Posts Tagged ‘neat stuff’
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Adler Planetarium is the most recent organization to join our great member benefit program Chi-Town Rewards! As an I-GO member, you can simply flash your I-GO smartcard and receive two-for-one admission to the Planetarium. Not a bad deal, eh?
Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
312.922.7827
www.adlerplanetarium.org
OFFER: 2-for-1 general admission
Tags: chi town rewards, chicago, chicago car sharing, i-go news, neat stuff, places to go
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Monday, April 20th, 2009
I’m happy to announce that we’ve added 2 new, local businesses to our Chi-Town Rewards program this month! As I-GO members, you can now receive a discount when you visit the Adler Planetarium in Chicago’s Museum Campus or the Green Grocer Chicago in West Town- pretty cool, huh?
Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
www.adlerplanetarium.org
OFFER: 2 for 1 general admission
Green Grocer Chicago
1402 W. Grand Ave
www.greengrocerchicago.com
OFFER: 10% off total order
Tags: chi town rewards, chicago car sharing, chicago news, i-go car sharing, neat stuff, places to go, savings
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Saturday, January 24th, 2009
Treehugger has a post about this excellent USB lunchwarmer from Japan, which could not only help you save money and cut down on waste, but could also be a warm hat for those in hyper-air conditioned offices.
The manufacturer sums it up (through a Google translation):
Fun fun time for your lunch, dinner is cold but we do not. Lunch not only beloved wife, can heat up your lunch bought at convenience stores.
Indeed. I want so bad. Wonder if it works on pop tarts…
Tags: items, neat stuff
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Friday, January 16th, 2009
This is pretty sweet – this gadget lets you take a bike lane with you.
The lasers help drivers see you and give them a clear boundary to avoid you, making biking safer at night.
Do you have any tips for safe biking, running, or walking at night?
(via GOOD)
Tags: neat stuff, transportation
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Friday, January 16th, 2009
Oh man. Want.
Some images like this leaked of the Aeolus Airship – a sleek, people-powered blimp that can fly up to two weeks. It was designed by someone named Christopher Ottersbach. I can’t find much of anything about him or where to find out more about this vehicle, so it might be some hoaxy thing or a movie promo. I don’t care if it is imaginary – I want to pedal through the sky:
So when is Chicago finally gonna get a blimp-sharing service?
(via Treehugger)
Tags: green technology, neat stuff, transportation
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Wednesday, January 14th, 2009
Aside from the occasional I-GO trip, I rely on the CTA and my own two feet to get around. I spend a lot of time outdoors, even in these freezing temperatures. But sub-zero conditions can leave my face flaky, cracked and red. Here are some tips to keep your skin healthy while braving the elements.
1. Prevent flaky skin.First, avoid products that contain alcohol, which is drying. Instead, use a gentle cleanser and switch to a richer moisturizer. Neutrogena products are my personal favorite.
2. Stop a red nose. Unless you’re guiding Santa’s sleigh, no one wants a red nose (which, by the way, is caused by dilated blood vessels). Since sun exposure can also cause redness, wear plenty of SPF 30 sunblock, even in the dead of winter. Kiehl’s makes a good one. And a warm — not hot — compress to the skin for a few minutes should also reduce redness.
3. Keep lips moist and crack-free. There’s no such thing as too much lip balm. It’s your first line of defense against chapped lips. Also avoid licking lips which dries them out even more.
For more tips to keep your skin healthy this winter, check out this post from Real Simple.
Tags: living simply, neat stuff, tips
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Tuesday, January 13th, 2009
You see this? The Times of London did a story exploring how much greenhouse gasses are created from doing a Google search and other web activities. Apparently two searches release the same amount of gas as it takes to boil a kettle of water. Servers and big computer machines apparently need a lot of power.
Unsurprisingly, Google took issue with the story, pointing out the apparent efficiency of their servers and claiming a search uses as much energy as a human body does in ten seconds, much less than boiling a half kettle of water.
I think a persuasive point they could have expanded on is that doing the amount of research a Google search does in pre-Google times would have taken many car trips to many libraries to look through stacks of paper.
Of course, back then, we didn’t have to update our status to the world every second, which probably could make a few kettles worth of tea.
Tags: links, neat stuff
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Saturday, January 10th, 2009
Are you taking full advantage of our Chi Town Rewards program? All you have to do is flash your I-GO card at participating businesses and you’ll receive a discount simply for being an I-GO member! We added 3 new Chi-Town Rewards businesses this month:
Green Dream Group
www.greendreamgroup.com
OFFER: 15% off home energy audit
*Home Energy Audits increase comfort and resale value, lower utility costs, and preserve the environment. Services: Blower Door, Infrared Thermographics, Utility Analysis, Energy Star Homes.
