Gardens and solar energy panels have found a home on many of Chicago’s rooftops. Is soy joining the in-crowd?
A Chicago-based manufacturer is finding that a soy-based coating might be the new emerging green technology as far as rooftops are concerned.
Shedd Aquarium was the first cultural institution — and only the third building of any kind — in Chicago with a soy-based roof, which is made from the equivalent of 36 acres of soybeans.
The aquariam’s Web site says the reflective white coating stays cool in the summer, lowering the aquarium’s air-conditioning bills while countering the urban heat island effect created by black asphalt roofs.
October 21 2007 | Green Technology | 1 Comment »
October is fair trade month; and unbeknownst to many Chicagoans, the Windy City offers support to the fair trade community. A simple way to get involved is to purchase fair trade products in the Chicago area.
An online boutique called world-shoppe.com features crafts, stationary, etc. and promotes fair trade and sustainable living on a local and international scale. You can buy a few things or just learn the basics of fair trade practices and terminology.
In addition, fair trade is often linked to environmentally safe practices in agriculture. A combination of high environmental standards and financial rewards for sustainable farming makes fair trade a nice option for some in the agriculture community.
October 21 2007 | Green Events | 2 Comments »
