Ever wonder what you can do to become a more environmentally sustainable member of Forest Park? If you’re looking for ideas, perhaps you’ll get some inspiration from the recipients of the Environmental Control Commission’s inaugural awards.
At the first Forest Park village council meeting of the year, the ECC handed out awards to acknowledge efforts in environmental and sustainable excellence in Forest Park. ECC Chair Scott Whitebone presented awards to Forest Park resident Kevin Orze and the Grove Midrise Condominium Association.
“I got so many emails about this individual,” Whitebone said of Orze at the meeting. “Kevin has made remarkable contributions to sustainability in our community, transforming his backyard into a thriving ecosystem.”
Whitebone said Orze has two composting systems: one where he uses lawn clippings and food scraps in his vegetable garden, and the other where he puts dog waste on non-edible plants. Orze’s backyard also boasts a fish pond that supports local wildlife and serves as a water source to irrigate his garden.
Whitebone said that Orze also picks up litter throughout his neighborhood and even sold his personal vehicle so that he could take public transportation and bike more.
“Thank you, Kevin, for being a great example to your neighbors and our community,” Whitebone said before handing him a plaque that the Forest Park Arts Alliance made for the occasion.
The Grove Midrise Condominium Association, a group representing two buildings and about 140 units in west Forest Park, won its ECC award for composting efforts. In 2022, the association launched a program where they contract with WasteNot Compost, which picks up food waste and kitchen scraps from the Grove weekly.
“Participation is voluntary, but so far 25% of all the residents use it,” Whitebone said. “They’ve diverted an enormous amount of waste [from] landfills. They have reduced odor, pests, and the Grove receives a quantity of finished compost back to work on their gardens.”
David Gulyas – chair of the GMCA Energy Solutions Commission, resident of the Grove for about six years, and a member of the ECC – accepted the award on behalf of the association.
Gulyas told the Review that, with the help of building manager Tim Davis, the Grove is also in the process of switching the buildings’ air conditioning units to heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling while using less energy. Gulyas said that, starting last year, about 20 residents have swapped out their AC units with Energy Matters, a contractor out of Oak Park.
And in 2021, the GMCA started an electric car charging program, where each midrise unit can have its own charging equipment, Gulyas said. The association got a group deal with a contractor, and those interested can buy charging equipment at a lower cost.
Finally, the GMCA has a community solar contract with Solstice, a company that helps offset electricity in the buildings’ common areas.
Gulyas said the ECC awards are “an opportunity to really show what can be done and that people are actually doing things, instead of trying to wonder what they can do.”
With such successes at the Grove and in backyards like Orze’s, Whitebone said the ECC is pleased to continue the awards again next year.
“Recognizing those in our community who are practicing sustainability is so important,” Whitebone said. “We are excited about the interest and strong candidates we received and look forward to presenting awards every year.”