Lake Claremont Press
www.lakeclaremont.com
OFFER: Buy 2 books, get 1 free; buy 4 books, get 2 free; buy 5 books, get 3 free.
*A locally-owned publisher, specializing in books about Chicago and Chicago history, by Chicago authors with a passion and Chicago organizations with a mission.
Lillstreet Art Center
www.lillstreet.com
OFFER: 10% off class registration fees & gallery purchases
*A largy community of artists, open to all ages and skill levels. Lillstreet features 19 classrooms, over 50 studios, a gallery, story, cafe and more!
Check out the full list of participating businesses here.
Tags: chi town rewards, chicago car sharing, i-go car sharing, i-go news, neat stuff
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Sunday, December 28th, 2008
Burbank Bus announced that they will be the first to put a plug-in hybrid fuel cell bus, the Proterra HFC35, into service. The Proterra can fully recharge in only 6 minutes (!) and can travel up to 250 miles before needing to be recharged. The bus has double the fuel economy of a diesel bus and releases nothing but water from the fuel exhaust. Moreover, the Proterra was created in this country (designed by Colorado-based Proterra) and uses power that is 100% derived from U.S. sources- meaning more energy independence for us. Burbank Bus plans to have the Proterra in operation within various routes by spring. Check out the full press release here. Wouldn’t it be cool to see these type of buses come to Chicago?
Tags: eco-news, green living, neat stuff, transportation
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Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
I-GO pals HOURCAR, a car sharing service in Minneapolis/St. Paul, posted on their Hubcap blog about their members informally sharing shades:
Pretty cool. We’ve heard of I-GO members sharing mixed CDs, and we’ve talked about having reusable grocery bags to share in our cars.
Have you shared objects through I-GO?
Tags: blogs, car sharing, neat stuff
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Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Are you a last minute holiday shopper? Get in line.
But seriously, one of the easiest and most practical, yet unique and green gifts you can give this holiday season is an I-GO gift certificate for I-GO Car Sharing driving credits. Friends and family will love a gift of $25, $50, $75 or whatever you can spend, so they can get where they need to go in the New Year.
So stop procrastinating, and get those I-GO driving credits today!
Tags: green living, i-go car sharing, i-go news, neat stuff, tips
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Monday, December 22nd, 2008
Not sure how to keep the little tykes busy this holiday season? Check out Green Parent Chicago’s helpful list of ideas on ways to keep the kids entertained- away from the tube. Ever think you’d go snowshoeing in the city? Well, there’s a first time for everything!
Tags: chicago events, green living, green site, ideas, kids, links, living simply, neat stuff, tips
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Sunday, December 21st, 2008
The I-GO member holiday party was a smashing success last week! Thank you to all who came out and rang in the start of the holiday season with us! We welcomed over 200 I-GO members into our LEED Platinum Certified building for food, raffle prizes and drinks.
VeeV was kind enough to sponsor the drinks at our holiday party and it was an exciting new liquor to try out. VeeV has created the world’s first acai (pronounced: ah-sigh-EE) berry spirit. Acai berries are grown only in Brazil and are considered to be a “superfood”- they have 57% more antioxidants than pomegranates or blueberries and 30 times more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine! Check out what Lenette, an I-GO member and raw foodist, had to say about the exciting new drink on her blog GO Raw: Chicago.
Have you heard of this new drink?
Tags: blogs, green living, green site, i-go car sharing, i-go events, i-go members, i-go stories, neat stuff
Posted in Motormouth | 2 Comments »
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
There’s a very cool article about WPA posters at ReadyMade. You can even download and print them out for your very own. My favorite:
You know what… pop this guy in a frame and you got a great looking yet affordable last-minute gift for a friend or colleague who has all the Go Bucks he or she can use…
Tags: ideas, neat stuff
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
An electric car charging station was unveiled today in Tel Aviv – the system will be expanded and tested in Israel before coming to other countries like Denmark and Australia. Think these guys will come to Chicago any time soon?
Tags: eco-news, neat stuff
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Are you suffering from grinchitis? Are you hating December, with its wetness, coldness, manufactured nostalgia and hyperconsumerism?
Maybe you need to grab a friend or two, hop in your I-GO car, and head to Ben’s Tree Farm in Harvard, Illinois for some corny old-time fun. You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride to pick out an organically-grown Christmas tree that is fun to decorate and will make your apartment smell better. While you wait for Ben’s staff to bail your selection for free, you can hang out in the Warming Barn and enjoy free hot cho.
A road trip out to the country to escape the ads and icy sidewalks for a while and do some old-school holiday stuff might help bring you out of a Winter Funk – just be sure to drive safely.
