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PAST EVENTS 2003 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec Past: 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007
Jan. 3 - 28
Jan. 11, Saturday 11am-1pm
Feb. 5, Wednesday 6-9pm The local debut of Green Drinks:
"A big thanks to Carl Boyd for so effectively organizing the first Chicago
Green Drinks event held this evening. More than 20 people showed up, architects,
product designers, graphic designers, design planners, design students, some
"related industry" folks, all sorts of interesting people. The conversations
were numerous, fast-paced and lively. Connections were made, information shared,
a good time had by all (the first person didn't leave until 2 hours into it!)" Book Discussion Group Where: Perfect Cup Having read McDonough and Braungart's popular Cradle to Cradle, the small group discussed the environment, sustainability, green design, and other issues related to the book.
Mar. 5, Wednesday 6-9pm The first Green Drinks at which a short presentation was given, intending to spark conversation and educate those in attendance. Kent Lawson of Green Square Inc. explained the need for reduction of office paper use, to an audience of about 30.
Mar. 8, Saturday 1-4pm Design Charrette on Bulk Foods - session 1 Where: Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology The first of two sustainable design charrettes to practice sustainable design by redesigning bulk (i.e. unpackaged) foods retail systems in supermarkets. The participants, which included design professionals, students and entrepreneurs, addressed social, cultural, economic and environmental issues involved, aiming to revitalize and increase the eco-efficiency of bulk foods retail systems, while also making them accessible and attractive to people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and capable of capturing substantial market share.
Mar. 15, Saturday 1-4pm Design Charrette on Bulk Foods - session 2 Where: Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology The second sustainable deisgn charrette on bulk foods retail systems, at which ideas were developed and sustainability issues more deeply investigated. The resulting designs outlined a complete business model and product-service system, including systems for distribution, redesigned kiosks and shopping experience, and more sustainable packaging and store-to-home transport solutions.
Mar. 19, Wednesday 7-9pm Book Discussion Group Where: Café Selmarie The group met to discuss several brief essays on industrial ecology, and their relevance to eco-design and sustainability. It was decided to merge with the Building Green Bridges sustainable design book discussion group.
Mar. 26, Wednesday 7-9pm Lecture on Eco-Graphic and Package Design, by Wendy Jedlicka, IOPP Where: Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology Wendy Jedlicka, IOPP and chair of o2-Upper Midwest (based in Minneapolis-St. Paul), gave an engaging presentation on issues and criteria involved in practicing eco-sensitve graphic and packaging design, also outlining the basic "system conditions" for sustainability, as defined by the Natural Step.
Apr. 2, Wednesday 6-9pm Charles Kubert of the Environmental Law and Policy Center gave this month's presentation on a job-creating renewable energy plan for the Midwest. At a healthy size of over 40 people, the gathering was a prime arena for information exchange and networking with others involved in local environmental, design and sustainability communities.
Apr. 29, Tuesday 6-8pm Presentation on Sustainable Design for Chicago Creative Coalition Where: Oak Park Nature Conservatory, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park Invited by the Chicago Creative Coalition to give a presentation on sustainable design, Peter Nicholson (Exec. Dir.) and Rick Sanford (Mng Dir.) engaged the 15 participants in an interactive discussion on the need, potential and benefits of designing with society's environmental and social (as well as economic) interests in mind.
May 7, Wednesday 6-9pm Bil Becker, professor at University of Illinois at Chicago, gave a presentation on building integrated wind turbines, a technology that would allow Chicago to utilize the a viable source of renewable energy, without requiring large open spaces, as do traditional wind turbines. Becker's firm, Aerotecture, LTD builds modular wind turbines that can be arrange on roofs, much like solar panels.
May 10, Saturday 10am-12pm Tour of Chicago Center for Green Technology with Kevin Pierce, AIA Where: CCGT Kevin Pierce, AIA of Farr Associates, led a tour of the city's recently renovated LEED Platium green building, which features many cutting-edge green technologies. The building integrates techologies such as solar panels and geo-thermal wells for reducing reliance on the energy grid, a green roof and bioswales that cut-down on the volume of rain water that enters the municipal sewer system, as well as reduce the heat-island effect, interior products, such as furniture, carpets, paints, finishes, and adhesives that are non-toxic and contain no or low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and high-performance lighting, windows, and insulation that save energy.
May 21, Wednesday 7:30-10:30pm Public Meeting Where: Leona's, 3215 N. Sheffield An open meeting to review the organization's accomplishments and development, and receive feedback on potential plans, such as the proposal for a Chicago Sustainable Design Center.
Jun. 5, Thursday 6-9pm Where: Fizz Bar & Grill, 3220 N. Lincoln This month's presentation was given by Bob Oehman, on Corporate Social Responsibility. The switch to the new venue was to accomodate the burgeoning Chicago Green Drinks crowd.
Jun. 17, Tuesday 6:45-9pm Presentation on Eco-Industrial Design by Paul Clark Where: Fizz Bar & Grill, 3220 N. Lincoln Paul Clark of Oregon-based Metanova Studios, Inc. discussed his philosophy and methodology in practicing sustainable industrial design, and shared some of his latest projects.
Jun. 24, Tuesday 7:30-10pm Public Meeting Where: Leona's, 3215 N. Sheffield A follow-up to the May 21 meeting, where strategies and ideas for new initiatives were reviewed, and organizational needs assessed.
Jul. 10, Thursday 6-9pm Where: Home of Kevin Pierce, AIA Taking advantage of the warm weather, Green Drinks was held at Pierce's home and backyard, where the architect gave a presentation on designing green buildings, including examples of technologies employed in the Chicago Center for Green Technology, designed by Pierce's firm, Farr Associates. After the presentation, we screened Blue Vinyl (My House is Your House), a provocative documentary that follows New Jersey resident Judith Helfand across the country and around the globe as she endeavors to learn the story behind the vinyl siding that her parents recently applied to their house. Among her findings are toxic health hazards - not just for those in vinyl chloride (or PVC) manufacturing facilities, but also for the residents of those towns (vinyl escapes into the air), and the fabricators - who use the vinyl in injection-molding processes. She finds naivete, cover-ups and deception among vinyl industry representatives, and a severe lack of safe, affordable, eco-sensitive alternatives to vinyl siding.
Aug. 7, Thursday 6-9pm Where: Fizz Lounge Owners of local sustainable businesses met to discuss how and why they adopted "green" practices. Their primary piece of advice to those who are considering starting eco-sensitive businesses? Just do it. Panelists included Marilyn Jones (Consolidated Printing Co.), Chuck Blumenthal (Bean Products, Inc.) and Noam Frankel (Greener Cleaner.)
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Oct. 2, Thursday 6-9pm Chicago Green Drinks Where: Rhythm, 1108 W. Randolph In response to the lack of wheel-chair accessibility at the previous Green Drinks venue, the October gathering was held at Rhythm, which is also one of Chicago's few smoke-free establishments. A panel discussion on sustainable design education featured Steve Belletire (School of Art and Design, Southern Illinois University), John-Paul Kusz (Center for Sustainble Enterprise, Stuart School of Business), and Mike Iverson (School of Architecture, University of Illinois at Chicago.)
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER This month's gathering attracted more than 70 people, and featured a panel discussion on market-based approaches to promoting clean energy technology. More about Green Tags: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/ http://www.solaraccess.com/ More about Energy Efficiency: http://www.mwalliance.org
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