This past Saturday was the Kendall Environment Fair put on by the Kendall Environmental Coalition of which our church is a part. For our first time doing something like this it was a huge success. There were about 30 presenters who shared with the citizens of Kendall County practical ways they can care for the environment as individuals and in their community. Here is a brief rundown of the groups that had booths at the Fair and links for you to learn more about them if you're interested:

1. Green Earth Institute
   Organic farm in Naperville that promotes nutritional health and ecological sustainability through education and operating as a CSA.
   http://greenearthinstitute.org/


2. Chicago Solar Energy
   Solar Collection Systems that provide heat and hot water for residential homes.
   http://www.deckyard.com/


3. Vintage Tech Recyclers
   Electronics recycling based in Plainfield, IL.
   vintagetech@sbcglobal.net


4. Yorkville Congregational Church Green Group
   An environmental awareness and action group at one of our local churches. They've been instrumental in helping the Coalition pull off this fair and other events.
   yccucc@sbcglobal.net


5. Sheaffer International, LLC
   Environmentally friendly and sustainable wastewater recycling and stormwater management processes.
   http://sheafferinternational.com/


6. Wiesbrook Sheet Metal, Inc.
   Provides geothermal heating systems to heat your home and water with the natural heat beneath the earth's surface.
   http://wsminc.net/


7. The One Watt House by Conservation Technology International
   An energy efficient home design that has a maximum heat energy consumption of one Watt per square foot. Developed in Germany, this design can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs over the life of your home.
   http://cti-home.net/


8. Rain Garden Network
   Landscaping design that helps conserve fresh water by redirecting stormwater run-off into backyard rain gardens. They also provide education and consulting for municipalities and other public groups.
   http://www.raingardennetwork.com/


9. Heavenly Winds, LLC
   Provides wind turbines and solar power systems to help make your home entirely energy independent (i.e. completely off the grid).
   heavenly@mtco.com


10. Fuel Freedom International
    Provides an engine treatment that increases total miles-per-gallon on your vehicle and reduces harmful emissions.
    http://savebigongascosts.com/


11. Jean Marie Kauth
    A concerned citizen with information about the dangers of lawn chemicals and environmentally and human-friendly alternatives.
    Contact at Jkauth@ben.edu. Also visit:
    http://www.healthylawnteam.org/
    http://www.pesticide.org/
    http://www.beyondpesticides.org/


12. Aux Sable Watershed
    Local watershed coalition involved in fighting the recent landfill proposal here in Yorkville.
    For more info contact Joan Soltwisch at jksoltwischblue@yahoo.com.


13. ComEd
    Local electric utility offers much in the way of energy conservation tips.
    http://www.ComEdCARE.com/


14. Kendall Citizens for Farmland Protection
    A community-based effort to advocate for farmland protection and to develop a county-wide strategy for this goal.
    http://www.kcfpp.org/


15. ReUseIt Center
    Building supply outlet in Batavia that recycles and resells building and home improvement materials. Also provides home repair assistance to low-income families.
    http://www.reuseitcenter.org/


16. The Conservation Foundation
    Local non-profit organization dedicated to preserving natural areas around suburban Chicago. They are currently involved in promoting the Open Space Referendum here in Kendall County (vote April 17!)
    http://theconservationfoundation.org/


17. SCARCE
    School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education
    Based in Glen Ellyn, works with schools, businesses, community groups, etc. for environment and recycling education.
    http://www.bookrescue.org/


18. Friends of the Fox River
    Non-profit organization of concerned citizens taking action to protect and maintain the quality of the Fox River Valley watershed.
    http://www.friendsofthefoxriver.org/


19. Kendall County Soil & Water Conservation District &
    Northeastern Illinois Regional Groundwater Protection Planning Committee
    Conservation interest group for networking and education.
    630-553-5821 ext. 3


20. LiveRoof, LLC
    Company that installs rooftop gardens for commercial, institutional, and residential buildings.
    http://www.liveroof.net/
    http://anthonyroofing.com/
    http://greenroof.com/


21. Kendall County Waste Management
    Local recycling and waste disposal utility.
    http://www.wm.com/


22. General Motors
    Alternative fuels and advanced propulsion systems.
    http://www.gm.com/


23. Illinois Solar Energy Association
    Promotes clean energy use.
    http://illinoissolar.org/


24. Citzenre REnU
    Residential solar power without any upfront investment costs.
    http://renu.citizenre.com/

In addition to these presenters our church sponsored a video viewing room featuring short videos about various new green technologies as well as the "Another World Is Possible: Creation" DVD from Shane Claiborne and the Simple Way, a neo-monastic Christian community among the urban poor in inner-city Philadelphia that practices sustainable living and fights environmental racism in their neighborhoods.

Two of the videos had to do with alternative waste disposal technologies: Thermal Depolymerization and Plasma Gasification - both of which turn garbage into energy and other usable by-products (like fertilizer, oil, bricks and asphalt). It's amazing stuff. If energy really is the most valuable resource in today's society, then these processes are really nothing short of the fulfillment of the alchemist's dream of turning worthless materials into "gold".

This is an especially relevant issue for our community right now, as our mayor and city council seem determined to bring a landfill to Yorkville despite the public outcry against it. My question is why would we bother a landfill at all when we could be generating electricity with our trash? With technologies like this it's hard to see why we would ever need another landfill anywhere. Why bury our trash when we can turn it into electricity? I don't know why we're not already doing this. As of right now, only a few waste disposal facilities around the country utilize either of these processes. We're throwing away a golden opportunity to solve our energy problems and our trash problems at the same time.

Anyhow, if you want more information about any of the groups or technologies presented at the fair, just follow the links above.

Labels: environment, social justice