August Meeting Recap: A Greener Way

written by Yvonne Malone

From the beginning, through education and advocacy initiatives, Greener Grove has highlighted steps we can take right now to make our Downers Grove community more sustainable today and for future generations. Partnering with the Village of Downers Grove and other organizations that share this vision leverages the work we are each doing, builds momentum around actions, and brings people together to create this future. 

At our August meeting, DG Sustainability Coordinator, Jason Michnick, and Greener Grove member, Steve Ruffolo, teamed up to discuss “A Greener Way Pledge,” a key element of the Village’s Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP) that is focused on key actions we as individuals can take today to support broader sustainability efforts in our community.

Jason Michnick and Steve Ruffolo co-present at August 26 Greener Grove Meeting

Understand Your Ecological Footprint

Click the footprint above to access the Global Footprint Network’s Ecological Footprint Calculator

As Jason and Steve explained, we are all at a different starting point in our sustainability journey. The first step is to understand your own ecological footprint - where are you right now? They walked us through using the Global Footprint Network’s Ecological Footprint Calculator at footprintcalculator.org. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the assessment. Please note…

• The calculator is free to use - a donation to support the non-profit is requested but not required.  

• When prompted, we suggest you “add details to improve accuracy” to get a more complete picture of your footprint.

• When finished, take a few minutes to look at the “explore your data” tab to better understand your footprint.

Reducing your footprint will require making shifts in your lifestyle and changing habits around how you consume resources - again, understanding where you are at is the first step. Then, identifying where the opportunities are to make changes, planning how to do so, and taking sustainable actions.

What Can You Do?

Jason and Steve laid out a framework to follow as you begin changing up your lifestyle in your daily life to reduce environmental impacts:   

• Take “A Greener Way Pledge"

• Check off the 10 High Impact Actions

• Support a community initiative - stay engaged

Take “A Greener Way Pledge"

A Greener Way Pledge is a voluntary commitment designed to bring people in our community together around the shared goal of “making environmental stewardship something that is deeply rooted in Downers Grove”.

Click on the link below to let the Village know you are taking the pledge and to stay up to date about ways you can support A Greener Way Pledge.

A Greener Way Pledge

Reducing our individual ecological footprint will, in turn, support the overall community goals outlined in the ESP. These community goals are organized around 5 themes: Energy; Ecology; Materials & Resources; Mobility Parkways, & Parking; and Governance.

Check Off the 10 High Impact Actions

The ESP outlines 10 high impact actions you can take to reduce your environmental impact based on your situation. The actions are listed below along with resources on Greener Grove’s website that relate to several of the actions…

1. Understand your ecological footprint. Use the Ecological Footprint Calculator tool mentioned above. 

2. Replace turf grass in your yard with native plants and trees. You can get certified through the Conservation@Home program. The Conservation Foundation spoke at our July meeting. Find a recap here.

3. Conduct an energy audit for your home or business. Our February meeting featured a speaker from the Citizens Utility Board about Going Electric. Check out the recap and resources here.

4. Compost food waste at home or through weekly garbage pick up. Learn how to compost at home and even sign up to schedule a visit with a Greener Grove Compost Coach here.

5. Read the label - know where products come from and where they will go. Our June meeting featured a panel discussion on sustainable food production and consumption practices and highlighted local resources. Check out the recap here.

6. Use fertilizers, pesticides, and road salt responsibly. 

7. Walk or bike to neighborhood parks and open space as often as possible. Check out two recent meeting recaps with lots of resources - one on biking here and one on birding here.

8. Conserve water. Install and use rain barrels in your yard, water your lawn less frequently, install water-saving appliances in your home, and use your faucets consciously.  

9. Reduce light pollution. Close shades at night, install motion sensors on your outdoor lights, and swap outdoor bulbs to yellow-hued bulbs which aren’t as attractive to insects.

10. Share your knowledge and experience with your neighbors. Word of mouth is the best way to get more people interested and engaged in sustainable practices!

Support a Community Initiative - Stay Engaged

• Attend Greener Grove monthly meetings and get involved - we have a variety of volunteer opportunities to fit your interests and availability. Connect with us on social media and be sure to sign up to receive our e-newsletter to stay informed on upcoming events and other news.

• Let the Village know that you are taking the Pledge by clicking on the QR code above and to stay informed about additional resources.

Take Action

As you can see, this meeting was all about taking action! Follow the framework above beginning with understanding your ecological footprint. Also… 

• Attend our next meeting on Tuesday, September 23rd at 7PM at the Lincoln Center. The topic is “Wildlife-Friendly Backyards”.

• Mark your calendar for the Recycling Extravaganza on October 4th. Learn more here.

Greener Grove member Sarah Karrow shares Recycling Extravaganza update and volunteer opportunity at August 26 meeting