Free Composting Workshop in the South Loop March 28 at Daystar Center

Click here to download flyer to print and share.

Like to grow things? Like being nice to the earth?

Most of us know that composting is great in so many ways…keeping food waste out of landfills, making really healthy soil for our plants. But maybe you haven’t been able to get your head around how composting in the city might work.

The Alliance for a Greener South Loop is partnering with the Chicago Conservation Corps to present a free composting workshop to help answer all your composting questions and get you thinking about how we can compost right here in the South Loop.

Join an amazing line-up of composting Ambassadors and sustainable farming and gardening Leaders, like the innovative vertical farm The Plant and the nation’s first industrial worm composting facility, Nature’s Little Recyclers, to learn about the power of composting.This hands-on workshop will introduce various types of composting and current systems in place for city-dwellers to use. Learn step-by-step how to set up a personal worm composting bin, work with food waste-hauling companies like Pleasant Farms, Waste Management and Collective Resources, and the latest on outdoor composting City ordinances. Walk away with a Composting Toolkit, a chance to win free starter-kits, and other materials to succeed!

Invited Speakers include:

Erlene Howard – Owner, Collective Resource, Inc.
Meghann Maves – Total Recycling Program Manager, Waste Management
Neale Baldyga – Sustainability and Green Space Coordinator, Columbia College
John Mulrow – Interim Executive Director, The Plant
Jonathan Scheffel – Farmer, Pleasant Farms
Ed Hubbard – CEO/Founder, Nature’s Little Recyclers
Gail Merritt – Founder, The Alliance for the Greener South Loop

FREE Composting Workshop in the South Loop

Saturday, March 28, 2015
1:00 – 4:00 pm
Daystar Center
1550 S. State St.
Chicago, IL  60605

RSVP HERE

Questions? Contact: SouthLoopComposting@gmail.com

Meatless Mondays in March: 2014 Edition

Less Meat! More Fun!....MMM!
How many ways are there to have more fun while eating less meat this March?

Let’s get together for more fun! Meet up with friends and neighbors at restaurants that the Alliance for a Greener South Loop is featuring for MMM!

• Monday 3: Kroll’s South Loop - 1736 S. Michigan
• Monday 10: Artist's Cafe - 1150 So. Wabash St (GSLA’s Neighbors’ Night Out)
• Monday 17: (in the works; stay tuned)
• Monday 24: Flavor 180 - 1511 S. State St.
• Monday 31: VEGGIE CHILI COOK-OFF (keep reading)

Specials at each are good all day on each Monday, all month long.

New this year...2 raffles, with prizes provided by participating restaurants.

• Share pictures (#mmmsouthloop) of your favorite meatless dish (homemade or at a restaurant) and the Alliance will enter you in a raffle.
• Register for the Veggie Chili Cook-Off (chili entry or general admission), and the Alliance will enter you in a raffle.

For MMM! 2014 the selection of restaurants is huge. Why not do a little exploring in the South Loop for a bite of MMM! ? From Reggie’s Music Joint to Cafecito, 20+ restaurants across the South Loop are offering special discounts and/or menus to MMM! diners. When you visit one, just let your server know you are there to go meatless. Plan to check the list every so often...the Alliance has more restaurants in the works.

Beer! Chili! Prizes!
Benefit for a South Loop Community Garden!
There are so many reasons to come to our first annual Veggie Chili Cook-Off
1- Show off your chili cooking chops.
2- Sample great veggie chili (and vote for your favorite)
3- Help the South Loop grow a community garden
4- Drink beer and have fun

Plus, don’t forget: everyone who registers gets entered in a raffle to win prizes donated by the Alliance’s MMM! 2014 restaurants.

Winners will be picked in two categories: Peoples Choice (voted by the people) and Best in Show (selected by judges)

Proceeds will benefit the South Loop Community Garden of our dreams. The Alliance is still dreaming, but they are ready to start scheming!

Veggie Chili Cook-Off
March 31, 6-9pm
Daystar Center, 1550 S. State St.
Event details and registration online
Note: $5 early bird discount for chili entries and general admission registrations by March 10

Greener Together Contest Gives South Loop Opportunity to Fund Environmental Project

As anyone who has ever had a good idea knows, one of the biggest barriers to turning the idea into reality is money. Whether you’re a condo association looking to install low-flow shower-heads in your building or a teacher trying to start a composting program at your school, you will inevitably need some funding to make it happen. Thanks to the Alliance for a Greener South Loop, there is a new opportunity to fund an environmental project in the South Loop.

