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Environment

A ‘greener’ take on this year’s holiday gift giving

By Samantha Vercellino Gift shopping can be stressful, especially when the holiday is right around the corner. But don’t fret; we’ve put together a list of our five favorite “green” gifts of 2015! Smart Crock-Pot: Unlike most slow cookers, the Smart Crock-Pot is Wi-Fi enabled which allows users to adjust its temperature…...

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So what the heck is a green plan?

Crain’s Chicago Business has shined a spotlight on a “green” plan offered by Ethical Electric, which has been CUB’s biggest source of questions this year among dozens of alternative electric and gas suppliers. A direct mail piece by Ethical is short on detail on the plan’s actual cost, and how it…...

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The time is ripe for the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill

History was made earlier this week when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions by nearly one-third by 2030. Today in Chicago, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition (of which…...

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2,400+ respond to CUB’s Clean Power Plan survey

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to issue final rules this summer on the Clean Power Plan— the plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants 30 percent by 2030.  In anticipation of this historic decision, we are asking CUB Action Network members: Do you support the Clean Power Plan?  If you haven’t completed…...

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Editorial roundup: the battle to protect electric customers in Springfield

Springfield is abuzz with two very different pieces of energy legislation, one that could help electric customers and another that could hurt them. One is  the Illinois Clean Jobs bill (House Bill 2607/Senate Bill 1485), which would increase energy efficiency and renewable energy standards in Illinois.  A CUB analysis found that the…...

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Congrats to Illinois’ top energy savers!

Energy efficiency pays, and there’s nobody who knows that better than the top energy savers in the state! These Illinois cities and neighborhoods have registered the highest electricity savings through CUBEnergySaver.com, CUB’s free online service that can show a consumer how to cut power bills by hundreds of dollars a…...

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CUB/EDF propose an IL first: Community Solar

Power to the people, right on. -John Lennon Mr. Lennon would have appreciated the “community solar” proposal that CUB and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have made before the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The proposal would smash barriers that have kept families from enjoying the benefits of renewable energy. Imagine entire neighborhoods getting…...

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Coalition: Improved efficiency, renewable energy standards could spark 30,000 jobs a year

For years, CUB has been saying that efficiency and renewable energy are good for our economy. Today, we’ve got numbers to back it up. At a news conference this morning, 55 business, environmental, labor and consumer advocacy leaders (including CUB Executive Director David Kolata) announced the formation of the Illinois…...

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Energy-efficient holiday buying guide

By Samantha Vercellino If Black Friday was a bust (which it was for me), you’re still racking your brain for what to get your family and friends. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of our top five energy-efficient stocking stuffers. Powerless stereo speakers. iPhone enthusiasts can amplify their holiday music…...

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CUB’s free tool helped her save $528 a year

CUB Energy Saver, our free online service that helps people cut their utility bills, has a new look designed to make our pocketbo0ks happy. Ale Lopez is already there. The Hanover Park woman credits the free tool with helping her save $528 a year. “Without a doubt, I think that CUB Energy Saver…...

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