CNT Update, March 2007
CNT Update, March 2007
Sustainability News
1. Seattle Voters Reject Both Elevated Highway and Tunnel
2. Olympics in Chicago? How Will this Affect Transit?
3. Free CFLs from the City of Chicago!
CNT News
1. Join Transit Future Today!
2. I-GO: Official Car of City of Chicago
3. Power Smart Pricing Plan Launched
4. New Staff
CNT Toolbox
1. Event Spotlight: “Green Cities: People, Nature, and Urban Places”
2. CNT in the News
3. Job Openings
Local Events
1. Energy Efficiency Forum
2. Center for Sustainable Community Open House
3. Save the Date! CNT Tool Fair
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New Way to Support CNT!
What if CNT earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can!
GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates ad revenue, about a penny per search, to the charity its users designate. Use it just like any search engine, and it’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get the same great results.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter “Center for Neighborhood Technology” or “CNT” as the organization you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime! Please spread the word!
Get started right now and download the GoodSearch toolbar: http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbars.aspx
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Sustainability News
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1. Seattle Voters Reject Both Elevated Highway and Tunnel
The ongoing issue in Seattle has been how to replace the deteriorating Alaskan Way Viaduct, and it had the Mayor and Governor pitted against one another. The two major options-an elevated highway or a new tunnel-were put on a referendum ballot earlier in the month and to almost no one’s surprise, voters rejected both overwhelmingly.
This has allowed the opportunity for the so-called third option-”transit + streets”-to be seriously focused on by both leaders. In a press conference the next day, leaders met to call a truce and essentially declare defeat on their respective stances. It was clear that the implications of the vote could not be overlooked, and despite each option having political backing of both leaders, voters determined that neither was desirable for their city’s future.
This is a big win for proponents of the “transit + streets” option. The plan had been studied by Smart Mobility, commissioned by CNT and the Congress for the New Urbanism. “Transit + streets” examined the implications of replacing the viaduct with beefed-up surface streets and mass transit, and it found that this option can accommodate traffic and help the region focus efforts in creating more alternate transit options. An urban street can better respond to future transportation changes, and stimulate transit-oriented development in Seattle – at a considerably lower public expense.
Moving forward initially, about $125 million will be invested in transit, bus lanes and surface arterials to help manage traffic during construction. In the future, the solution will include light rail, streetcars, buses, biking, and walking features and, according to the Mayor, will keep freight moving efficiently and the economy strong.
2. Olympics in Chicago? How Will This Affect Transit?
The recent visit to Chicago by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) allowed committee members and media to tour the proposed site for the $366 million Olympic Stadium in Washington Park on two buses. While Mayor Daley has asserted that no public money would be used for the Games, one has to hope that there is a plan for moving athletes, visitors, and everyday Chicagoans around as seamlessly as the USOC was shuttled here and there.
The potential to highlight Chicago as a world-class city to visitors and viewers from around the world is undoubtedly appealing and very real. Perhaps even more real though is the potential for Olympic visitors and area residents to get bogged down in transportation delays and waylaid by decaying transit infrastructure. The fact is that the regional transit system, led by the RTA as the parent agency of the CTA, METRA, and PACE, is quickly running out of operating funds. Add that to the fact that if we, as a regional community, cannot come up with funds to match the $116 million that Congress provided to Illinois, than those millions of dollars will be gone (through rescissions) and our regional transit system will run out of capital funds as well.
If the legislature and the Governor fail to act on the issue of transit funding, the economy and quality of life in northeastern Illinois will be adversely affected. Operationally, safety of riders is threatened because of slow zones, faulty signals and system equipment that is beyond its useful life cycle. Service hours and frequency will be reduced, hitting off-peak and weekend service first, but ultimately, peak hours will be affected as well.
At a time when we are highlighting the region as worthy of hosting the attention of the world at the 2016 Summer Olympics, do we really want to limit our options for safe and reliable transportation?
To read more about the transit crisis in the Chicago region that CNT is responding to with the new Transit Future campaign, check out the newsletter.
3. Free CFLs from the City of Chicago!
The City of Chicago is giving away 500,000 free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) this month and during the month of April. The “Smart Bulb” program will help residents save money on electricity and protect the environment.
