Village of Northbrook
by Catherine L. Tully
Both the Village of Northbrook and its businesses are working toward a “greener” tomorrow, and Village President Eugene Marks says, “Building on a foundation of community concern for the environment, Northbrook is committed to actions that work toward energy independence, clean air, and reducing our contribution to climate change … We are still learning and plan to do more ourselves and through our many partnerships.” With the strong commitment of the village and the support of area businesses, the Northbrook area is already well on its way.
Northbrook has been aware of the “green” movement for some time and continues to make strides in implementing environmentally-friendly initiatives that benefit the community and its residents. The village is a Platinum Member of the Clean Air Counts Campaign, an organization dedicated to reducing ozone-causing emissions and improving air quality. In addition, Village President Eugene Marks was presented with the Environmental Hero Award by Lt. Governor Pat Quinn.
Northbrook has moved toward sustainability by doing things such as purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) for wind-generated energy, retrofitting diesel trucks to reduce emissions and committing resources to both clean streams and reforestation programs. From the annual “Earth Day/Arbor Day” celebration dating back to 1992 to the purchase of hybrid vehicles to replace several in the village fleet, Northbrook is very aware of what it can do to be green.
Many area businesses have also taken steps to “green” their businesses. Some have done so through goods and services they offer while others have taken a closer look at what they can do to reduce their impact on the environment in their offices by recycling and using energy-efficient items.
Avondale Roofing Inc. owner Jaye Schwartz is looking forward to seeing more green options in the roofing industry as product suppliers see that there is an increased demand. “We have to work to save our planet,” says Schwartz, adding “it’s the only one we’ve got.” The company strives to do its part by making sure company trucks adhere to the speed limit to save gasoline and by recycling in the office.
The owner of Kordick Electric Company, Dennis Lauer, says that they too have “gone green” in their office by using energy-efficient compact florescent lighting and installing a programmable thermostat. “We have also put our lights on timers and use motion detectors,” says Lauer. Other area businesses that are doing their part in the office include Northbrook Insurance Agency, which has been around for over 32 years. Jalil Pahlavan runs the business and says that “insurance is a lot of paperwork,” but that they do their part by recycling whenever possible. Pahlavan also notes that these days his business is more computer-based, which also helps alleviate excess paper.
There are many other area businesses concerned with doing their part for the environment, such as Damar Natural Stone Imports. “We sell all natural stone and do not do any cutting, so we don’t pollute the air,” says owner Marta Gambaccini. In addition, the cleaners and sealers sold by the company are all certified as environmentally friendly. Gambaccini says that she tries to have as much greenery on the property as possible and that she would like to look into solar power in the future as well.
Larry Rosenthal is the owner of Unique Upholstery, Carpet and Rug Cleaning, Inc., and he says he sees more and more customers asking for the use of green products, which his company is happy to use upon request. Rosenthal also says that even their regular cleaning features a rinse that helps eliminate chemicals, and explains, saying “We rinse the carpet 2-3 times with hot water.”
Steven Lewis, President of Lewis Carpet One Floor & Home knows the importance of letting clients have green options and says “We have a ‘green area’ filled with the type of products our customers are asking for.” Recyled products his company carries include rubber and cork flooring, natural wool and recyled carpets and glass tiles. Lewis adds “Clearly there is no shortage of environmentally friendly products to show customers interested in this category.”
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