Tech Company Goes Green in Woodstock

If you've been a Mac owner for a certain amount of time, you're probably at least casually familiar with Other World Computing, the Woodstock, Illinois-based online seller of Apple computers, electronics, and accessories.  What you may not know, is that OWC is one of the latest Chicagoland tech company to go green.

Other World recently became the first light manufacturing / assembly building in Illinois to be awarded LEED Platinum status.  It hired Harris Architects in Palatine to head the project which included installing a geothermal heat pump, using high-tech insulation, and equipping the building with facilities that encourage people to ride their bicycles to work.

The most visible green element is the 194-foot-tall wind turbine.  It generates more than double the power the company needs, so the rest gets sold to the local utility company and ends up in homes in McHenry County.

Most interesting to me is that OWC is engaged in sunlight harvesting.  I first saw this on a science program in the 1990's, where a Japanese skyscraper was using an array on the roof to gather sunlight, and then deliver it to cubicles via fiber optic cables.  Eight of the last ten offices I worked in didn't have windows, so this was something that got my attention and something I always hoped would become commonplace.  Alas, it has failed to catch on as a "green" element as quickly as vegetative roofs or low-flow toilets.  But maybe what One World Computing has done will inspire other companies to provide just a little bit of sun to those who toil in their cubicle farms.

• You can click here to read One World Computing's full press release about its green efforts.
• And click here to take a virtual tour of OWC's facility.

Things For Your Time

I got an e-mail today from the people over at the River North Residents' Association (kudos for correct use of the apostrophe) with a list of upcoming events.  A couple caught my eye, and I thought I'd share them with you.

I encourage you to check out the first one.  I'd love to go myself, but I'm otherwise committed that day.  But events from Friends of the Parks never fail to inspire.

The second one should also be fun.  I've never been to the Taste of River North, but considering the caliber of restaurants in the neighborhood, it's probably worth a visit.  Unfortunately, the link provided by RNRA for signing up volunteers only goes to a standard form for sponsors.  So if you'd like to volunteer, probably the best thing to do is to call the Association at 312/235-2617, or send an e-mail to info@rnrachicago.org.

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Free Lecture on Hidden Park Gems

Ever wanted to escape for a walk in the woods, but couldn't figure out where to go or how to get there without a car? Erma Tranter, President of Friends of the Parks, will offer a visual tour of great parks you can escape to by public transportation.  Jason Rothstein, author of Carless in Chicago, will offer tips for your carless explorations and suggestions for some other easy-to-reach destinations.
The one-hour lecture, which is Free and open to the public, will be held at 12:15 pm on Thursday May 13 in the Chicago Cultural Center's Claudia Cassidy Theater, 77 E. Randolph Street. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Parks and the Active Transportation Alliance.

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Sign up now to participate in the 2010 Taste of River North!

Space is limited; Sponsors, Restaurants, Merchants, Exhibitors and Volunteers: click here!
Hosted by the River North Residents' Association, the Taste of River North is a professionally managed, family-friendly, 2-day riverfront festival featuring great live entertainment and showcasing the area's wonderful dining, art and design scenes.  This year's event will take place on July 17-18, in and around Erie Park.

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TweetEcho: April 15-May 2, 2010

For those of you who don't subscribe to our Twitter feed, here are the items we tweeted in the last week or so:

