Ecology Action Center Staff have been busy planning fun workshops, volunteer opportunities, and events! Read about some of the things happening in August and September and find more upcoming events on the BN Green Events Calendar.
Rain Barrel Workshops:
Be prepared for spontaneous late summer storms this year with your very own rain barrel! Collect free rain water for use on thirsty outdoor plants as the temperatures stay hot. Register for a workshop today!
Monday, September 11 at 5:30pm $55 ($45 for EAC Members)
Thursday, September 28 at 5:30pm $55 ($45 for EAC Members)
As harvest season is upon us there are lots of veggies that aren’t looking good enough to eat, but that we don’t want ending up in the landfill producing methane. Instead of letting those nutrients go to waste, start backyard composting or vermicomposting (composting with worms). Composting is fairly simple and allows you to divert waste while also producing a nutrient rich soil additive for next gardening season. Register for the workshops today!
Backyard Composting: Thursday, August 31 at 5:15pm $35-110
Vermicomposting: Tuesday September 12 at 5:30pm $35
Backyard Composting: Thursday, September 14 at 5:30pm $35-110
Backyard Composting: Monday, September 25 at 5:30pm $35-110
For the final installment of GREEN TOPics come hang out with EAC staff as they discuss fall leaf practices. Learn more about the various options for how to deal with fallen leaves and what their ecological impacts are. This talk will also dive into how fall leaves impact storm water protection and what you can do to improve our local waterways. GREEN TOPics: Storm Water Protection and Fall Leaf Practices will be held at Green Top Grocery on 921 East Washington Street in Bloomington, IL on Wednesday, September 6 from 5:30-6:30pm. Registration is required.
Looking for community service hours or just want to have fun with us while we improve our local environment better? Visit ecologyactioncenter.org/volunteering/ to learn more and register for upcoming volunteering events.
There are several upcoming Storm Drain Stenciling events, we still need volunteers for the Household Hazardous Waste Collection event, and Sugar Creek Stewards is the third Saturday of every month from 9am - noon.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Saturday, September 23
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection is coming up on Saturday, September 23. This event is free and open to all Illinois residents but appointments for waste drop-off are REQUIRED!
Unfortunately, we are almost full. Anyone who doesn't have an appointment needs to get one ASAP. But better yet, we strongly advise HHW CARPOOLING. While we have a limit on how many cars we can accommodate on September 23, we don't have a limit on how much HHW materials is brought in each car.
If you already have an appointment, you can extend the impact of this event by bring materials on behalf of your neighbors, or coworkers. Alternately, if you don't have an appointment yet, try and find a friend who is going who will take your materials.
We also still need some volunteers to help us ensure traffic flows smoothly at the event. All volunteers must be 18 years old or older and must be able to stand on their feet for the entirety of their shift. Volunteers will receive detailed instructions by email the week of September 18.
Find more information about accepted items, register for your appointment, and register to volunteer at HHWMcLean.org.
How to Get Rid of Small Kitchen Appliances
Blenders, toasters, microwaves, oh my! Have your countertops, drawers, and pantries been stuffed full of small kitchen appliances from years past? If you are ready to declutter and get rid of abandoned and broken appliances, here are some disposal tips! If the small appliances you have are useable, try donating them to a local resale shop or putting them up for sale on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, etc. If they are broken and cannot be fixed, then appliances containing metal can be recycled at Alter Metal Trading located at 501 East Stewart Street in Bloomington.
Please remember that small kitchen appliances cannot be recycled curbside. Additionally, appliances of any size (can openers, coffee makers, digital kitchen scales, microwaves, and toaster ovens) are not eligible for electronics recycling at Normal Public Works. The list of accepted e-waste items at that site is limited to only those items explicitly listed. If you have questions about recycling, please visit RecycleBN.org or call 306-454-3169.
Natural Gas Use in Midwestern Homes
Did you know Midwest homes consume more natural gas than most other homes in the United States? According to the Energy Information Association’s data from their 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, homes in the Midwest consumed 34% more natural gas than the national average per household, and Illinois has the 5th highest space heating consumption per household in the U.S., just behind Alaska, Michigan, Wyoming, and Minnesota.
The data also revealed that new construction homes, built after 2009, consumed an average of 48.9 million British thermal units (MMBtu)*, where homes built before 1950 consumed an average of 74.8 MMBtu.
Area heating accounts for over half of all energy consumption in Midwest homes, and natural gas is a more prevalent form of home heating in the Midwest, followed by propane and then electricity.
Cold winters in Illinois affect the amount of energy required for home heating, as does home weatherization and air sealing.
Many older homes have less insulation, or more gaps in insulation than newer construction, which creates areas for thermal bypass or heat transfer. New construction is not exempt from areas of inadequate insulation, or decreased efficiency though. Older homes were often built with higher quality materials. For example, plaster walls have higher insulation value than drywall. New construction is often built in areas without established landscaping, reducing the efficiency benefits of tree cover. New homes also have a higher square footage, which cancels out many energy efficiency gains from new construction guidelines.
If you are concerned about your home’s energy footprint, and are interested in finding opportunities for increased comfort and lower energy costs, the Ecology Action Center can help!
With cooler temperatures approaching, it is a great time to consider signing up for a low-cost home energy audit. We can conduct a blower door test to find areas of air-infiltration combined with infrared imaging view areas of potential heat loss in your home. After the energy audit, we provide a comprehensive report with specific recommendations for your space, and information on energy efficiency best practices! Audits are available for all Bloomington and Normal residents.
Blenders, toasters, microwaves, oh my! 
