The 85,000 state-of-the-art facility features recycled and regionally-sourced materials used throughout construction, including bamboo flooring and carpeting. Steel, roof shingles, metal sliding panels and tiles are also made from recycled products and some shelving is being reused from the former library. Wall insulating technologies reduce cooling demands, heat loss and water infiltration, resulting in better air quality and reduced energy expense - 43.8% less energy than an equivalent building. Sunlight is harvested from 93 windows through built-in control systems designed to dim lights in the presence of adequate daylight, providing natural lighting to 90% of the building.

According to Vickie Novak, the library’s director, “the new library meets patron’s informational needs and expands its level of programming in a comfortable, efficient environment.”

Hear more from Vickie and read about more eco-friendly features on the article from MakeItBetter.net.

Glenview Public Library is located at 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview, Ill.

See what the library looks like and get more information on the Glenview Public Library web site.

Click here to see a schedule of holiday events at Chalet.

Get more information about free garden lectures at Chalet’s web site, here.

As fall colors lend a spectacular hue to the city, the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park welcomes visitors from all over the world to its perennially beautiful grounds and popular programs. Here are offerings coming this fall, including hands-on workshops, lectures and a special garden walk:

Free adult hands-on workshop:
Garden Blogging for Beginners
Sunday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Fourth floor conference room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: If you’ve ever thought about branching out into blogging about your garden, discover techniques for chronicling your thoughts online. Led by Ramon Gonzales, a.k.a. “Mr. Brown Thumb.” Note: Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497).

Lurie Garden/Art Institute free family workshop:
Magical Dwellings: Art and the Lurie Garden
Sunday, Oct. 10, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: The Art Institute of Chicago Ryan Education Center, 111 S. Michigan Ave., and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park
Program: Learn how to create charming diminutive dwellings in this special joint workshop from The Art Institute of Chicago and the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park. Children ages 6 to 12 will explore concepts of architecture and outdoor structures, drawing on inspiration from great works at The Art Institute and spectacular scenery in the Lurie Garden. Note: Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497).

Free adult lecture:
What is Living in Your Soil – and Why Should You Care?
Thursday, Oct.14, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: First floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: Join Rex Bastian from the Care of Trees as he discusses fundamentals of soil biology and why living components of soil, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and others, are important to plants and trees. Pre-registration is not required.

Free seasonal garden walk:
Saturday, Oct.16, 10 a.m.
Savor autumn’s blaze of glory and learn about seasonal changes in the garden during this walk in the Lurie Garden. Discover native plants, Chicago symbolism in the garden’s design and perennials that can be easily grown in the home garden. The seasonal walk is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

Free adult lecture:
Everything Comes into this World Hungry: Soil Making and Building
Thursday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Fifth floor Millennium Park Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: In this food-for-thought session, Nance Klehm – progressive ecologist, designer, urban forager, grower and teacher – will share her insights on various methods of transforming what is typically perceived as “waste” into components for building healthy soil. Pre-registration is not required.

Free adult hands-on workshop:
Healing Herbal Lotions, Balms and Salves
Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: First floor Garland Room Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: Herbs are a treat for all the senses. Join the Lurie Garden’s Bonnie Tawse as she shares her best tips for creating and using soothing herbal lotions, balms and salves, especially as impending cold weather spurs the beginning of dry-skin season. They also make great gifts for the upcoming holidays. Note: Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497) to register.

Free family workshop:
Winter Wonders and Recycled Crafts
Saturday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: First floor Garland Room, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Program: Children will learn about outdoor winter wonderlands and how the landscape is transformed during colder months. They also will create earth-friendly crafts (and possibly get a start on holiday gift-giving) using recycled materials. Note: Children must be at least 6 years old and accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. Call 312-742-TIXS (8497).

The Lurie Garden is located at the southeast corner of Millennium Park, near the
corner of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Millennium Park is easily reached by CTA and adjacent public parking is available. Millennium Park is universally accessible to patrons with disabilities. For more information, visit .

Visit www.luriegarden.org for information about the Lurie Garden, including programming, four-season highlights, plant features and design elements.

Click here to listen to the interview. (Mp3)

Mike Nowak’s weekly show covers all-things horticultural and environmental, and can be heard on Sunday mornings from 9 to 11 on 820 AM and 92.7 (north), 92.5 (west) and 99.9 FM (south).

Click here to visit The Mike Nowak Show web site.

Things are set to get a little more wild in Chicago as the Lurie Garden in Millennium Park welcomes acclaimed garden expert and author Rick Darke. Co-sponsored by the Winnetka Garden Club, his presentation, “All Things Wild and Sustainable in the New Global Garden,” takes place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23 in the Millennium Park Room on the fifth floor of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Darke, from Landenberg, Pa., will draw on his unique perspective and expansive background in landscape ethics, photography and contextual design. He will share his thoughts on creating and enjoying gardens as dynamic as they are livable and ecological. In his multi-media presentation, Darke will show examples of authentic, re-vegetative habitats-as-gardens, including notable progressive parks in Germany.

