Environmental Progress - Summer 2004

Illinois EPA "Greens" the 2004 Illinois State Fair

Three exhibits provide fun and education

The Illinois EPA had a major presence at the 2004 Illinois State Fair in Springfield, with three exhibits showcasing some of the many programs operated by the Agency, including fun educational activities that highlighted the Governor's Clean School Bus Program, making information more easily available through technology and the Internet, and a partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Museum in Chicago, highlighting Green Rooftops.

Conservation World

The Agency's flagship exhibit was in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources pavilion in Conservation World again this year. DNR's additions of landscaping and paving sidewalks in Conservation World increased attendance tremendously at the Illinois EPA's Clean Air-themed exhibit.

The exhibit included two games for children, the Clean School Bus Soy-Beanbag Toss, and the Clean Air Wheel Game. The Clean School Bus Soy-Beanbag Toss included a cut out of the Illinois Green School Bus and beanbags made from recycled jeans and soybeans. Children received Breathe Easy Man tattoos for playing the game. The Clean Air Wheel game tested everyone's knowledge on atmospheric and ground level ozone, and citizen and industrial pollution. Everyone who spun the wheel received a Breathe Easy Man bookmark and a Partners for Clean Air pencil. Participants in the exhibit could also register for a daily drawing of six spill-proof and vapor-less gas cans. In addition, Lowe's home improvement stores donated four electric lawn mowers that were raffled off during the fair.

The exhibit also included a display of green products for the home and information on how using the products helps the environment, information on the hazards posed by burn barrels, and the Governor's Clean School Bus Program.

First Lady's Tent

This year's fair marked the second year in a row that the Agency participated in First Lady Patti Blagojevich's tent. Keeping the First Lady's themes in mind, children and beautification, the Agency, in coordination with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago, created an interactive display that allowed children to learn about and design their own green rooftop. Children could select different native plants and place them on a mock rooftop. To help further their interest, copies of the Illinois EPA's "Green Gazette" were given out along with a box of soy crayons. The Gazette explained green rooftops and their environmental benefits, and had a rooftop printed on its back so that children could go home and design their own rooftop with the crayons. A bookmark given out by the Agency and Museum was popular with both children and adults. The bookmark not only listed the Agency's website with a link to additional green rooftop information, it also contained a house made from recycled paper that was embedded with wildflower seeds. So, whether participants pursued a green rooftop or not, they could go home and plant a wildflower garden.

Green Rooftops, and rooftop gardens, are beneficial to the environment in several ways, including reducing polluted runoff; contributing to cleaner air and cooler temperatures and reduced energy costs.

Tech Town

The Illinois EPA's Tech Town program showcased the Agency's use of technology to collect environmental information and share that information with the citizens of Illinois. Methods of accessing air quality data and the air map application used by the Air Monitoring Program were demonstrated. In addition, Air Monitoring Program collection equipment was displayed. Source Water Assessment and Protection (SWAP) program demonstrations highlighted the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Application, which reports the quality and location of public and private wells. Staff demonstrated the Electronic Discharge Monitoring Reports (eDMR) system, which was developed so that Illinois Wastewater facilities can complete, sign, submit, edit, and re-submit eDMR forms on-line. EnviroFun and Breathe Easy Man games were available for children, who received a pencil made from recycled denim. A computer was on hand for access to the Agency's web site to showcase our "Right to Know" activities. Demonstrations were also held on how the public accesses certain environmental information on the Illinois EPA web site. The visitors could get information on the Agency's Connect Program that shows how to contact the Agency, get help online and file an environmental complaint.

All exhibits included "Connect with Illinois EPA" cards that list the Agency's toll free number and web site for citizens who have environmental questions or concerns about the Agency. This new outreach tool was created by the Associate Director's Office and has proven to be extremely useful when working with the public.