Where Can I Recycle CFL's?

It has been some time since we posted here, but rest assured that work is being done behind the scenes for 2010!

Gary Sutton, our Expo Coordinator, passes along this tidbit- which has a list of accepted locations for CFL recycling across Illinois!


http://www.actonenergy.com/portals/0/forms/CFL-Recycle-Center.pdf

What is OGZEB?

Universities around the country are working hard on green living- but how many actually have a home?

Read here about OGZEB- off the grid zero emissions building!
www.pjstar.com/features/x1188480973/Home-Efficiency

Skilled Trades & The Green Movement

The latest issue of IBI (Inter Business Issues) examines much of what central Illinois is doing to prepare its work force for going green projects.

Read what challenges the skilled trades may have here:
www.peoriamagazines.com/ibi/2009/oct/deeper-shades-green

Don't forget to come visit us during the 2010 Central Illinois Renewable and Energy Expo!

Federal Monies for Pennycress

18th District Congressman Aaron Schock announced that $500,000 in federal monies would be coming to Illinois for a biodiesel plant that will turn pennycress into fuel.

Check the story here:
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x576538352/-500-000-coming-for-planned-biodiesel-plant-in-Peoria-County

Winds of Change? Energy Growing in Central Illinois

Central Illinois is working on new developments in wind energy technology. The Peoria Journal Star featured a story on the developments in their Sunday editions.

Read it here:
www.pjstar.com/news/x356129810/Blowing-in-a-new-direction

One Man's Scrap is Another Man's Renewable Energy Source

Read about a local company that is taking "renewable energy" to heart. This local businessman is doing his part to help reuse what used to be considered scrap!

www.pjstar.com/business/x680801483/Good-Wood

Illinois Chamber of Commerce Energy Database

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce invites you to submit your business' information- free of charge, to be included in the new Illinois Energy Smart website, which provides resources to Illinois businesses looking to save energy and money through efficiency and conservation. Once unveiled, this website will be a tool used by businesses across the state to learn about energy-saving upgrades they can perform to realize energy and cost savings, while providing them with information on state, federal, and utility programs they can access to help finance their efforts.

A key part of the website is a comprehensive contractor database, in which your business can be included! We want to offer Illinois’s most comprehensive listing of energy-efficient contractors, and your participation in this project will give your company exposure to Illinois businesses interested in energy efficiency upgrades. There’s no fee. There is no catch. If you offer services to businesses that can make them more energy efficient, just sign up on their website. When the website goes live, companies will enter information on what they are looking for and will be guided to vendors in their area to contact.

You may contact Tom Wolf at 312-983-7109 or twolf@ilchamber.org with any questions.

Renewable Energy Majors Grow in Popularity

Illinois State University is just one of a growing number of colleges and universities across the US that now offer specialty degrees in various aspects of energy and renewable energy.

As a matter of fact, ISU is the first in the nation to offer an inter-disciplinary renewable energy major. In a collaborative effort with Horizon Wind Energy LLC, State Farm Insurance and Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., students can now earn this unique degree in a burgeoning field of study.

For more information, visit the Center for Renewable Energy at ISU at the address found below!

renewableenergy.illinoisstate.edu

Green Living Tour- September 30

The Natural Resources and Your Development Task Force is offering a great day-long Green Technology tour through Illinois. Leaving September 30 from the East Peoria Walmart at 6:45am, the day trip will include stops at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Green Roof at Aquascape Headquarters in St. Charles and Settler's Ridge in the Sugar Grove area- a green development.

Cost is $40 per person and includes snacks on board the charter bus, a salad/sandwich lunch buffet at the Morton Arboretum and an information packet on all the sites visited.

For more information, call Nick Hayward at (309) 673-9796, ext. 227.

Registration deadline is September 23.

GeoThermal- Right For You?

Over the past couple of years, the use of geothermal systems has grown throughout central Illinois.

Large companies, schools and homeowners alike are utilizing this technology to save on energy costs.

Garber Heating and A/C, one of our sponsors and vendors at the Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo, has great facts and information on geothermal on their website.

For instance- did you know that if one in 12 California homeowners installed a geothermal exchange system, the energy savings would equal nine new power plants!

Find out more here at their website here

Green Business Growing in Central Illinois

Today's business section in the Peoria Journal Star features details about some central Illinois businesses who are getting work related to the environment and emerging alternative energy sources- especially wind.

Read about it here: Winds-of-change

And remember to mark your calendars now for the 2010 Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo at the Green Sports Complex in Mossville! Visit our website at www.ciree.net to find out more.

Green Lifestyle for Canton Family

Neat article in the Sunday Peoria Journal Star about a Canton couple and their "green"redo of an old farmstead.

Read it here: Homes-A-Greener-Lifestyle

Read it and weigh in with your thoughts!

Grant Monies Available

From our friends at the Illinois Solar Energy Association comes this heads up on some funding availability for programs in Illinois.
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Dear Friends - The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's (ILDCEO) Office of Energy and Recycling has issued the Applications for the Renewable Energy Production Program and Community Renewable Energy Program. Information and applications for these two programs may be found here.

The applications are due October 26, 2009. For further information, contact Wayne Hartel at the ILDCEO at 217/785-3420 wayne.hartel@illinois.gov

Going Green Resources

I had the opportunity to participate in the 2009 Peoria Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School this past spring, and our team project was on sustainability and "going green'.

With my work on the Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo, this was a great fit, and our team attacked the project with a passion. One of our team members actually purchased electricity for his employer from an alternative energy source(wind) and many others found great ideas and best practices from around the state and throughout the country.

After presenting to the Mayor's Commission on Sustainability, we produced a directory of green resources, recycling efforts, funding opportunities and much more. It is available by contacting us at cireexpo@gmail.com.

Please visit our CIREE website at www.ciree.net and find out more about sustainability and the Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo 2010!
-Rich Draeger Peoria County 4-H & Extension Foundation

Grant Opportunities for Schools In Illinois

Attention school administrators, students and students! Interested in getting your school in the green? Visit the DCEO website for more information.

And don't forget to watch for more information about the 3rd Annual Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo- May 1 & 2, 2010- presented by the Peoria County 4-H & Extension Foundation!

Visit our website at Central Illinois Renewable Energy Expo and find out more!