The Lurie Garden is an appropriate place for a discussion on global gardens and the creativity that results from a fusion of local elements and international talent: its four-season, sustainable design is based on an international competition, with a lead landscape architect from Seattle and a perennial planting designer from The Netherlands.

The Lurie Garden is located at the southeast corner of Millennium Park, near the corner of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. Millennium Park is easily reached by CTA and adjacent public parking is available. It is universally accessible to patrons with disabilities. For more information, visit www.millenniumpark.org.

Visit www.luriegarden.org for more information about the Lurie Garden, including programming, seasonal highlights, plant features and design elements. For more information about Darke’s lecture, and to register, call 312-744-0078. For more information about Darke, visit www.rickdarke.com.

Watch the video here

Here is one of the Q&As posted on the WGN site:

Q. “A common perception is that roses require a lot of spraying to keep them looking good. Is that true with shrub roses also?”

A. The term “shrub rose” is a “kitchen sing catch-all” for any roses that hybridizers are unsure what to do with. So there is a wide range in size, winter hardiness, disease resistance and length of bloom. There are a lot of things you can do to make roses easier and less time-consuming. First, give them lots of sun. Generally, roses prefer at least six hours of direct sun and more is better. If you want roses and your site has four hours of sun (or less) look for those that have lower petal count. The fewer the petals, the more shade tolerant the rose.

Check out more advice and the video, here, on WGN’s web site.

Click here to visit Chalet’s web site for more gardening tips, products and services.

Chalet, Wilmette, Ill., has been named “Best Store for Pet Food” by Chicago magazine. The garden center and retail outlet’s Pet Essentials department is featured in the magazine’s August issue, which spotlights “Best of Chicago” businesses and services throughout the city and suburbs.

“Outside it’s an award-winning nursery and landscaping business, but inside an expert staff runs a comprehensive pet food department,” Chicago writers note in the profile. “Chalet carries a staggering array of organic and special-diet dog and cat foods – more than a dozen of them endorsed by Whole Dog Journal – including nutritional choices for senior pets or pets with food allergies.”

Currently, Chalet carries 12 of the top dry dog foods and seven of the top canned dog foods recommended by Whole Dog Journal, in addition to a broad line of cat food and food for bird, rabbits, gerbils, mice and other small creatures. Chalet also helps pet owners leave a smaller carbon “pawprint” through a growing array of earth-friendly pet food and other green pet care products. Creature comforts include leashes and collars, apparel, beds, travel bags, toys, first aid items and grooming and health products.

Chalet’s Pet Essentials Manager Gabbie Roderer also was recognized by Chicago, which honored all of this year’s “Best of Chicago” winners, at a special event earlier this summer. The department has gained a loyal following among pet owners in the suburbs and city, according to Chalet store manager Tony Fulmer. “We were thrilled to hear we were included in this always well-read and prestigious issue of Chicago magazine,” said Fulmer. “We feel the excellence of our Pet Essentials department is a reflection of the way we try to conduct all aspects of our business, whether it’s our retail garden center, landscape division or nursery. That means providing the best quality products and services for our customers – and their pets.”

Roderer says she’s grateful that her department received the distinction, especially since there are so many pet food stores in the greater Chicago area. “I love being here every day and interacting with pet owners and their pets,” she says. “Being able to share with them the best, most nutritious food for their four-legged or winged family members is its own reward, too.”

For more information about Chalet, including its Pet Essentials department, visit www.ChaletNursery.com or call 847-256-0561.

Robert Miller, Earthwise founder and CEO is quoted, “What we’re finally seeing is people are willing to look at alternative methods, greener methods, to provide the same water disinfection, scale control and corrosion control.”

When Earthwise was founded in 1995, the company’s clientèle were not motivated to be environmentally friendly. Initially, Earthwise focused on selling chemical treatments. In the past four years, since green’s become on the tip of every business-owner’s tongue, Earthwise has switched their focus to water conservation, water reuse technology and chemically minimized programs.

Miller said, “People come to us and we may show them four different technologies to accomplish the water treatment at their facility based on the water quality of their plant, the goals that they have for water conservation or reuse, their likes or dislikes for handling certain types of chemistries and, of course, their budget.”

The article continues detailing Earthwise’s eSolutions, a patent-pending cooling technology; and Phoenix Sky Harbor, the location of a recent pilot program launched April 2010 involving an ion exchange water system.

Hear more about Earthwise from Robert Miller on the article, which you can read on the Business Ledger’s web site, here.

Learn more about Earthwise Environmental, Inc. on their web site, here.