On October 20th, the Alliance will launch the Greener Together Contest to award $1,000 to help implement a plan that helps make the South Loop a little greener. Contenders for the prize will be project proposals that engage people in the South Loop to work together on a project that contributes to the City’s Sustainability Plan. The winning project will have a clear environmental focus, a way to actively engage community members, a budget, and a four-month implementation timeline. Anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or plays in the South Loop is eligible to apply.

More information about entering the contest can be found on the Alliance’s Web site: greenersouthloop.com. The deadline to submit contest entries is November 22, 2013.

MMM! Meatless Mondays this May

The Alliance for a Greener South Loop invites you to go meatless on May 6, 13, 20, and 27 as an easy way  to be kind to our environment. Where? When? How? … will YOU go meatless this month?

Want to eat with friends AND support our local South Loop restaurants?
A number of South Loop restaurants are offering discounts or special menus/menu items for meatless diners on Mondays in May. This year the Alliance is trying a meatless meet-up approach to make it more fun, and tasty.

The following dates and restaurants are when/where South Loopers are invited to go meatless, together, for dinner. Discounts apply to all meatless meals on Mondays in May. Special menus may apply to that date only.

Please mention when making reservations or ordering that you are there for a Meatless Monday meal.
May 6, Amarit Thai: 10% discount (600 S. Dearborn)
May 13, Tapas Valencia: 10% discount (1530 S. State) Reservations requested.
May 20, Brasserie by LM: special menus every Monday (800 S. Michigan)
May 27, Zapatista: special menu (1307 S. Wabash) Reservations requested for larger parties.
Also participating:
Cafecito: 10% discount (26 E. Congress)
Hackney’s-Printers’ Row: Special menu items on Mondays in May (733 S. Dearborn)
Flaco’s Tacos- Printers’ Row: Special menu items on Mondays in May (725 S. Dearborn)

Like to cook and eat in?
Email (info@greenersouthloop.com) us a recipe of one of your favorite meatless dishes and we’ll send you a poster like those in the windows of our participating MMM! restaurants, and we’ll share your recipe on our blog. Make this more fun by tagging photos of your veggie meals with #mmmSouthLoop, and we’ll post those photos on Facebook. (New to social media? “Tagging” is when you put the photo on Twitter or Instagram and you put #mmmSouthLoop in the text. Then we can search for mmmSouthLoop to find the photo without you having to send it to us.). Fine print: one poster per person, while supplies last.

You could win this poster!

Visit the Alliance Web site to get a current list of participating restaurants and to learn more about how eating less meat is great for the environment/

Alliance for a Greener South Loop Announces 4th Annual Awards Program and Event

Do you know a Green Hero, other than the Hulk?
The Alliance for a Greener South Loop is preparing to launch its 4th Annual Greener Awards program to recognize green initiatives and practitioners across the South Loop, including a new category: the Green Hero Award.

This Green Hero will be a South Loop resident whose personal commitment to a green lifestyle makes an environmental impact, while their enthusiasm and green efforts engage and inspire others to make a difference as well.

Established Greener Awards will continue to celebrate and recognize efforts by South Loop businesses, residential buildings, and institutions to be more green.

Nominate Your Green Hero
Everyone is encouraged to apply for Greener recognition or to nominate a Green Hero! Links to online Greener Award applications and Green Hero nomination forms will be available October 9th from the Alliance's website, www.greenersouthloop.com. Completed forms must be received by October 29, and winners will be announced at the 4th Annual Greener South Loop Awards event, November 29th at 6pm (location to be announced).

Don’t let our South Loop green efforts go unnoticed!
Submit your award nominations and applications, and plan to join your neighbors on November 29th to recognize and celebrate South Loop greenness!

Program Contact: Gail Merritt, gailmerritt@yahoo.com; 312.371.2089

***
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR A GREENER SOUTH LOOP, www.greenersouthloop.com
The Alliance for a Greener South Loop has been working with South Loop organizations, businesses, and residents for over five years to make the South Loop a greener place to live, work, and play. Member organizations include Columbia College Chicago, Dearborn Park Advisory Council, Grace Place Episcopal Church, Grant Park Conservancy, Greater South Loop Association, Metrobank-Printers Row, Near South Planning Board, Offices of 2nd and 3rd Ward Aldermen, Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, Roosevelt Collection, South Loop Dog Park Action Cooperative, South Loop Neighbors, and Roosevelt University.

