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Eco Brief

Illinois Ranks at Top of Green Building List

Feb 28, 2022

The 2021 U.S. Green Building Council list of top 10 states for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) compliance prominently features Illinois, with 87 projects certified, representing more than 40 million square feet.

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Oriole Nest
Forest Preserve Hosts Campout, Hikes and Webinars

Feb 09, 2022

The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s March programs include a winter campout, an off-trail hike and webinars about birding and women in nature.

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A new trail tunnel under Route 45 safely connects Raven Glen and Ethel’s Woods forest preserves in Antioch.
New Millennium Trail Underpass Connects Lake County Recreation Areas

Jan 28, 2022

A new underpass installed by the Lake County Forest Preserves connects more than 30 miles of trails open to hikers, bicyclists and cross-country skiers, connecting 10 preserves and 10 municipalities.

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Urban Agriculture Funds Awarded

Dec 30, 2021

Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA), in partnership with Food:Land:Opportunity, has awarded 2021 Capacity Building grants to Obodo Farms, La Villita Park Community Farm, Cicero Community Farm, Growing Solutions Farm, Sistas In The Village, Reclaiming Our Roots, Ever Favor Farms, Global Garden Refugee Training Farm, Sunflower Soule Farm, City Farm Chicago and Hinata Farm.

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A person plugging in their electric car
New Midwest Electric Vehicle Charging Network Unveiled

Oct 29, 2021

The Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition is designed to build the future of mobility and electrification, and connect communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, creating a new network for charging electric vehicles to improve the regional economy and reduce emissions from cars and trucks.

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A prairie land
Bird Watchers Rejoice

Oct 29, 2021

The Illinois Audubon Society has received a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation in support of native habitat restoration at the 17-acre 770 Westleigh Preserve owned by Lake Forest Open Lands, in Lake County.

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Staff from Current on a bridge monitoring the water
Current Monitors Water Quality of Chicago River

Sep 20, 2021

It is critically important that we maintain and protect our precious resources, particularly our waterways. Testing and monitoring our water is the first step in instituting protections for the environment and our residents.

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New Law Protects Birds from Collisions

Aug 31, 2021

Up to 1 billion birds die each year from building collisions, and Chicago was named the deadliest city in the U.S. for migrating birds in a 2019 study by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

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Lake County Forest Preserves logo with a 4 leaf clover
Lake County Forest Preserves Leads in Net-Zero Building

Jun 30, 2021

As stewards of healthy landscapes and proponents of climate resiliency, officials at the Lake County Forest Preserves outside of Chicago altered their Capital Improvement Plan to prioritize and accelerate current net-zero building goals and lead the way for others to do the same.

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SWALCO recycling bin in the Hawthorn Mall lounge
SWALCO Hosts Big Summer Clothing and More Clear-Out

Jun 30, 2021

The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) is providing new sites and collaborators participating in their clothing and textile collection program. Residents can find the closest location to drop off and donate new, gently used or worn items like shirts, pants, jeans, blankets, comforters, sheets, towels, table linens and more to be reused, repurposed or recycled/upcycled.

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Pollinator Week 2021 logo with flowers and butterflies on it
Pollinator Week 2021

Jun 17, 2021

Participate in Pollinator Week with the Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) and others throughout the country to spread the word about pollinators and how to help them. The MJV has a full week of activities both virtually and in person.

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American Bullfrog
Free Virtual Conservation Programs This Summer for Kids at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

May 28, 2021

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service has a summer schedule of virtual conservation education programs made for children of all ages. Staff from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie near Joliet will lead the free online classes.

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Canal Corridor Association Associate Director Erin Maze installs bicycles at the Iron Bridge Trailhead at the USDA Forest Service’s Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Celebrate Earth Day with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Apr 08, 2021

From bluebells to bicycles, silver anniversary celebrations and more, there are new, exciting ways to celebrate April 22, Earth Day 2021, with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie including an expanded bicycle-share station, a new Spring Blossoms self-guided tour and a panel discussion.

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Person grabbing a bike from a bike share station
Community Bike Share Set to Roll in Grayslake

Feb 26, 2021

The pilot program will begin this spring with each group sponsoring a specific number of bikes and stations at the CLC Grayslake Campus, Grayslake Metra station, downtown Grayslake and Grayslake’s Central Park.

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Learn About Bison Online with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Oct 30, 2020

There are more ways than ever to celebrate America’s national mammal, such as a digital map of local area “bison crawl” sites with in-person or virtual programs, including six libraries with interpretive spotlights on National Bison Day, November 7.

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