News Releases - 2002

"Green Pays on Green Days" Awards First Intermediate Prize and Announces New Bonus Prizes

Chicago, Ill. -- Taking "clean air actions" continues to pay off, as the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Partners for Clean Air have awarded the first "intermediate prize" package and announced additional prizes that residents of the Chicago Metropolitan area are eligible to win.

Green Pays on Green Days, an educational initiative in the area, has been rewarding metro area residents for taking "the Clean Air Pledge" since the program started in late May. So far, the program has awarded 21 Green Day prize packages, featuring environmentally friendly products, to residents throughout the region.

Recently, the first "Intermediate Prize" package was awarded to Ron Jenkins of Bolingbrook. His name was drawn to win an ENERGYSTAR® designated Kenmore Refrigerator from Sears and a $200 gift certificate from Whole Foods.

"My family tries to do all we can to help the environment. We are very active with recycling," said Jenkins.

Kicking off the Green Pays on Green Days program in late May, the Illinois EPA and the Partners for Clean Air announced that they would be awarding Green Day Prize packages, Intermediate Prizes and a Grand Prize.

Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano said the program has more recently received a donation of three electric lawn mowers from Black & Decker to be awarded as part of the program.

"We will be awarding the electric lawn mowers throughout the program as Bonus Prizes and the first lawnmower has been awarded to Prasanna Pendse of Schaumburg," Director Cipriano said.

Pendse noted that he pledged to take all of the green actions listed. "I have been doing all but one of the actions listed, so I pledged to do them all, and I will start doing the one new activity soon."

Chicago area residents will have many more opportunities to win the great prizes offered through the Green Pays on Green Days program. A Green Day Prize package will be awarded for all forecasted "Green" air quality days in the area through September 2. Additionally, the program will award two more Intermediate Prize packages featuring ENERGYSTAR® designated appliances and electronics from Sears as well as two more electric lawnmowers as Bonus prizes.

The Grand Prize, a 2002 Honda Insight, a hybrid ultra-low emissions vehicle donated by Grand Honda of Elmhurst, will be awarded at the end of the program.

In addition, at the July 22 Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, Robin Feehan of Peoria won a Green Pays on Green Days instant prize, an ENERGYSTAR® designated window air-conditioning unit donated by Sears. Feehan's seat number was drawn by the Cubs to be a winner. Ms. Feehan has given the air-conditioning unit to a family member who resides in Aurora.

"In just eight weeks, we have had nearly 30,000 pledges submitted for Green Pays on Green Days," said Director Cipriano. "We will continue to encourage area residents to join those who have already taken the pledge."

Residents of Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois are eligible 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.

Related Information

• Partners for Clean Air