Fill 'em Up! EZH2O Water Station Ready for Use!

The EZH2O Elkay water filling station has now been installed!!! It can be found across from the library. Get your free aluminum water bottle from the information desk by answering just one simple question about this post, and fill it up!!! This water station is designed for your convenience. All you need to do is place the bottle with one hand on the bottle holder and it will fill up 3 times as quickly as it would at a normal water fountain without any of the hassle of half the water pouring outside of your bottle.

It’s Simple! Healthy! And Free!

Campuses across the U.S. are installing water stations to allow for convenient fill up of reusable water bottles. This is done in an effort to reduce the enormous amount of plastic waste that we accumulate each year because of the amount of plastic water bottles tossed daily.

The Loyola campus serves as a great example, by saving over 370,000 plastic bottles already (2011).
Now it is time for us to bring this effort to hostels! It is time to bring tap water back into style and reduce the demand for bottled water! In just 4.5 days we have already saved 151 bottles so we are well on our way! Get your free quality water bottle today!

The Story of Bottled Water - A Short Video

This short video will only take up 8 minutes of your time but can have a lasting effect on your actions. If you drink bottled water please ask yourself why it is that you prefer bottled water over tap. Does it really taste better? Is it actually safer or healthier? Is it really that convenient? Is it worth the high cost and the pollution?


In an effort to reduce the consumption of bottled water, HI-Chicago will be starting an aluminum water bottle give-away beginning this week. To participate simply stay updated on our blogs and answer one question regarding the blog posted that week. For more information please speak to our staff at the information desk located on the second floor of the hostel (Limit: 1 bottle per guest).

The Story of Bottled Water (2010)
By Annie Leonard

“ The Story of Bottled Water, released on March 22, 2010 (World Water Day) employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over five minutes, the film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zn0qi80IIY

Holiday Season is Here!

As the Chicago air continues to chill, the season of celebration is upon us. There are plenty of great events to attend this season and we have compiled a list to get you started!  

 November 17: Magnificent Mile Lights Parade.  Celebrate Chicago's kick-off to the holiday season.  Sample holiday treats, listen to carolers and visit with Disney characters on Pioneer Court.  Admission is free.  11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Lights Parade begins at 6 p.m.

November 19: 96th Annual City of Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony.  Daley Plaza.  Watch as the holiday tree is illuminated and stay for free musical entertainment and holiday events.  Tree lighting takes place at 5 p.m.

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At HI-Chicago!

November 22:  HI-Chicago Annual Thanksgiving Dinner  With Thanksgiving only a week away, HI-Chicago is preparing for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner at 5 p.m. Help us to make it a warm holiday by lending a helping hand or simply sharing in the meal.  Volunteers would be helpful from 2-5 and 5-7.  We hope to see you there!  

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November 22: McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade.  State St. from Congress to Randolph.  Begins at 8 a.m.

November 22-December 24: Christkindlmarket.  Experience exceptional shopping opportunities and a winter wonderland as Daley Plaza is transformed into a festive meeting place for friends and family.  Admission is free.  Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Thanksgiving Day (November 22) and Christmas Eve (December 24), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

November 23-25, 30; December 1-2, 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 26-31; January 1-6.  ZooLights Festival.  This annual fun, free, family-oriented holiday celebration features luminous displays and holiday-season activities throughout zoo grounds.

November 15-December 23.  Caroling at Gloud Gate.  Every Friday night throughout the holiday season come to Cloud Gate, a.k.a. The Bean, to hear a variety of choral groups and to join in for a holiday sing-along.  6 p.m.

Winter WonderFest.  Navy Pier.  The Chicago holiday tradition delights both young and old with a breathtaking winter wonderland of hundreds of trees and thousands of holiday lights, as well as rides and an indoor ice skating rink.

December 31, 7 p.m. and midnight.  New Year's Eve Family and Midnight Fireworks. 

 Stay tuned for additional Chicago fun here:  http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en.html

The Story of Bottled Water - A Short Video

This short video will only take up 8 minutes of your time but can have a lasting effect on your actions. If you drink bottled water please ask yourself why it is that you prefer bottled water over tap. Does it really taste better? Is it actually safer or healthier? Is it really that convenient? Is it worth the high cost and the pollution?


In an effort to reduce the consumption of bottled water, HI-Chicago will be starting an aluminum water bottle give-away beginning this week.  To participate simply stay updated on our blogs and answer one question regarding the blog posted that week. For more information please speak to our staff at the information desk located on the second floor of the hostel (Limit: 1 bottle per guest).

The Story of Bottled Water (2010)
By Annie Leonard

“ The Story of Bottled Water, released on March 22, 2010 (World Water Day) employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over five minutes, the film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zn0qi80IIY

Take the CTA!

Your destination may just be one bus ride or “L” ride away. With our extensive public transportation system, moving around the city of Chicago can be easy. Just visit the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) website to plan your trip
http://www.transitchicago.com/

 

With the daily and weekly passes, choosing the public transportation option can save you a lot of money during your travels. Following are the costs for popular passes:

1 Day Pass: $5.75

3 Day Pass: $14.00

7 Day Pass: $23.00

http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/default.aspx?source_quicklinks=1

The ridership amount has certainly increased in the past few years. With the high gas prices and the convenience of the public transportation system, why not join the growing trend?

• In 2011, CTA provided roughly 532 million rides on buses and trains compared to 440 Million in 1997.
• 2011 marked a 2.9% ridership increase over 2010, and the highest CTA ridership level since 1991.

In addition, it allows you to reduce your carbon footprint by preventing additional pollution produced by taxis which you would otherwise be producing a demand for. So become a green traveler and learn the facts that will allow you to become more aware of the contributions that you are making through your decisions.

EMMISIONS REDUCTIONS

•The CTA replaces the equivalent of about 400,000 vehicles on regional roads each weekday. A full eight-car CTA train replaces more than 600 cars, and a full 60-foot articulated CTA bus replaces more than 70 cars.

•Switching from driving to public transit can reduce an individual's carbon emissions by about 4,800 pounds per year. 

 

For more information regarding Ridership and emissions visit:
http://www.transitchicago.com/goinggreen/lowemissions.aspx

For more information about the CTA that is “Going Green” visit
http://www.transitchicago.com/goinggreen/default.aspx