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We Need a Better Gauge for Economic Development

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We Need a Better Gauge for Economic Development

I attended the June 1 town hall meeting on development in the village, and I agree with your observation [Madison Street plan draws supporters, detractors, News,June 8] that the bulk of the discussion was about the effect of the Madison Street plan on traffic patterns.

Looking at the big picture, it appears that this proposed development is similar to the pattern established by the other "mixed use" projects at Lake and Forest, Lake and Harlem, Harlem and South Blvd., and the Tasty Dog site — retail space on the ground floor, some parking, topped with multiple floors of high-end or luxury residential space.

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Breaking Free from Fossil Fuels

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Breaking Free from Fossil Fuels

During the first half of May, tens of thousands of people on six continents held protest actions under the banner of “Break Free From Fossil Fuels.” Called for by 350.org and organized by hundreds of regional and national environmental and social justice organizations, each action was unique, but the purpose was the same: to keep fossil fuels in the ground and build a just transition to a new kind of 100% renewable economy … and do it now.

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What's That New Building in Austin Gardens?

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What's That New Building in Austin Gardens?

On Saturday June 11, the Park District of Oak Park will hold a community celebration to mark the opening of Oak Park's new, state-of-the-art Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center, located north of the intersection of Forest Avenue and Lake Street.

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15 OPRF Congregations Join in Collaborative Sustainability Initiative

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15 OPRF Congregations Join in Collaborative Sustainability Initiative

Area congregations have demonstrated that they can make significant contributions to community sustainability through their facilities and operations including installation of geothermal and solar systems, energy efficiency retrofits, native and edible gardens, and zero waste programs, as well as advocacy for sustainable policies.

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Village "Renewable Energy Fund" is a Bright Idea

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Village "Renewable Energy Fund" is a Bright Idea

Solar panels on all 11 public school roofs? Windmills atop Village Hall? A local clean energy network that feeds energy into our grid? Some ideas never see the light of day, but thanks to the efforts of citizens and staff, these clean energy projects, or others like them, may become reality in the coming years.

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Climate Summit: Round 21

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Climate Summit: Round 21

The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened in Paris on November 30, in the shadow of the attacks by ISIS on the cultural life of the city. Heads of state or government from more than 140 countries attended the conference over the first two days, addressing plenary sessions and holding private meetings.

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The Good Tax: Carbon Fee & Dividend

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The Good Tax: Carbon Fee & Dividend

In 2009, climate scientist Dr. James Hansen published his first book, “Storms of My Grandchildren,” on the topic of climate science and his involvement in various governmental efforts over the previous two decades to craft a response to what he described as “the greatest threat civilization faces.” Dr. Hansen is perhaps the world’s most prominent climate scientist. Trained as an atmospheric physicist, he worked at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies for 45 years, and was its head from 1981 until his retirement in 2013. He is known for his groundbreaking body of work, and for his outspoken warnings regarding the possibility of “tipping points” being reached in the climate system that could lead to runaway global warming.

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Book Review: 'This Changes Everything'

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Book Review: 'This Changes Everything'

It has been nearly a year since the publication of Naomi Klein’s best-selling book “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate”. It was released on September 16, 2014, just five days before the People’s Climate March in New York City, at which a gathering of 400,000 people demonstrated their frustration over the lack of action on climate change mitigation.

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Tour Sustainable Homes in Oak Park and Chicagoland

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Tour Sustainable Homes in Oak Park and Chicagoland

Get inside smart, green, high performance homes at the GreenBuilt Home Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26. Of the 16 homes on tour, two are in Oak Park and one is in Forest Park. Tickets are available for individual homes tours at $5 each or see them all for $20. Reserve tickets at www.greenhometour.org.