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

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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.

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.

3rd Annual Greener South Loop Awards

• Is your business or residential building reducing its impact on the environment?
• Are you proud of your business’s or building’s earth-friendly efforts?
• Are you willing to share your green practices with other South Loop businesses and residential buildings?

The Alliance for a Greener South Loop’s 3rd Annual Greener South Loop Awards Program is underway! Any South Loop institution, business, or residential building – rental or condo – that is proud of its efforts to be greener is invited to apply for recognition from the Alliance. Simply complete the online form or download and print a hard copy application and submit by September 30, 2011.

The program is designed to celebrate – and share – successes. Early efforts as well as those that are well advanced will be recognized. All applicants will be invited to an event in the fall to celebrate the winners and share their green practices in an idea-exchange forum.

Alliance for Greener South Loop boundaries are: Van Buren to Cermak; Chicago River to Lake Michigan. E-mail awards@greenersouthloop.com for more information.

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.