We asked for your stories on how you planned to celebrate Earth Month, and you inspired us!
Congratulations to our Earth Month Challenge winner, Dawn, a Chicago teacher who planned to celebrate by organizing fun activities for her students. She was randomly selected to win a $50 gift card.
Below are some of the submissions for CUB’s Earth Month Challenge. Thank you for sharing, and keep up the good work, whether the calendar says April or not!
Electrifying your home:
Debra, from Skokie: “We are installing a ground source heat pump. The system will include hot water for the house. This is replacing a gas furnace and a gas hot water heater. Inspired by the CUB information meetings, we already replaced the gas range with induction and installed solar. Hopefully, we can install a battery next year.”
Reconsidering personal habits:
Curt, from Chicago: “I reuse all of my plastic bags and things of that nature. Slowly but surely I will get to a personal zero waste lifestyle.”
Nancy, from Winfield: “When weather permits, I hang our laundry outside, which affords me the pleasure of saving energy and enjoying a beautiful day simultaneously!”
Increasing advocacy work:
Marcella: “I’m joining (the Illinois Environmental Council’s) Chicago Lobby Week to talk to my alder about environmental issues…”
Leslie, from Crystal Lake: Is celebrating with “trash pick ups, attending rallies, voting, (and) hosting an Earth Care Fair for the congregation”
Promoting solar energy:
Julian, from Bolingrook: Is “setting up webinars and in person events to inform the community about the importance of using and understanding solar energy.”
Connecting with nature:
C, from Oak Park: “We will connect two rain barrels to collect water for our garden/lawn”
Marvin, from Roselle: “(I’m) planting a wildflower garden”
Susan, from Oak Lawn: “My friend and I hiked in Giant City State Park and Shawnee National Forest. We picked up some garbage along the way as we enjoyed the beauty of Southern Illinois.”
Yard work:
Laurel, from Winfield: Started composting– “I have a large flower garden, so this is a welcomed transition from running to the local big box garden center. In May, I’ll be able to harvest some of that compost on the bottom. It’ll be a first!”
Mark, from Bolingbrook: “I am monitoring my total water usage and planting native plants on the border of my yard, along with eliminating any outdoor watering”
Olubukola, from Chicago: “I plan to celebrate by working in my garden, reducing usage of materials and objects that pollute our environment.”