Get ready for “Meatless Mondays in May—Mmmm!”

Alliance for a Greener South Loop is hosting a “Meatless Mondays in May” community kick-off event on Saturday March 24, 2012, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at South Loop Community Church, 1347 S. State St. Attendees will have an opportunity to sample meat-free fare from local restaurants.

In addition to sampling meatless menu items from participating South Loop restaurants, participants will:

• Hear performances by the Jones College Prep High School jazz band and the South Loop Elementary School choir
• Learn about the environmental benefits of eating less meat and how to get involved in this earth-friendly campaign.
• Win great, green raffle prizes, such as I-Go Car Sharing certificate, Kill-a-Watt Energy Meter, CTA One-Day Transit Cards, Bicycle Helmet, Bicycle Air Pump, Bicycle Lights, Herb Garden Starter Kits, and more!

RSVP is required (info@greenersouthloop.com) and participants are asked to bring a food donation for the church’s food pantry.

Invited guests include Alderman Robert Fioretti and Alderman Pat Dowell.

The Alliance for a Greener South Loop works to make the South Loop a greener place to live, work, and play.  We engage South Loop individuals, businesses, buildings, institutions, and city agencies so that we all “tread more lightly on the earth.” 

3rd Annual Green Awards Event

The Alliance’s Gail Merritt hosted the event

The Greenest of the Green
Last night was the 3rd Annual Greener South Loop Awards at Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Gail Merritt hosted the event that recognized the “green, greener, and greenest” efforts of institutions, businesses, and residences. Don McLauchlan from Elara Engineering (consultant to 2010 Greenest Building winner Dearborn Tower) was the evening’s featured speaker.

The winners of the 3rd Annual Greener South Loop Awards are listed below in each category.

Institutions
Green: East West University (819 S. Wabash)
Greener: Roosevelt University (430 S. Michigan)

Businesses
Green: Overflow Coffee (1550 S. State)
Greener: The Forth Group (22 E. Cullerton)
Greenest: ORA Dental Studio (1827 S. Michigan)

Residential Buildings
Green: Film Exchange Lofts (1307 S. Wabash)
Greener: 1620 S. Michigan Ave
Greenest: State Place Condominium Association (1101 S. State)

Alliance Mission Statement: Alliance for a Greener South Loop works to make the South Loop a greener place to live, work, and play.  We engage South Loop individuals, businesses, buildings, and city agencies so that we all “tread more lightly on the earth.”

For more information on the Alliance, visit their Web site.

Greener South Loop Awards Deadline is September 30

Greener Award Program

How green is your building or business?

Don’t miss out on public displays of recognition! Apply now if your condo building or business is going greener. The 3rd Annual Greener South Loop Awards and Recognition Program celebrates efforts underway by South Loop businesses or residential buildings - rental or condo - to be more green.

Interested? Simply complete the online form or download and print a hard copy application to be considered from the Alliance for the a Greener South Loop Web site. All applicants will be invited to an event in the fall to celebrate the winners and share their green practices. Applications must be received by September 30, 2011.

Is there a South Loop business you support because of their work to be more green? Please share them with us so we can shine a green spotlight on them!

South Loop Garden Care
The Alliance’s Green Gardens Team is looking for volunteers to help with keeping South Loop public spaces green and beautiful. Garden winterizing will start soon.

Contact the Alliance via e-mail at info@greenersouthloop.com for more information and volunteer opportunities.


Note: The above was modified from an Alliance for a Greener South Loop release.

Clean, Green, and Friendly Too: Nassau Concierge a New Kind of Cleaning Service

Richard Geller, Nassau Concierge

Is it possible to run an ethically based business that is friendly to the environment? According to Richard G. Geller, Senior Account Executive, for Nassau Concierge, the answer to that question is “yes.”


“Concierge” Cleaning Service
Before founding Nassau Concierge in 2010, Geller worked in the financial services industry for ten years. A South Loop resident, Geller came up with a concept that envisioned a condominium building cleaning service that could combine “concierge” service. This concierge service would include friendliness, professionalism, competitive pricing, and environmentally friendly products. Nassau Concierge serves buildings as small as 30 units, as well as buildings with several hundred. They do not clean individual owners’ units or apartments.