Trees start at $19.95 and are totally Green as well as green – Ben’s has some tips for keeping it nice. The farm is open Weekends from 9 am-4:30pm, and Thursdays & Fridays from 11:00am-4:30pm until Sunday, December 21st. Here are some directions.
Tags: green living, ideas, neat stuff, places to go
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Friday, December 5th, 2008
Will Barack Obama’s childhood island state become the first in the nation to fully support a transition to electric vehicles? The President-Elect has made it clear he plans to make sustainability and green-collar jobs top priorities during his administration. Now, Hawaii is attempting to lead the country in adopting use of all-electric vehicles. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the greed and lack of vision we’ve been witnessing on Capitol Hill as the Big Three automakers beg for a bail-out.
This past Tuesday, Hawaii announced plans to become the first state in the U.S. to create a statewide electric recharging network for electric cars. The Hawaiian state government has joined forces with Better Place, an ambitious start-up that I posted about earlier this year, in an effort to make all-electric vehicles a reality by building car charging and battery swapping stations around the islands and purchasing renewable energy from Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest utility.
They plan to have the recharging stations up and running by 2011, and to have built 50,000 to 100,000 charging spots across the state by early 2012. Shai Agassi, Better Place’s founder and CEO, claims the electric cars will cost the same as gas powered cars — at first. However, over time, electric cars will be less expensive to make because they use far less parts than cars with internal combustion engines.
In late November, San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area cities also announced plans to join forces with Better Place to create an electric recharging network by 2012. However, Better Place chose Hawaii as the first statewide rollout for several reasons: the size of the state, the contained environment and consistent climate the island offers, and the abundance of renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal and wave power.
Here are two short clips: one of Agassi and Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle driving one of the Better Place electric vehicles (hopefully, we’ll be seeing more of these cars in the near future), and one of Agassi answering a reporter’s questions about Better Place’s agenda for the Bay Area.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH-FyvwsrEg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGD9aRC4Y5M&hl=en&fs=1]
Tags: cars, eco-news, gas prices, green living, green site, living simply, neat stuff, transportation
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Friday, November 28th, 2008
In my family, our annual tradition on the Friday after Thanksgiving is to 1) eat leftovers and 2) make our Christmas wish lists. With the economy in the tanker, this holiday my list is not only pared down, but it only include things I actually need. Like an I-GO gift certificate for more I-GO Car Sharing driving credits. What could be better (for me) and easier (for my family) than that? My family can just click here, and their shopping for me is done. It’s not only a great gift to get, but it’s also a great one to give, so add it to your shopping list today!
Tags: i-go car sharing, living simply, neat stuff
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Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
Procrastinating cooks throughout the city might want to know where to go for last minute turkeys and fixings for the holiday. I checked it out – here are Thanksgiving Day hours for Chicago grocery stores:
- Whole Foods: Chicago stores are open 7am-3pm, Evanston’s Chicago Avenue store is open until 5pm
- Dominick’s: Most locations, including South Canal and Halsted, are open 24 hours – Streeterville location is open 6am-9pm. Check here for all locations.
- Jewel: Most close at 6pm – you can check your location here.
- Trader Joes: All stores are closed on Thanksgiving, so get a move on if mango hot dogs and organic pop tarts are on the menu.
I pretty much looked at websites and talked to some store managers, so double-checking is advised.
As always, I-GO cars are available throughout the day all over Chicago for lugging around turkeys and cranberries and sweet potatoes (or going out to the suburbs to eat your mom’s or grandma’s…). I’m gonna jump in one to go get my own sweet potatoes for some Thanksgiving hashbrowns:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xShyedT9Ny4&hl=en&fs=1]
Merry Turkey Day everyone.
(photo from Google’s sweet LIFE photo archive)
Tags: links, local food, neat stuff, tips
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Thursday, November 20th, 2008
I just found this list of Top 10 Ecolodges and Green Hotels at the website Independent Traveler. Back In The Day, an “ecolodge” would sound like some sort of hippie hostel in a log cabin where you sing songs about how great dirt is. Not now – check out Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina:
Much of the hot water for the hotel and its restaurant is heated by 4,000 square feet of solar panels on the roof, and water-saving fixtures are used throughout the guestrooms and other facilities. Bikes are available for guests to ride on a nearby five-mile greenway.
Guestrooms may be green but they’re also luxurious, featuring 32-inch flat-panel TV’s, original artwork, complimentary Wi-Fi, large windows that allow plenty of natural light, and many other amenities.
No communing with your inner dirt diety there. Have you ever been to one of these eco-green-all-natural hotels or lodges? What was it like?
