News Releases - 2003

Citizens Invited To Participate In Improving Chicago Area Air Quality Through "Green Pays On Green Days" Initiative

Springfield, Ill. -- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Renee Cipriano announced the "Green Pays on Green Days" initiative has begun its second year to benefit Chicago area air quality by asking citizens to “Take the Clean Air Pledge” to reduce smog, with the first two “green day” winners selected last week.

Green Pays on Green Days is an initiative that first began in 2002 to encourage area residents to take actions by avoiding activities that can lead to air pollution. During the 2002 campaign, Green Pays on Green Days received more than 41,000 entries from residents wanting to improve the environment. In March, the program received a national “Clean Air Excellence Award” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Green Pays on Green Days is an exciting educational program that brings together individual citizens’ actions with those from the regulated community,” said Director Cipriano. “The incentives offered through the program are designed to educate and encourage area residents to take green actions.”

Residents will have the opportunity to “Take the Clean Air Pledge” by pledging to take one or more ‘green actions’ on Ozone Action Days when weather conditions are favorable for smog formation. ‘Green actions’ can include carpooling or taking public transit, refueling after dark, deferring gas-powered lawn mowing, and conserving energy.

Citizens who take the pledge will be entered into a drawing for an environmentally-friendly prize package that will be awarded on each day when the area’s air quality is forecasted to be “Green” or good according to the Air Quality Index. The index, which was introduced to citizens last summer, is a six-color system from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that ranks air quality in increments from good or “green” down to hazardous or “maroon”.

Green Pays on Green Days runs from June 2 to September 1, 2003. The first two “green” or good air quality days were Wednesday, June 3, and Thursday, June 4. Citizens from Chicago and Clarendon Hills who sent in their “clean air pledges” were drawn as the first winners.

After the close of the program, all individuals whose names were selected as “green day winners” will be entered into the grand prize drawing for a 2004 Toyota Prius, an ultra low emissions/gas-hybrid vehicle, donated by the Chicagoland/Northwest Indiana Toyota Dealers. A live drawing will be held to choose the grand prizewinner, and those winners in attendance who are not selected as the grand prize winner will receive a consolation prize.

The program is co-sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Chicago area Partners for Clean Air Coalition. The coalition is made up of more than 300 businesses, local governments and health advocacy organizations that have pledged to take voluntary actions to reduce air pollution on Ozone Action Days. The program will be highlighted in radio and newspaper advertisements throughout the summer featuring “environmental superhero” Breathe Easy Man.

Citizens can participate in the program by logging onto www.nbc5.com to complete the on-line pledge/entry form or by completing tear-off cards available on posters throughout the Chicagoland area. Additional information on the program and the Air Quality Index will be available through the Partners for Clean Air website at www.cleantheair.org.
Green Pays on Green Days prize packages are funded entirely by generous contributions from many Illinois businesses and corporations (See list of sponsors).

Green Pays on Green Days Sponsors

Major Sponsors

• BP
• 3M
• ADM Corn Products
• Envirotest Illinois, Inc.
• Exxon Mobil
• Midwest Generation
• The Clean Energy Community Foundation
• Abbott Laboratories

Financial & Product Sponsors

• The Dow Company
• Reliant Energy
• Plano Metals, Inc.
• AAA - Chicago Motor Club
• Blitz USA
• City of Chicago
• Commonwealth Edison
• Illinois Corn Growers Association
• Owens-Corning
• United States Environmental Protection Agency

Special Thanks to:

• NBC Channel 5 - Chicago
• Clear Channel Radio
• American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago.