Elgin Sustainability Expo promotes earth-friendly message
About 350 Elgin area residents learned how to reduce use of fossil fuels, energy bills and conserve water during Elgin Community College's annual Sustainability Expo Wednesday.
This is the third year of the event and the second held in partnership with the city of Elgin Sustainability Commission. It included workshops on renewable energy, energy efficiency, local foods and climate solutions to help participants save money and be more earth-friendly - a timely message in light of Earth Day Friday.
"We rely on the earth so much, we have to keep it alive," said John Ryan Gonzalez, one of the expo's student team leaders.
Activities included an eco-fashion show with students modeling clothes purchased on a budget from Goodwill stores.
Classes of students presented projects on business, small business, business plan writing and entrepreneurship, and nonprofit groups, such as Gail Borden Public Library, Habitat for Humanity, the YMCA, and Friends of the Fox River, as well as for-profit businesses, such as book publishers.
"This is experimental learning at its best," ECC business professor Glenn Earl said.
The first 100 people received a free oak tree courtesy of the family of Elgin Mayor David Kaptain. Trees were donated by Sebert Landscaping of Bartlett.