Tags: eco-news, green living, green site, neat stuff, places to go
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
Some big news, apparently – America picked a new president, a rather popular guy from Chicago, in fact. There was some party or something in over in Grant Park.
Kidding aside, among the many bits of historic and exciting news that came out of our TVs and computers last night was that first time voters were a huge factor in the outcome, especially the young and elderly.
A few of these folks from the South Side got to the polls in I-GO cars.
I-GO partnered with Rock The Vote and K.L.E.O. Community Center to help people vote and threw a “Party at the Polls” featuring performances by Robert Jones, The Youth for Christ, and the insanely talented Jessie White Tumblers, who would make terrific ninjas if anyone is hiring:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iQyPB89i_M&hl=en&fs=1]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-STyyecD2X4&hl=en&fs=1]
These guys rocked the vote – how did you?
Tags: i-go car sharing, i-go events, i-go news, neat stuff, neighborhoods
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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Part of I-GO’s mission is to get cars off the street and reduce urban congestion. But if you made it out to the 31st annual Chicago Marathon this past Sunday, you might have caught a glimpse of I-GO’s very own Sheena McNeal taking that ideal one step further. Or, rather, thousands of steps further. People power is about as low-emission as it gets.
Sheena has been our Outreach Coordinator for the past two years. This was her first marathon; although, judging from the glow on her face afterward, it won’t be her last. Congratulations to Sheena and all the other runners who participated and epitomize the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation of all.
Tags: chicago events, green living, i-go members, i-go stories, neat stuff
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Friday, October 10th, 2008
I-GO Car Sharing and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced today the launch of a joint smart card program that will allow individuals to use one card for both riding the CTA and accessing I-GO vehicles. There are currently 10 CTA locations with I-GO vehicles and plans to add 8 more. I-GO has 200 cars in 32 Chicago neighborhoods. The combined smart card program is expected to launch by the end of the year.
Tags: car sharing, chicago car sharing, chicago events, eco-news, gas prices, green living, i-go news, neat stuff
Posted in Motormouth | 3 Comments »
Friday, October 10th, 2008
With the economy looking weaker each day, I thought now would be a good time to remind I-GO members of our Chi-Town Rewards program.
Our Chi-Town Rewards program offers I-GO members a chance to save some dough at local businesses around the Chicago area.
Tags: chi town rewards, chicago car sharing, i-go news, neat stuff
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Friday, September 26th, 2008
Check out this Canadian news report on car sharing in Canada. Car sharing is booming in Canada, just as it is in the U.S. and the rest of the world. In fact, the city of Tel Aviv also recently jumped on board with the car sharing concept.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXIHqHYUT_Q&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1]
I-GO is already partners with 2 car sharing organizations in Canada- AutoShare, in Toronto and Co-operative Auto, in Vancouver. This means that as an I-GO Car Sharing member, you can also drive AutoShare and Co-operative Auto’s cars when you’re in their respective cities- cool, huh?
Tags: car sharing, cars, eco-news, gas prices, green living, living simply, neat stuff
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Friday, September 26th, 2008
This morning I stumbled upon an interesting, detailed article on Bicing- the thriving bike sharing program in Barcelona. Earlier this month, I talked about the accretion of bike sharing across the globe. The more I learn about these successful bike sharing programs, the more I want this in Chicago! I mean, Mayor Daley did pledge to transform Chicago into the greenest city in the U.S…. What do you think? Would you utilize a bike sharing system if it came to Chicago?
Bicing Station in Barcelona
Tags: eco-news, gas prices, green living, living simply, neat stuff
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Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
The Mystik Krewe of Laff
I posted earlier this week about The Center for Neighborhood Technology’s 30th anniversary party and now I have pictures as well! Check out the photo album of the night’s festivities here.
Tags: chicago car sharing, chicago events, eco-news, green living, neat stuff
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Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
This past weekend I finally got around to reading an article in WIRED’s September issue that a colleague had recommended. It was weighty subject matter for a Sunday, but I’m glad I did. The piece, headlined “Driven”, outlines visionary entrepreneur Shai Agassi’s audacious agenda to put electric cars on the road. It lays out a bold, yet totally believable, plan to transform personal transportation and help achieve global energy independence in our lifetime.
Agassi, a prominent Israeli-born software programmer who switched gears a few years ago to devote his energy toward solving the transportation emissions problem, is turning complex theory into exciting and optimistic reality. Agassi’s environmental engine was sparked in 2005 at a Young Global Leaders conference in Switzerland. Just three years later, he’s already got a country, millions of venture-capital dollars, and automakers on his assembly line.
