Earth Hour March 30: 60 Minutes to Protect the Planet
Cook County will turn off its non-essential lights March 30 to commemorate Earth Hour and call attention to climate change. The Cook County Department of Facilities Management will save energy – and send a message about the role all of us can play in cutting harmful greenhouse gas emissions – by turning off lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the County Building, the Dunne Administration Building and nine other facilities located in Chicago and five other municipalities throughout Cook County.
Want to do more to reduce your carbon footprint? You can get started by calculating your own carbon footprint as it relates to your home energy use, transportation and waste choices and then participating in Earth Hour in your home. Saturday evening seems like a great time to play a board game lit by a battery-operated LED candle. Beyond Earth Hour, the World Wildlife Fund has suggestions for easy changes to make your lifestyle greener, including tips on energy use, water use, food choices and cooking.
For information on smart energy use, including free energy efficiency programs for your home, visit our website or contact Sarah Edwards at sarah.edwards@cookcountyil.gov.
A Message from the President
I believe that Cook County should be a world-class model of sustainability. We are working not only to boost sustainability practices throughout County government, but also to join forces with local governments, nonprofits and business, to accomplish more than we could separately in making each of Cook County’s communities sustainable. To further this work, I appointed Deborah Stone as the County’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, and as Director of the Department of Environmental Control. I also recognize that Cook County needs to share ideas and collaborate with a diverse group of community leaders and sustainability experts. In March 2012, I appointed the Cook County Sustainability Advisory Council to help lift our vision higher and give us access to best practices. You can meet the Council members and read more about their mission in the “Advisory Council” section of this website. Toni Preckwinkle,Cook County Board President
What is Sustainability?
" Ensuring that there is enough for today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."Deborah StoneChief Sustainability Officer, Cook County Government
Contact Us
Cook County Chief Sustainability Officer
69 W Washington
Room 1900
Chicago, IL 60602
312-603-8200 (o)
312-603-9828(f)
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