Aw shucks - the Ecology Action Center will be back at the Sweet Corn Circus in Uptown Normal on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29! We are working with Better Earth Compost to help event attendees compost their corn cobs (and other food waste). Look for us next to the corn station, on the corner by the Normal Post Office, and be sure to bring us your corn cobs and other fair food scraps! We will have information at our booth about the upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection, and will have BN Community Composting starter kits and bag refills available for purchase at the booth too! We could use a few volunteers to help us at the compost booth. If you are interested, please contact Larissa at larmstrong@ecologyactioncenter.org or 309-454-3169 x15
Reduce Your Energy Costs with the EAC
The Ecology Action Center has several energy programs available to help residents reduce energy use, and energy costs. Our BN Energy Bright energy efficiency program is transitioning back to in-person home and small business energy audits for Bloomington-Normal residents (where COVID-19 safety guidelines are met), and still offers virtual energy assessments too. Let our trained staff help you identify areas of inefficiency and solutions to address those issues. Sign up at BNenergybright.org.
The EAC is also a great resource if you are considering transitioning to solar energy, either through on-site installations or community solar subscriptions. We can help answer questions about which option might be right for you, and connect you with reputable solar organizations.
We are also continuing our work on two income-qualifying energy programs. The Ameren-Nicor pilot program, and Illinois Solar for All. Residents that meet the maximum income levels listed below are eligible for these programs.
The Ameren-Nicor Pilot Program for Bloomington-Normal is for residents with utility service from both Ameren and Nicor. The program offers free energy saving kits for up to 600 homes in Bloomington-Normal. These kits include items like water-saving aerators and shower heads, weather stripping materials, LED lightbulbs, door sweeps, etc. Up to 80 homeowners in our community can also apply for a free home energy audit and, based on the results of the audit, can receive free air-sealing, attic insulation, a furnace tune-up, and other energy saving items. To receive the free kit in the mail—call 309-249-8204. If you are interested in a free home energy assessment with insulation and air sealing service, contact Larissa at the EAC for an application.
Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) is a state program which aims to increase access to solar for residents that meet the above income requirements. The easiest way for Bloomington-Normal residents (with Ameren electricity service) to participate is to sign up for a community solar subscription. Through this subscription you get the bulk of your energy supply from a large solar array in Illinois, and you save 50% on the supply rate for energy generated from that subscription. There are also options for residents interested in rooftop solar that guarantee no up front costs for installation, and low monthly lease rates for the installation.
This is a reminder that the EAC is holding a Household Hazardous Waste Collection on October 9, 2021. Appointments for the event are required to drop off materials. You can find a full list of accepted items and a link to make your appointment at HHWMcLean.org. We are also in need of volunteers to assist us at the event. If you are available to help that day, you can sign up for a 7:30 - 10:30am shift, a 10:15am - 1:15pm shift, or a 1:00 - 4:00pm shift. You can work more than one shift, but need to sign up for each time slot you want to work separately.
New Compost Workshops Address Threat of Invasive Jumping Worms
The EAC’s composting workshops help community members learn the best techniques to compost food waste at home, and this year we are adding tips to help ensure home composting will not increase the spread of invasive destructive jumping worms that have already been identified in several locations throughout McLean County.
Backyard composting has always been a great way to help the community by reducing the amount of organic material sent to the landfill. Food scraps and other organic waste occupy as much as 25% of a landfill’s capacity, so composting helps keep landfills open and able to accept other waste for a longer period. In addition to saving space, home composting helps minimize emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane produced when organic matter decomposes without oxygen in a landfill.
Proper composting techniques are also necessary to ensure your pile is not a breeding ground for jumping worms. Jumping worms can cause critical damage to soils and plants, and their spread puts McLean County’s natural wooded areas as well as residents’ own landscaping and vegetable gardens at risk. As you read in an earlier issue of our newsletter, invasive jumping worms are in the Bloomington-Normal area already. Easily mistaken for earthworms, this destructive invasive species consumes nutrients, damages soil structure, and disrupts beneficial soil life, reducing soil’s ability support desirable wild and cultivated plants. Jumping worms can incubate and spread in compost that is not managed properly, so we revamped our workshop to focus on critical aspects of compost management to minimize that risk.
The Ecology Action Center’s 2021 Compost Workshops provide information about which materials can be composted at home, what equipment is needed, and how to build, maintain, and monitor the pile to minimize the threat from potential invaders like jumping worms. In-person and online workshops will be held regularly. See event dates and register at BN Green Events.