Early on, the electric car became the focal point of Agassi’s plan. While the idea of electric vehicles is far from new, “Agassi reimagined the entire automotive ecosystem by proposing a new concept he called the Electric Recharge Grid Operator,” writes reporter Daniel Roth. “It was an unorthodox mashup of the automotive and mobile phone industries. Instead of gas stations on every corner, the ERGO would blanket a country with a network of ‘smart’ charge spots. Drivers could plug in anywhere, anytime, and would subscribe to a specific plan—unlimited miles, a maximum number of miles each month, or pay as you go—all for less than the equivalent cost for gas. They’d buy their car from the operator, who would offer steep discounts, perhaps even give the cars away. The profit would come from selling electricity”.
In May 2007, Agassi launched Project Better Place, the world’s first global electric-car grid operation. Since then, Agassi has been spreading his vision of Better Place on an international scale. In January 2008, Israel became the first nation in the world to declare a plan for oil independence by 2020. Partnering with Better Place and Renault-Nissan, Israel has committed to widespread deployment of an electric recharge grid to power electric vehicles by 2011. The renewable energy needed for such an operation will be supplied through Israel’s growing solar power sector.
Denmark also jumped on board, in March 2008, when DONG (Danish Oil & Natural Gas) energy company partnered with Better Place and Renault-Nissan to power electric vehicles with energy generated from wind turbines. Renault-Nissan is already developing the first line of battery-powered electric cars for Better Place.
Through Better Place, Agassi is ushering in a new chapter in sustainable, personal transportation. Better place your bets now.
Tags: cars, eco-news, gas prices, green living, green site, neat stuff
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Friday, September 19th, 2008
Check out this picture Craig, our brand-spanking new Communications & Marketing Coordinator, took this past Tuesday just down the road from the I-GO offices. The big, RedBall has been making appearances all over Chicago this past month and has 4 more stops to make- so if you haven’t seen it yet, you still have a chance to check it out.
RedBall Project: Chicago Schedule
1 Millennium Park
3 Spertus Institute
5 Wishbone on Washington
6 Field Museum
7 Grant Park Underpass
10 Wacker & Wabash
12 LaSalle Bridge
13 Damen & North Ave
14 Chess Pavilion
17 Union Station & Jackson
19 Hyde Park Art Center
20 IIT Campus Center
23 19 S. LaSalle
24 Federal Plaza
25 Cultural Center
Tags: chicago events, neat stuff
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Thursday, September 18th, 2008
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)—the larger non-profit org that first conceived and rolled out I-GO Car Sharing in 2002—celebrated its 30th anniversary in style last night at Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory. The evening featured a lineup of eco-conscious speakers, including Sadhu Johnston- Chicago’s resident green guru, as well as a festive soundtrack furnished by the post-bop Patrick Mulcahy jazz quartet and a New Orleans-style Mardi Gras marching band.
The verdant landmark venue, designed in 1908 by legendary landscape architect Jens Jensen, is celebrating its own significant birthday this year—100 years of cultivating plants, folks—so the setting couldn’t have been more apropos. Garfield was green long before green was cool.
CNT is a creative think-and-do tank that focuses on issues related to climate change, energy, natural resources, and transportation and community development. Founded in 1978, it has been a leader in promoting more livable and sustainable urban communities, both in Chicago and around the country. I-GO is proud to be affiliated with CNT, and we wish them many more decades of successful innovation.
Tags: chi town rewards, chicago car sharing, eco-news, green living, green site, i-go events, i-go members, i-go news, links, living simply, neat stuff
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Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
I-GO had the honor of appearing at the University of Illinois’ Sustainability Roadshow this past weekend. The Sustainability Roadshow is made up of a group of environmental activists and educators who are traveling around the U.S. highlighting issues related to sustainability, with an emphasis on going local and renewable. I-GO participated in the event, along with other Chicago-based green businesses; there were booths on green education, sustainable clothing, toxic-free cleaning products, natural health and environmental activism.
The event had an interactive and informal feel to it, with live music and games. According to Zach Carson, co-founder of the event, they wanted to “bring in the circus vibe, the music. It’s education and entertainment”. Click here to check out a recent article on the roadshow from the the Chicago Flame, UIC’s school newspaper. Next up, the Sustainability Roadshow travels to Knoxville, New Orleans and Austin, TX.
Tags: chicago car sharing, eco-news, green living, i-go events, i-go news, living simply, local food, neat stuff
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Friday, September 12th, 2008
The weekend is once again upon us and I-GO is gearing up for a busy weekend around Chicago. If you swing by any of the events below, make sure to stop by our booth and say “hello”!
Edgewater GRalley Festival
September 13; 12-6pm
Corner of Glenwood & Granville
Event will feature 18 bands and a Battle of BBQs staffed by Chicago’s top culinary schools and restaurants competing in dueling pig roasts. Ecoscene, one of my favorite online eco sites, will also be there handing out organic lollipops and educating people about their great new website and newsletter.
