Green Committee

The Yorkville Green Committee has joined forces with the Chamber of Commerce Green Committee, known as the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce Green Committee. To contact the Green Committee, call the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce at 630-553-6853.

City Articles on Being Green

  1. Do Something Drastic - Reduce the Plastic (DOC)
  2. Green Your Home for Your Health - Emissions and Indoor Air Quality (PDF)
  3. How to Lower Your Energy Bills (PDF)
  4. I Care for the Earth Checklist (PDF)
  5. What is a Carbon Footprint (PDF)
  6. What is Global Warming (PDF)
  7. Why Polystyrene Petroleum-based Plastic Products Should Not Be Used (PDF)
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL)
If Illinois residents replaced their most highly used incandescent bulbs with CFLs, Illinois' total household lighting energy consumption could be cut in half. CFL bulbs last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs. However, many Illinois residents still have questions about CFLS, such as:
  • How do we recycle them?
  • How do we clean up a broken CFL?
  • Is the mercury content in CFLs dangerous?
To answer these questions and more, visit the Environment Illinois website.

Water Conservation
In 2025, water usage is projected at 30 million gallons per day. Without changes in how we use water, there won’t be enough groundwater for the projected population growth of over 300,000 by 2025. A full 100% percent of Lake Michigan’s water is allocated. Kendall County uses groundwater. Therefore, it’s important to start looking now at the ways we use water and how we can save it together.

Forum
As a result, the city's Green Committee conducted a free community forum on Water Conservation in April 2008 that was co-sponsored by the state of Illinois' Environmental Law and Policy Center. The forum held at Yorkville's Public Library was a great success and covered water conservation topics including:
  • Conservation design
  • Landscape
  • Rain gardens
Presenters
Topics were presented by local experts including:
Other Features
The event also featured exhibitors, interactive displays, raffles and free Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) door prizes to everyone in attendance.

From the Environmental Protection Agency
  • Water covers approximately 70% of the earth, but less than 1% is available for us to use.
  • Worldwide, water consumption has tripled in the past 50 years. That’s why water conservation is a necessity.
  • A family of 4 can use 400 gallons of water every day or more depending on the location.
  • In the last 5 years, nearly every region across the country has experienced water shortages , and more than 30 states are anticipating water shortages by 2013.
More Information
For more water saving tips and ideas visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency website.