Mt. Prospect comes together for energy efficiency
In 2009, the Village of Mount Prospect was awarded the United States Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG.) This federal grant program is intended to assist U.S. cities, counties, states, and territories implement and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs designed to reduce fossil fuel emissions, energy use, and improve energy efficiency in transportation, building, and other sectors.
One of the first things the Village did with the funds it received was to develop and adopt an Energy Strategy Plan. "The grant has allowed us to examine our responsibility to address environmental issues and target areas in which we believe we can make an impact. While some communities used their grant funding to address facility improvements only, the Village Board pursued a more comprehensive strategy to address environmental sustainability, including public education," stated Village Manager Michael Janonis.
In order to carry out the education component of the strategy, the Village sought a community partner with experience and resources to help deliver educational programming about sustainability to the community. The Village reached out to the Mount Prospect Public Library and formalized the partnership in 2011 with an intergovernmental agreement.
"The Library offers over 1,000 programs per year and we are happy to lend our programming expertise," commented Marilyn Genther, Executive Director of the Mount Prospect Public Library. Prior to this grant program, the Library had been responding to the community's interest in energy conservation, recycling, and sustainability by collecting batteries, cell phones, and eye glasses as well as hosting programs on composting, rain barrels, and gardening. This grant and resulting partnership adds depth to the type of educational programs available to the community. "We are focusing on tangible differences each and every person can make as we all try to become more future-friendly," noted Julie Collins, MPPL's reference librarian responsible for coordinating the Library's contribution to the effort. "We are broadening our offerings to include seminars on how to get better gas mileage, alternative energy sources, and even how to incorporate greater energy efficiency into one's home."
The education component consists of monthly programming that began in July and will continue through 2012. The focus of these classes, held at the Library, will be on specific topics to help residents reduce their energy consumption.
A special highlight of the series is a presentation by Sarah Susanka, the author and architect behind the Not So Big House series and the Not So Big Showhouse on School Street in Libertyville, due to open this fall.
She will be speaking 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Library. Be sure to sign up for this program; it is filling up quickly and registration is required. Contact the Library for more information about this or other green programming, (847) 253-5675 or www.mppl.org.
In addition to these topic-specific programs, the Village and the Library are teaming up for Green Fair 2011, scheduled for Sept. 24. This one-day event features 10 morning seminars on a wide range of topics, from local community farming to wind power to electric cars and biking. In the afternoon, from 1 to 3 p.m., residents are invited to explore exhibits and talk to representatives from over a dozen organizations that will enable people to reduce their energy consumption and choose more sustainable options.
Other educational concepts being explored as part of the Village/Library partnership include a Green website and a Green educational center at the Library.
In addition to the educational outreach, the Village is using grant funds in other applications as well. EECBG funds are also being used to design and install signage at the new Mount Prospect Fire Station 14 on Kensington Road, highlighting and illustrating the facility?s energy efficiency and sustainability features so it may serve as a model for sustainable building construction.
Other notable projects funded by the grant include: the home weatherization rebate program (which ended in 2010); the creation of a community bike plan, currently being drafted by Active Transportation Alliance and Sam Schwartz Engineering; and the installation of LED streetlights on Prospect Avenue and at the Kensington Business Center, that will save energy and reduce overall costs to light the roadways.
"It is our hope that through these efforts, residents and businesses alike will learn more about what they can do on a personal level to help the environment," added Village Manager Janonis.