Not Just Clean and Green
From that idea, a new condominium cleaning business was born. Not satisfied with just being “clean and green,” Geller wanted to establish a ethical business code that would further differentiate his company from the competition. This ethical business code doesn’t just apply to Nassau Concierge, but to the vendors and associates that they work with as well.

“We want our customers to live in a clean healthy environment and know that they’re not continuing environmentally destructive habits.” Richard G. Geller

The Price Is Right
Even with Geller’s commitment to green and ethical business practices, Nassau Concierge’s pricing is competitive with other cleaning companies. A realist, Geller knows that if the price isn’t right, associations aren't likely to see the "green" benefit.

Is your condo association looking to improve its building maintenance in order to provide a cleaner, healthier environment? Are ethical business practices from your vendors important? If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, perhaps you should look into Nassau Concierge by visiting their Web site and Facebook page.

How Green Is Your Building?

The Green Practices summit sponsored by the Alliance for a Greener South Loop was held yesterday at Dearborn Tower. Located at 1530 S. State St., Dearborn Tower, winner of the Alliance’s 2010 Greenest Building award, has implemented many green initiatives. The summit was an opportunity for condo board members to learn how they might do the same in their respective buildings.

Summit attendees at Dearborn Tower

Being Green Isn't Just Recycling
Dearborn Tower has a special area for recycling. They have bins for recycling paper and plastic, which you would expect, but they also have bins for old electronic equipment and batteries. In addition to their recycling efforts, Dearborn Tower has also changed out garage and hallway incandescent light bulbs with more efficient fluorescent versions. Fluorescent bulbs are cheaper to operate and last longer.

Dearborn Tower management and staff (right) explain their recycling program during tours of the building.

Building Community
The green efforts put forth by the Dearborn Tower board has helped create a sense of community within the building, as well as improving the association’s bottom line. One way the association helps build community and encourage green living is by arranging for companies like On The Fly Bicycle Repair to come to the building. This convenience enables owners to get their bicycles tuned up for spring and summer riding. They also make it easy for residents to donate unwanted goods by arranging onsite pickup by organizations like The Salvation Army, something that was happening on Saturday. At first glance, you wouldn’t think of these as green initiatives. But encouraging people to ride their bicycles, means fewer cars on the road. Arranging for the Salvation Army to pick up unwanted clothes and furniture keeps these items out of landfills and puts them to use once again.

Question and answer time with on site property and maintenance managers and Joe Leamanczyk from Columbia College

The summit was moderated by Alliance founder, Gail Merritt. There was a panel discussion as well as a time for questions and answers and networking with other condo association board members.

An old battery drop off bin

For information on the Alliance for a Greener South Loop, please visit their Web site.

2011 Green Buildings Summit

Green Summit
The Alliance for a Greener South Loop will be hosting the 2011 Green Buildings Summit, Saturday, April 30, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is free, but event organizers are asking folks to register due to limited space. The summit will be held at 1530 S. State St., recipient of the Alliance's 2010 GreenEST Building Award.

Calling Condo Board Members
If you're a board member of a South Loop condo or town home association, this summit is for you. The agenda includes presentations from "the Alliance's GreenEST Building Award winners and local experts, tours of green practices and buildings; networking."

Breakfast and refreshments will be provided by Whole Foods Market South Loop. For schedule details and to register, visit the Alliance's Web site and follow them on Facebook.

Lights Off: Earth Hour 2011 Saturday, March 26--8:30 p.m.

Join the Alliance for a Greener South Loop in promoting Earth Hour 2011 this Saturday. This global initiative “invites individuals to turn off their lights for one hour—8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.” The Alliance hope the South Loop will take part.

A World-Wide Event

Will you help the Alliance for a Greener South Loop in promoting Earth Hour 2011? Started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, Earth Hour has become a world-wide event with hundreds of millions of people from around the globe participating.

 

Lights Out, Chicago!

The Alliance is encouraging the citizens of the South Loop and Chicago to turn out the lights for one hour this Saturday. The city will be turning off the lights on “15 skyscrapers, 170 buildings, 500 corporations and businesses, and landmarks like the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier and the Marquee at Wrigley Field.”