News Releases - 2003

"Green Pays On Green Days" Clean Air Education Program Receives National Recognition

Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Partners for Clean Air today received a “Clean Air Excellence Award” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for last summer’s “Green Pays on Green Days” program in the Chicago metro area.

The program was one of only 21 in the nation, out of 145 applications, to be chosen for recognition.

“Green Pays on Green Days showed how individual contributions and responsible actions can benefit the environment for generations to come,” said Illinois EPA Director Renee Cipriano

Director Cipriano noted that more than 41,000 individuals in the Chicago metro area “took the clean air pledge” to take one or more green actions to improve air quality during the summer of 2002. They were also eligible for environmentally-friendly products donated by Illinois companies, including a grand prize of a new Honda Insight ultra-low emissions electric hybrid vehicle.

A survey found that, as a result of the Green Pays on Green Days initiative, more residents are aware of and understand the sources of air pollution and how they contribute to air quality.

Illinois was an organizing charter member of Partners for Clean Air, a coalition of more than 300 businesses, local governments and health organizations. Partners and Illinois EPA administer a voluntary ozone reduction program called Ozone Action Days when weather conditions are favorable for high levels of ground-level ozone or “smog.” Individuals and businesses are encouraged to take such actions as limiting vehicle idling, using public transit or car pooling, refueling after dark, and changing production processes to reduce the pollutants that contribute to ozone on those days.

A survey last summer found that as a result of the Partners for Clean Air and Green Pays on Green Days, 73 percent of those who heard about an Ozone Action Day took action in response.

NBC 5-Chicago and Clear Channel Radio partnered with Illinois EPA in accepting clean air action pledges. American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, the Chicago Cubs, Kane County Cougars and Lincoln Park Zoo also helped promote the program. Prize and financial sponsors included Grand Honda of Elmhurst, Sears, Roebuck & Co., BP, 3M, ADM, Envirotest Illinois, ExxonMobil, Midwest Generation, The Clean Energy Community Foundation, Abbott Laboratories, Dow, Reliant Energy, Plano Metals, Chicago Motor Club, Black & Decker, Blitz USA, City of Chicago, Commonwealth Edison, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Owens Corning, Regional Transportation Authority and USEPA.