CFLs use two-thirds less energy than a standard bulb to produce the same amount of light, and last ten times as long. Making them available to residents through this program can demonstrate these benefits so hopefully residents will choose to replace all bulbs in their homes with CFLs.
And the large-scale benefits are significant. In announcing the program, Mayor Richard M. Daley said: “If every Chicago resident replaced just one light bulb with a CFL bulb, we would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of more than 20,000 cars.”
The Smart Bulb Program is being conducted by the City of Chicago, the Northern Illinois Energy Project (NIEP) and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Suburban Cook County Residents can also take advantage as there will also be 500,000 free bulbs available. You can pick up the light bulbs at various places around the city, including your alderman’s office and even CNT. Just stop in during business hours (9 AM – 5 PM) and get started saving money and the environment!
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CNT News
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1. Join Transit Future Today!
Frustrated with service on the CTA, Metra, or Pace and want to take action? CNT is proud to announce the Transit Future Campaign to address the mass transit funding crisis in Northeast Illinois. Recent funding by our state government has left our transit system with severely limited operating budgets and without the means to make crucial improvements to the system.
CNT is launching a campaign of grassroots advocacy aimed at the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor to bring about real change in mass transit funding.
If you are interested in supporting the essential contribution that mass transit makes to the Northeast Illinois and our residents’ quality of life, please sign up for Transit Future’s email news by sending a blank email to transitfuture-subscribe@cnt.org. We will keep you informed of the issues, give you talking points and tips for contacting your legislators, as well as share with you the ideas and thoughts of other citizens. Our campaign is just getting started and we need your help, so sign up today!
2. I-GO: Official Car of City of Chicago
Car sharing in the City of Chicago has been well-embraced over the last three years. Residents are realizing they don’t need to own a car to run errands and get around; in fact, they can save money without the burden of owning and maintaining. And now the City has taken cue by recognizing the benefits of car-sharing and providing access to I-GO cars to its employees.
The program will reduce the number of cars the city needs to have in its own fleet-saving the city money while reducing congestion and air pollution from using low-emissions cars. The two new cars will be available exclusively to employees during business hours and after 5:00 PM each day will be available to any I-GO member. City of Chicago employees will also have access to any of the I-GO cars located in 32 neighborhoods around Chicago.
Car-sharing friendly cities like Philadelphia and Berkeley run similar programs already and have realized the benefits to the city, its employees and residents alike. Now that the City of Chicago is taking steps to “ditch its cars”, residents should follow suit and reap the benefits of car-sharing too!
3. Power Smart Pricing Launched
CNT’s Community Energy Cooperative recently launched its Power Smart Pricing in downstate Illinois, a real-time electricity pricing program for residential customers served by Ameren Illinois Utilities.
Power Smart Pricing is an innovative way of paying for electricity that can be valuable to customers, particularly those who are able to be flexible about how much electricity they use during hours when demand for electricity is high. The program gives the customer access to hourly electricity prices that are based on market prices. This means that the price you pay for electricity will vary from hour to hour and day to day according to the actual market price.
Users who select Power Smart Pricing will continue to get their power supply from Ameren Illinois Utility while the Cooperative will provide information, services and tools to help users manage their electricity costs.
Power Smart Pricing is designed to provide a variety of benefits. It offers tools that could help households manage their electricity costs. It also has the potential to help maintain electric reliability, and it rewards consumers who use energy wisely, helping to extend our energy resources.
If you are a residential customer in downstate Illinois and are interested in taking some simple actions to use electricity wisely, Power Smart Pricing could help you save money on your electricity bill. More information here.
4. New Staff
CNT is growing and filling up with excellent new talent.
David LeBreton joins CNT as the Project Manager for the Transit Future Campaign. David, a native Chicagoan, is a veteran of several electoral campaigns including Tammy Duckworth for Congress, Barack Obama for Senate and Howard Dean for President.
From I-GO member to I-GO staff! Jim Neils is I-GO’s new Operations Manager. He has more than 17 years of experience serving as the Executive Director for several national Associations for a management company, and at the University of Illinois as a Director of Conference Operations.
Matt Cunningham is CNT’s new Climate Analyst, and is using his extensive experience in analysis and economic development consulting in CNT’s Climate Change work.