Q101 Block Party
September 13-14; noon-6pm
3320 N Campbell
Come by the I-GO booth at Q101’s annual block party for $50 off the cost of membership and to pick up a copy of the second annual Audio Emissions cd.
DePaul University Involvement Fair
September 14; 1-5pm
2250 N Sheffield
Interested in learning more about I-GO Car Sharing? Ready to join I-GO? Visit us at DePaul University’s involvement fair to join I-GO for only $25!
Hope to see you around town this weekend!
Tags: chicago car sharing, contests, eco-news, green living, i-go events, i-go news, neat stuff
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Friday, September 5th, 2008
As I-GO members, you’re already familiar with the idea of car sharing. But what about bike sharing? Bike sharing is rapidly spreading in major cities and is also a concept that I-GO has been considering.
Barcelona, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna and Washington DC are the cities currently leading the pack in bike sharing. Paris has the largest bike sharing program of them all, with more than 20,000 bikes in service. Washington DC has the smallest operation, kicking off just last month with 10 stations and 120 bikes. An annual subscription to the SmartBike DC program costs only $40 and this fee includes rental of the bike; as long as the bike is returned within 24 hours of the start of the rental, there are no additional charges for use of the bikes.
Would you utilize a bike sharing service if it was offered in Chicago? Share your thoughts!
Tags: eco-news, gas prices, green living, living simply, neat stuff
Posted in Motormouth | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008
Many of our cars are MP3 ready. All you need to bring is your I-Pod or MP3 Player AND an Auxiliary Cord. To find cars that are MP3 compatible, under “Amenities,” check “A.U.X. Input.” While I-GO does not provide the MP3 player or the required Auxiliary Cord, we do bring you the cars that will keep you rockin’.
Tags: cars, chicago car sharing, i-go news, neat stuff
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Friday, August 29th, 2008
Can you believe Labor Day weekend is already upon us? While I’m sad to see summer start to fade, we’ve got a bunch of great events going on in Chicago this September that I-GO is going to be a part of. So come on by and join us or- better yet- lend a hand and be an I-GO volunteer at one of the events and earn free driving credits! If you’re interested in volunteering, please email Sheena, our Outreach Coordinator, at sheena@igocars.org
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Whole Foods Market Eco-Fair
September 6; 1-4pm
1111 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL
Join I-GO along with other sustainable organizations like Greener Cleaners, Twist Sponges and more to show Chicago how to green up!
Magellan Rewards “At Your Service” Festival
September 6; 11am-2pm
The Park at Lakeshore East
Magellan Development will showcase partner organizations
Boulevard Lakefront Tour
September 7; 1am-5pm
59th & Woodlawn
Choose from 15, 35, or 62 mile routes through the City’s parks, boulevards and neighborhoods. After the ride, cool down with live entertainment and a picnic lunch by Goose Island- with Goose Island beer and soda as well!
Sustainable Living Roadshow
September 12; 10am-6pm
UIC Campus
I-GO fits right in this eco-carnival, with experimental learning villages, workshops, speakers and entertainment
Edgewater GRalley Festival
September 13; 12-6pm
Corner of Glenwood & Granville
Event will feature 18 bands and a Battle of BBQs staffed by Chicago’s top culinary schools and restaurants competing in dueling pig roasts
Q101 Block Party
September 13-14; noon-6pm
3320 N Campbell
Lots and lots of bands!
DePaul University Involvement Fair
September 14; 1-5pm
2250 N Sheffield
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Fair
September 15; 4:30-6pm
5807 S Woodlawn
Estrojam
September 23-27
I-GO Car Sharing is co-sponsoring Estrojam this year! Events will be held all over the city and proceeds will help fight human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assult
Tags: chicago car sharing, contests, eco-news, green living, i-go events, i-go news, living simply, neat stuff, volunteering
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Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Greenwerks- Chicago’s Green Contractor- is not only a participating Chi Town Rewards business but is also spreading the I-GO love on their blog, click here to check out a recent Greenwerks post on I-GO Car Sharing.
Tags: chi town rewards, chicago car sharing, green living, living simply, neat stuff
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Friday, July 25th, 2008
Forbes recently published an article listing the 10 most fuel efficient neighborhoods in the United States. Chicago’s own Logan Square came in 3rd in the nation! Brooklyn Heights (New York; $643/month) took top honors, followed by Koreatown (Los Angles; $658/month). Logan Square finished 3rd with the average Logan Square resident spending $742 per month on transportation costs. Sounds high, doesn’t it? It’s a good reminder of just how expensive owning a car really is! Arlington, VA (Washington D.C.) came in just behind Logan Square; in Arlington the average being spent on transportation costs is $747/month.
