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Green Pays On Green Days Getting Attention of Chicago Area Residents

Chicago, Ill. -- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano announced today that the Green Pays on Green Days educational initiative has received a strong response from Chicago area residents.

"I am very pleased to see how the citizens of the Chicago metropolitan area have stepped up to take the 'Clean Air Pledge' during the first two weeks of the program," Director Cipriano said.

Since the inception of Green Pays on Green Days, the Chicago area has had six 'Green Days' with a winner on each of those days and there have been more than 3,000 entries/pledges.

"Our first 'green day' was on May 28th and the winner was Ms. Sonja Jenkins of Addison, Illinois. Ms. Jenkins, a science teacher, has pledged to take as many green actions as possible," said Director Cipriano. "As the first Green Day winner, Ms. Jenkins is a great example of how individual citizens can make a difference."

. Ms. Jenkins said she has been informing her 4th grade students at Black Hawk School in Glendale Heights of the efforts to improve air quality through individual actions and encouraging them to work with their families to better the environment.

"I think the program is a great idea. It helps people to be aware of the problems in the environment and the fact that if we don't do something, we will face continued problems with air pollution and our own health will suffer," said Ms. Jenkins.

The Green Pays on Green Days program, which began on May 27 and will continue through September 2, rewards residents of Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties for pledging to take "green actions" to help prevent air pollution. Those actions can include using public transit or carpooling, conserving energy, and delaying refueling and lawnmowing.

A Green Day prize package, containing environmentally-friendly products, is awarded on each day that the air quality is forecasted to be Good (Green). Intermediate Prizes are also being awarded in June, July and August featuring ENERGYSTAR® designated appliances and electronics from Sears. The Grand Prize, a 2002 Honda Insight, donated by Grand Honda of Elmhurst, will be awarded at the end of the program.

The Illinois EPA is encouraging residents in the qualifying counties area to enter Green Pays on Green Days in any of the three ways provided. Citizens can complete tear-off cards available on Green Pays posters throughout the area. An additional entry form is available on the Chicago Sun-Times Friday edition weather page (running through August 16th). Participants can also register electronically at www.NBC5.com.

Additional information on the Green Pays on Green Days program can be found at www.cleantheair.org/greenpays. The program is co-sponsored by the Illinois EPA and Partners for Clean Air. The program has been made possible through generous contributions by Chicago area businesses and organizations.