor sanitation. But getting rural villagers to realize the importance of toilets is difficult because of the embarrassment factor. Sim, a retired construction and real estate entrepreneur, founded the nonprofit World Toilet Organizatio in 2001 to change that mind-set. “It’s a question of marketing toilets as a status symbol,” he says, noting that plenty of poor people buy cell phones as soon as they’ve saved enough money. “I want people to aspire to owning a toilet, just like others aspire to own a Louis Vuitton bag.”
June 2nd, 2008
sorry, greenies. i’ve had things to write about but just not the time. too busy with healthyrockford.com launch for tuesday.
but a roundup:
1. the concepts found art or recycled art are nothing new, but if you’re interested in what you can make out of existing materials, go to the golan liberman contemporary art party at 10 p.m. saturday, june 7, at 2209 e. state in rockford. the gallery is kicking off summer with food, wine, a belly dancer and, of course, art. see calendar listings here and here. if you want to turn your trash into treasure, try this or this with your kids.
2. expect to see a number of green government initiatives. last week, representatives from the city of rockford, the green community coalition and the rockford metropolitan agency for planning told the editorial board about how they’re committing to the greening of rockford. this editorial is just a brief summary of what to expect. i’ll be writing more.
3. congrats to the first “who’s going green” award winners.
J.L Clark, large business.
Choices Natural Market, small to medium business.
Freedom Field Renewable Energy Project, large agency.
Zion Development Corp., small to medium agency.
May 15th, 2008
i had this press release from the in my e-mail, so i’ll share it with you. pretty cool. the deadline is friday, so you better get going…
Celebrate and Inform Our Community about
“Who’s Going Green”
In a never-before joining of organizations celebrating the emerging green economy, the “Winnebago County Green Business” (WCGB) program today announced a “call for nominations” of area businesses and agencies for receipt of awards including “The Outstanding Green Business” and “The Outstanding Green Public Agency.” Presenting sponsors include Illinois Renewable Energy Association, Green Communities Coalition, Four Rivers Environmental Coalition, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, Comprehensive Community Solutions/YouthBuild, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, the River District, ComEd, and the Rockford Park District.
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Co-presentation of the awards will be made by Mayor Lawrence J. Morrissey and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott H. Christiansen at an event May 29, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Webbs Norman Center, headquarters of the Rockford Park District, 401 S. Main St. Awards will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Morrissey, Chairman Christiansen and Dr. Robert Vogl, president of the Illinois Renewable Energy Association, will make brief remarks about our local green economy.
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The awards ceremony will be a part of an overall exposition event that will allow nominees to showcase their green efforts. Enjoy their displays, as well as the opportunity for businesses and members of the public to network to discover how we can work more effectively together toward a greener Winnebago County.
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“This is part of an incentive to tell us more about your green business,” said Kerry Knodle, WCGB steering committee member. “Many businesses have taken steps to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations and have improved their performance; but until now, the public has had no way of recognizing which businesses were ‘going green.’” Businesses and agencies that are nominated will be invited to participate in the display area at no charge. Space is, however, limited.
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As the final component of WCGB’s effort, each business and private agency nominated will be included in a “Green Business Inventory” as well as awarded a certificate, window sticker, and use of the 2008 logo.
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The event will be open to the public with no admission fee. The nomination form can be found at www.greencommunitiescoalition.org  or www.illinoisrenew.org .