Tags: eco-news, gas prices, green living, neat stuff
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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
It has come to my attention that many of our members don’t even know about a great rewards program that I-GO offers. So I’m here to spread the word! If you’re an I-GO Car Sharing member and don’t know what I’m talking about when I mention the Chi Town Rewards program- listen up!
Chi Town Rewards is a member benefit program that I-GO offers to our members. This program entitles all I-GO members to rewards at participating businesses. It simple, if you shop at a Chi Town Rewards business, just show them your Smartcard to receive your special discount! Click here for a full list of all of our Chi Town Rewards partners.
Recently added Chi Town Rewards businesses include:
GreenWerks
Tags: chi town rewards, i-go news, local food, neat stuff
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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
As I mentioned in a previous post, I-GO Car Sharing is releasing it’s 2nd Annual Audio Emissions CD this month. One of the talented bands to make the cut was Cobalt & the Hired Guns. This band not only talks the green talk, but actually walks the green walk. To check out a recent Chicago Sun Times article on the band and their eco-efforts, click here.
Tags: eco-news, green living, living simply, neat stuff
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Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
More than 80 bands competed for a spot on I-GO’s 2nd Audio Emissions CD, but only the best were selected by I-GO members. Available this month, the CD features Chicago’s coolest and most popular bands, including fan favorites Wilco and Neko Case.
The CD begins with legendary Studs Terkel interviewing the late Queen of Gospel and fellow Chicagoan Mahalia Jackson. Neko Case sings about driving and Wilco sings about singing. Award-winning rapper and I-GO member Kid Sister donated her track “Control.” The Golden Ranch Square Dance Band, known for their tongue-in-cheek barn dances, rounds out the CD with “Hummer”, reminding us that you will never get to heaven in a Hummer.
Winners of the online contest to be on the CD include Kaotic Drumline, a south side percussion band that performs at WNBA half-time shows; Brighton, MA; and a local rock group Cobalt and the Hired Guns. Fellow winner Judson Claiborne gives us a song inspired by Finkel Steel and Justin Petertil and Seth Vandek experiment with the sounds of the el.
“While I-GO members don’t spend a lot of time in cars, when they do, we want to provide them with fun, new music that they like and choose. By providing this cd, it’s also a way for us to thank our members not only for their business but their commitment to reduce car usage and carbon emissions,” said Sharon Feigon, CEO of I-GO Car Sharing.
Tags: chicago car sharing, i-go news, neat stuff
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Friday, July 11th, 2008
Swing by Welles Park this weekend to check out the 11th annual Chicago Folk and Roots Festival! I-GO Car Sharing will be at the event from noon till 8 pm on Saturday and from noon to 6 pm on Sunday. This years festival features Kinky, Mother Truckers and Slavic Soul Party. See below for the full schedule.
***CHICAGO FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL LINE-UP***
(artists and schedule subject to change)
MAIN STAGE
Saturday, July 12
Special Music By Special People – 12:55pm to 1:20pm
The Astronomer – 1:30pm to 1:50pm
Unibrow – 2:00pm to 2:25pm
Grupo Miel – Nuestra Música Performance – 2:45pm to 3:30pm
Jon Langford and the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus – 3:45pm to 4:45pm
David Davis and the Warrior River Boys – 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Charro with Jorge Duran & Jorge Duran Jr. – 6:00pm to 6:30pm (in the park)
Slavic Soul Party! – 6:30pm to 7:45pm
The Mother Truckers – 8:15pm to 9:45pm
Sunday, July 13
Midwest Invitational Fiddle Contest – 12:55pm to 1:55pm
Los Vencedores del Norte – 2:15pm to 3:00pm
The Iguanas – 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Les Primitifs du Futur – 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Read My Hips – 6:00pm to 6:25pm (Belly Dance in the Park)
Dobet Gnahoré – 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Yaneida Rivera & Michael Reyes (Poetry) – 7:45pm to 7:50pm
Kinky – 8:15pm to 9:45pm
Admission: $7 suggested donation for adults / $3 suggested donation for seniors and children
The Chicago Folk & Roots Festival will take place from noon to 10pm on Saturday, July 12th & Sunday, July 13th at Welles Park- see map below.
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=welles+park+chicago+IL&ie=UTF8&ll=41.973147,-87.683172&spn=0.012349,0.026608&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=41963135,-87687367,9861978743144515646&output=embed&s=AARTsJqaCrGgNHO4egTs4SVjylQLqgG2Nw&w=425&h=350]
Tags: chicago car sharing, i-go events, neat stuff
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Monday, June 9th, 2008
Don’t worry if you missed Ginger’s report “Going Green” on May 29th about I-GO Car Sharing, we’ve got the video that shows how this busy reporter survived giving up her car for one week. Click here to watch Ginger Zee’s report.