1. Chicago building of the day: Buick Building : 1454 South Michigan Avenue http://ow.ly/1aDHNabout 1 hour ago via HootSuite
2. Chicago building of the day: : 109 East Oak Streethttp://ow.ly/1aDHE9:40 AM May 2nd via HootSuite
3. Chicago building of the day: Macy's On State : 111 North State Street http://ow.ly/1aDHt9:40 AM May 1st via HootSuite
4. #AIA's 2010 top ten #green #buildings, in depth -http://bit.ly/dxMMaz #architecture #greenbuilding #climate(via @archweek)3:24 PM Apr 30th via Tweetie
5. Chicago building of the day: 72 East Oak Streethttp://ow.ly/1aDFV9:40 AM Apr 30th via HootSuite
6. The #Chicago #Architecture Blog: 330 North Wabash#Skyscraper Renovation Complete http://ow.ly/1EXLz5:40 PM Apr 29th via HootSuite
7. Chicago building of the day: Metra Roosevelt Road Station (New) : 11th Street at Indiana Avenue http://ow.ly/1aDFE9:40 AM Apr 29th via HootSuite
8. Trib on the proposed renovation of the Anti-Cruelty Society building in River North: http://ow.ly/1EJjZ8:43 AM Apr 29th via HootSuite
9. Chicago building of the day: University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center Main Building : 1740 West Taylor Streethttp://ow.ly/1aDFf9:40 AM Apr 28th via HootSuite
10. Chicago building of the day: The Clare at Water Tower : 55 East Pearson Street http://ow.ly/1aDF39:40 AM Apr 27th via HootSuite
11. Chicago building of the day: The Congress Hotel : 520 South Michigan Avenue http://ow.ly/1aDEV9:35 AM Apr 26th via HootSuite
12. Chicago building of the day: River East Center : 350 East Illinois Street http://ow.ly/1aDEN9:35 AM Apr 25th via HootSuite
13. Chicago building of the day: 2130 North Lincoln Park West :http://ow.ly/1aDEt9:35 AM Apr 24th via HootSuite
14. Here's a list from @cbrecorp of 101 things you can do to make your office greener: http://ow.ly/1Cq3C2:54 PM Apr 23rd via HootSuite
15. Robert Powers has posted another great Chicago photo tour. This time along historic Martin Luther King Drivehttp://ow.ly/1ChWN9:50 AM Apr 23rd via HootSuite
16. What was once the world's smallest cathedral is now for sale as a condo in Chicago: http://ow.ly/1ChQd9:46 AM Apr 23rd via HootSuite
17. Chicago building of the day: Newberry Library : 60 West Walton Street http://ow.ly/1aDEd9:35 AM Apr 23rd via HootSuite
18. Chicago building of the day: Arthur B. Heurtley House : 318 Forest http://ow.ly/1aDE29:35 AM Apr 22nd via HootSuite
19. Anthropologie to join Nordstrom Rack in the old CompUSA space off Michigan Avenue: http://ow.ly/1Bw5P7:00 PM Apr 21st via HootSuite
20. Chicago building of the day: The Mark Twain Hotel : 225 Northeast Adams Street http://ow.ly/1aDDT9:35 AM Apr 21st via HootSuite
21. Chicago building of the day: UBS Tower : 1 North Wacker Drive http://ow.ly/1aDDF9:35 AM Apr 20th via HootSuite
22. Diagrams of the revised (and approved) controversial Toyota sign for Wrigley Field: http://ow.ly/1Anf411:48 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
23. I wonder why Chicago doesn't have any "scramble" crossings,like in Toronto, Seattle, and elsewhere. Would help the Loop and Mich.Ave.10:55 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
24. Chicago building of the day: Robert P. Parker House : 1019 Chicago http://ow.ly/1aDDu9:35 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
25. Chicago's Top Art & Architecture Events for 2010:http://ow.ly/1A73D8:10 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
26. Chicago as seen through a cheezy 1982 TV series intro:http://ow.ly/1A72J8:05 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
27. Bicycle tour explores architecture and history of Pilsen and Heart of Chicago http://ow.ly/1A6Zh7:05 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
28. You don't have to be a tourist to appreciate Cloud Gate:http://ow.ly/1A6fB5:05 AM Apr 19th via HootSuite
29. Chicago building of the day: 400 North La Salle Drive :http://ow.ly/1aDDb9:35 AM Apr 18th via HootSuite
30. Chicago building of the day: Tribune Tower : 435 North Michigan Avenue http://ow.ly/1aDCV9:35 AM Apr 17th via HootSuite
31. Microsoft makes its own non-standard version of 15-year-old technology, deploys it on Chicago buildings for you:http://ow.ly/1zxoj4:05 PM Apr 16th via HootSuite
32. Chicago building of the day: Dawn Shadows : 200 West Madison http://ow.ly/1aDCL9:35 AM Apr 16th via HootSuite
33. Chicago building of the day: Fine Arts Building : 410 South Michigan Avenue http://ow.ly/1aDCr9:35 AM Apr 15th via HootSuite