We are very happy to have Nicole Friedman return to CNT, now here to help out with our increasing amount of work in Climate Change. Nicole previously managed the Wireless Community Network project for CNT.
Correction from February Update: I-GO’s Michael Neuner is actually the new Fleet Assistant; not the Manager.
CNT was sad to say good-bye to Lisa Bennett, who managed Clean Air Counts, as well highway teardown and green infrastructure projects. Lisa is moving on to get a law degree in environmental law!
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CNT Toolbox
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1. Event Spotlight: “Green Cities: People, Nature and Urban Places”
Come hear Mary Soderstrom read from her new book and look forward to an engaging discussion on the fascinating issues involving the green movement in urban environments. Her book focuses on eleven urban cities (Chicago included!) to see how people and nature have interacted over the course of history.
Listen to the phenomenon that Mary refers to as the “Green Paradox”. “So many people love gardens and greenery, but when each of us tries to claim a little bit for our very own, we end up paving over nature”.
There are two readings in Chicago: one at Quimby’s located at 1854 W. North Avenue on Thursday March 29 at 7:30 PM and the other at 57th Street Books, 1301 East 57th Street on Friday March 30 at 7 PM. For more information, go here.
2. CNT in the News
The electricity markets are becoming more progressive these days by allowing residents to buy their electricity by the hour. Key to this is access to the information that informs customers of hourly rates and gives them the choice
Read a recent USA Today article about this issue.
Much like Seattle, Buffalo, NY has an aging, obstructive Skyway that CNT’s Scott Bernstein has advocated for removing and replacing with a surface boulevard.
Read what a blogger from the Buffalo Pundit has to say.
Calling all Chicago-area bands! I-GO is now taking submissions online for songs to be on the new “Audio Emissions” CD. Just upload your song at I-GO’s site, or if you’re a fan, vote on what songs you want to hear on the CD. The CDs will go in every I-GO car, with a CD release party scheduled for May at the Metro.
Read a Chicagoist article about the event.
3. Job Openings
STPP Surface Transportation Policy Partnership Executive Director, posted 3/7/07
http://www.cnt.org/jobs?job=stpp-executive-director
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Local Events
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1. Energy Efficiency Forum
The LEED Council and Clean Air Counts are hosting a Breakfast Business Forum on ways to be more energy efficient-The Energy Detectives: What an energy audit can do for your building, Midwest Industrial Lighting: Everything you need to know about light fixtures for your building, and Clean Air Counts: How to lower your energy costs and decrease emissions from your building.
The forum is geared toward any business owner, property manager or building stakeholder interested in learning about energy efficiency and saving money.
On March 30 at 8:00 AM at 1871 N. Clybourn at Artist’s Frame Service (2nd Floor Conference room). Cost is free, with RSVP to Kindy Kruller at kindykruller@gmail.com
2. Center for Sustainable Community Open House
How safe are the products you use in your home? To help with making your home environments safer is CSC’s April Open House and seminar ‘Non-Toxic Living’ on April 1 from 10 am to 3. Kasandra Ireland will take a look at some of the most worrisome toxins while focusing on non-toxic alternatives for personal care and household cleaning.
Register at csc@stelle.net or call 815-256-2204 so we can make adequate arrangements for food and seating.Cost for afternoon seminar is $25.00 and lunch is $10.00.
3. Save the Date! CNT Tool Fair
CNT will be hosting an open house highlighting our innovative tools available to support sustainable communities. Come see our LEED-certified Platinum building while you learn about our various tools: calculators, GIS analysis, market innovations, planning and research. We will be giving tours of our building and conducting mini workshops
Thursday, May 10 from 3:00-7:00 at the Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2125 W. North Ave. For more information, contact jan@cnt.org
Got a sustainably-oriented event you’d like to see on our calendar. Send the information to annette@cnt.org.
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You can support our efforts in building more sustainable urban communities by making a donation online. Visit: http://www.cnt.org/support. You can also support CNT as part of Earth Share of Illinois workplace campaigns. For more information about workplace giving, contact Nicole at nicoleg@cnt.org. Thank you for your generosity!
Questions about anything you’ve read or interested in learning more? Contact Annette at annette@cnt.org