Tags: i-go stories, neat stuff
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Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
While working at I-GO Car Sharing I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of our members- and let me tell you, we’ve got some interesting, involved and inspiring members! So, I have decided to interview a different I-GO member each month and post what I learn here, for all to enjoy.
Last week I interviewed I-GO member Jessa Brinkmeyer. Jessa started, runs and owns Pivot, Chicago’s 1st boutique devoted to eco-fashion. Last week we chatted by phone about her life at Pivot and how I-GO Car Sharing helps her get everything done.
When I asked Jessa why she opened Pivot and what she wanted to accomplish through the eco-boutique, she spoke of her desire to show people that they can have more conscious wardrobes without sacrificing fashion, style, personal taste or comfort.
Before opening Pivot, Jessa worked as a journalist at a small magazine in Chicago. She was primarily responsible for covering the fashion industry and soon became fascinated with the fast-growing, eco-friendly segment of the industry. Jessa wanted not only to wear the eco-friendly fabrics and support the sustainable designers herself, but also to spread the word. She was disappointed when she was unable to find anything like this in Chicago. After visiting eco-boutiques in New York City, Jessa realized that the best way to promote her passion was not through her writing but by opening the first ever eco-boutique in Chicago.
These days it seems like everyone is “going green” and it can be hard to tell who not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. Pivot definitely walks the green walk! All of the designers use sustainable and organic materials and low impact, eco-friendly dyes. All of Pivot’s fixtures were designed and built by local artist, Joshua Height, out of recycled materials. Indoor air quality at Pivot is improved by using zero-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint and they also use CFL lightbulbs. In an effort to give back to the Chicago community, Pivot donates 1% of its profits to Growing Home, a local organization that provides job training and employment opportunities within the context of a non-profit organic agriculture business.
Jessa’s environmental awareness was also what led her to car sharing in Chicago. She specifically likes I-GO Car Sharing because we’re a non-profit and use only hybrids and low-emission vehicles. Jessa uses I-GO to take her recycling to a sorting center and to take old light bulbs and batteries to a hazardous waste center. She also uses I-GO for grocery trips and for checking out urban farm sites and events for Growing Home. Jessa sees I-GO as a great way to get things done a little more efficiently without having the burden of car ownership or contributing to the greenhouse gas problem.
To learn more about Pivot, check out their website, or swing by the store. Pivot is located at 1101 W Fulton Market.
Tags: eco-news, green living, i-go stories, neat stuff
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Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Green Fest is taking place May 17th and 18th at Navy Pier and I-GO is proud to be attending for the 2nd year in a row! Come check out the I-GO booth and receive sign-up promo codes, play games, meet the I-GO staff and learn more about Chicago’s only non-profit car sharing organization. We’ll be there from 10 am to 8 pm Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm Sunday.
The Green Fest showcases 350 + local and national green businesses and more than 150 speakers presenting panel discussions, presentations and main stage speaking events. Find eco-friendly, fair trade and sustainable products. Green Fest also features great how-to workshops, green films, a yoga and movement classes, kids’ zone, delicious organic beer, wine and cuisine and live music.
So head on down to Navy Pier May 17-18th and check out the Green Fest!
Tags: eco-news, i-go news, neat stuff
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Thursday, March 6th, 2008
Check out the video below – a news report with Chris Balish, a network TV news reporter and author of the book How to Live Well Without Owning a Car.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN3-jkTs_og&hl=en]
Ten Speed Press describes the books as:
“The first practical, accessible, and sensible guide to living in North America without owning a car. • Exposes the true costs of car ownership and shows how getting rid of your car can simplify your life and put you on the road to financial freedom. • Packed with realistic, economical alternatives to owning a car, including chapters on carsharing, carpooling, and even car-free dating. • Includes more than 100 real-world tips, strategies, and success stories from people who are happily car-free or “car-lite,” from cities to suburbs. • According to a 2004 American Automobile Association study, the average American spends $8,410 per year (roughly $700 per month) to own a vehicle.”
Tags: green living, links, living simply, neat stuff
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Tuesday, March 4th, 2008
Ever wonder just how easy it would be to go car free in your neighborhood? Or simply been curious to find out just how walkable your area is? Check out the handy Walk Score widget on the right side of the screen. You simply type in your home address and it tells you just how walk-friendly your neighborhood is. It only takes a minute and it’s quite interesting to see the results!
Tags: links, neat stuff
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