Jones Lang LaSalle’s Bob Best and Rosie Leal, Amtrak’s Chicago Union Station General Manager tour the station showcasing Jones Lang LaSalle’s “Union Station Goes Green” program. We identified $1M in annual savings through installation of new, controlled lighting that is brighter and lasts five times longer. Lighting maintenance has decreased and so have their energy bills. The 85-year old icon, with over 85,000 commuters daily, is now a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency. Join the tour and learn more http://www.us.joneslanglasalle.com/sustainability

On Jan. 1, a new law aimed at keeping toxins out of landfills requires that Illinois consumers recycle all electronics, including computers, monitors, cell phones, printers, TVs, PDAs, scanners and more.

Electronics contain heavy metals that can pollute groundwater when leached out of landfills, and they also contain valuable products such as gold, copper and cadmium that can be recovered and reused. Many of the electronics that people discard can be refurbished and employed by new users.

Each year, millions of pounds of electronics have ended up in Illinois landfills.

The Illinois Recycling Association provides information on electronics recycling as well as a list of places in Illinois that accept electronics for recycling:
http://www.illinoisrecycles.org/byteback_text.html.

The U.S. Treasury Building in Washington DC, recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The building, constructed between 1836 and 1869, is considered the oldest building to receive LEED certification.

The Treasury Building received its LEED Gold certification for numerous green programs and features. The building employs efficient recycling and waste reduction strategies; uses green materials and equipment; uses natural day lighting as well as special heating and air conditioning programs to reduce energy use; uses sustainable cleaning and landscape programs; and more.

These programs significantly reduce water consumption, electricity and heating usage, saving taxpayer money while helping the environment.

Other U.S. Treasury Department programs that help save money and resources include e-income tax filing and transitioning to electronic benefits payments.

Jobs sometimes require works to be outdoors during hazardous winter conditions. Follow these guidelines for safety:

• Make sure snow and ice are cleared from work areas.
• Wear reflective clothing and eye, face and body protection.
• Guard against hypothermia and frostbite by wearing appropriate weather proof clothing, footwear, and gloves.
• If you warm up in running vehicles, guard against possible carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Drink plenty of fluid to stave off dehydration and take frequent short rests to guard against exhaustion.
• Make sure work zones are clearly marked so that drivers or other workers can see workers.
• Employers should use protective equipment and safe work practices to reduce the length and severity of exposure to the cold for their employees.

OSHA’s new Winter Storms Web includes complete winter weather guidelines for workers from OSHA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Safety Council and other agencies. Click here to connect.

Through a state, city and local partnership, Millennium Reserve, a conservation initiative that will significantly increase natural green space in Chicago, will be created in the Calumet region. The Millennium Reserve: Calumet Core phase involves restoration of 15,000 acres of open space using $17.9 million from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program to improve the area’s area’s natural resources and recreational facilities.

The state of Illinois, city of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Forest Preserve District of Cook County and other groups are partnering on Millennium Reserve. The project is part of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to reconnect Americans, especially children, to America’s rich outdoor treasures, build upon public and private priorities for conservation and recreation lands, and use science-based management practices to restore and protect our lands and waters for future generations.

“The Millennium Reserve initiative is a model for a 21st century approach to conservation and outdoor recreation that is grounded in strong community support and collaboration,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who recently named Calumet Open Space Reserve in an interior report on 100 promising conservation projects happening across the nation.

“The investments we make in Chicago’s lakefront, our river, and our parks are an investment in our people, creating jobs, attracting tourism, and enhancing our quality of life,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The Millennium Reserve: Calumet Core phase calls for a number of projects, including restoration and construction of trails, parks and recreational facilities; restoring Indian Ridge Marsh on the shore of Lake Calumet; capital improvements to forest preserves; and the Calumet Heritage Partnership, a plan by Chicago’s Field Museum, the National Parks Conservation Association and other interested stakeholders to develop historical trails and locations in the Calumet region.

For more information about the initiative, visit MillenniumReserve.Illinois.gov