Environmental Progress - Summer/Fall 2002

Environmental Progress : Summer/Fall 2002

Green Actions Pay Off On Green Days

Bolingbrook woman wins Honda hybrid

On October 3, Aimee Adjepong received the keys to a 2002 Honda Insight, a hybrid, super ultra-low emission vehicle, after her name was randomly drawn from the pool of Chicago area residents who took the "Clean Air Pledge" to make an extra effort to reduce air pollution.

The Bolingbrook woman was announced as the Grand Prize winner of the Green Pays on Green Days program, jointly sponsored by the Chicago area Partners for Clean Air and the Illinois EPA.

"This is all very exciting," said Mrs. Adjepong, when told her name had been selected. She has pledged to conserve energy at home.

Mrs. Aimee Adjepong, of Bolingbrook, stands with her husband and month-old son next to the 2002 Honda Insight hybrid vehicle she won in a random drawing that marked the conclusion of the Green Pays on Green Days program.

The educational initiative, which ran from May 27-September 2, awarded environmentally-friendly products to winning participants to encourage them to use the products in the future. Green Pays on Green Days awarded a Green Day prize package each day that the Chicago area air quality was ranked as "good" or "green." There were a total of 38 Green Days through the duration of the program. In addition, three bonus prizes of electric lawn mowers donated by Black & Decker and three Intermediate Prizes featuring ENERGYSTAR® designated appliances and electronics from Sears were awarded in June, July and August.

Green Pays on Green Days also awarded an instant prize of an ENERGYSTAR¨ designated window air-conditioning unit donated by Sears. It was awarded at the July 22 Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Twenty other individuals who took the Clean Air Pledge at the August 16 Chicago Cubs game won instant prizes, and five winners were selected from those who took the pledge at the August 25 Kane County Cougar's Game.

"The basis of the program was to educate individuals of the impact each citizen can have on air quality," said Director Cipriano. "In its first year, we feel the program was a great success as we received more than 41,000 'clean air pledge' entries."

The program was open to residents of Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Will, Grundy, McHenry and Kendall counties who pledged to take "green actions" such as carpooling, taking public transportation, conserving energy and limiting the use of products that cause fumes.

Green Pays on Green Days was made possible by financial and product contributions from Illinois businesses and organizations. Grand Honda of Elmhurst donated the Grand Prize 2002 Honda Insight.