Ecology Action Center

Energy prices are heading in just one direction: up! What can you do to protect yourself from rising costs? Switching to solar energy for your home or business is a great start. Learn more about how solar can help reduce your energy bills at our next Grow Solar presentation, Wednesday August 5 at the Normal Public Library. Register: buff.ly/EsYcq41

Ready to slash your energy costs? Solar energy is one of the best ways to reduce your electricty consumption and bills, and our program makes going solar easier and more affordable! Join us next week for our next presentation at the Normal Library on Wednesday, August 5 at 5:30pm. Register at buff.ly/EsYcq41

Join us on Saturday, August 15 for a Sugar Creek Stewards workday! Help us remove invasive species along the creek bank and spread native plant seed! Sign up at buff.ly/vvqXJ2w

The Ecology Action Center is pleased to announce the release of our latest greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory for our community.

Building upon the original baseline emissions inventory conducted by the EAC over 10 years ago, this latest report shows the trends in local GHG comparing total local emissions for 2008, 2015, and 2022. We have also enlarged the geographic scope of our focus from the earlier concentration on the Bloomington-Normal urban area to now include all of McLean County.

These three GHG reports combined are informing the development of the soon-to-be released Community Energy Strategic Plan (CESP), intended to identify strategies for GHG emissions reduction and plan for future energy needs. We in the final stages of drafting that plan and will soon be publishing it for public comment and feedback.

See the 2022 GHG emissions inventory report at https://ecologyactioncenter.org/greenhouse-gas-inventory/

The National Environmental Policy Act requires federal agencies share information about environmental impacts of future projects with local residents.

The effort to weaken NEPA’s implementation would make it harder for Illinoisans to know if their health or environment are at risk: https://bit.ly/4yMz6Aj

Help shape the future of our community! Provide your input to the McLean County Regional Planning Commission visioning survey as part of the effort for a new comprehensive plan for McLean County. Deadline for survey responses is this Friday, July 31.

If you are anything like our Tree Coordinator, you are constantly thinking
"We could totally plant trees there!" wherever you go. Well, maybe we can do something about that!

Submit a Tree Planting Site suggestion on our webpage, and let the EAC know where you'd like to see a lot more green!
https://buff.ly/z1G3TvS

Ideal sites are within McLean county and are public property or publicly accessible land.

Suggest a Tree Planting Site Know of a place that could use a lot more trees? Let us know about it! We are always on the hunt for partnerships and locations to plant more trees.

The Ecology Action Center has another full time opening-- we are looking for an Education Coordinator. See details and application instructions at https://ecologyactioncenter.org/about/employment/

Is your septic system nitrate-friendly? Septic systems that are not properly maintained can leak nitrates into groundwater and nearby waterways, contributing to water pollution and algal blooms. Take action to protect our water by inspecting your septic system regularly, pumping it every 3-5 years, and avoiding flushing harmful chemicals down your drains. Learn more at https://buff.ly/J7Ra5P4

Have you found yourself with some Household Hazardous Waste and are wanting to stay updated on central Illinois collection updates? Never fear, the EAC has just the thing for you! Subscribe to our "Household Hazardous Waste Email Updates" list (at https://buff.ly/qUT5aUw) to recieve updated information on HHW collection events in the area!