My Family’s Journey To The First Tinley Park Green Awards

Achieving a balance between comfort and sustainability is a dream many homeowners are aspiring to now. For us, it led to an unexpected accolade as one of the first ever Tinley Park Green Awardees, for Home Environmental Excellence. Our journey toward a greener home was marked by strategic environmental enhancements that not only reduces our carbon footprint and utility bills, but also we hope inspires our community.

So here’s a detailed look at the four strategies we employed to transform our home into a model of sustainability.

1. Renewable Energy: Solar Panels & Special Window Blinds

Our first step towards a sustainable home was integrating renewable energy sources. And we started with harnessing light.

Solar Panels

We installed solar panels on our roof last April, a decision that significantly lowered our electricity bills and minimized our reliance on fossil fuels. This green living strategy is both practical but also rewarding in the long run. The solar panel company we chose is named CertaSun, you can check out a review a wrote back

Special Window Blinds

We also got special window blinds installed on all our windows (except the one in our daughter’s closet window, which is small and near the ceiling) from Lucas Draperies in Orland Park. Ken Tiesenga was our guy, and he was great to work with. The brand of blinds we chose are Hunter Douglas and they are motorized. Controlling the sunlight that enters through your home windows can be a huge help to your electricity bill.

Implementation Tips:

• Consult Local Experts: Seek advice from local providers to understand the best options for your home that are tailored to you. Also, working with a local company is an easy way to support your community too.
• Assess Your Roof: Ensure your roof is suitable for solar installation in terms of structure and exposure to sunlight.
• Explore Incentives: Check for government incentives or rebates that can offset installation costs. For example, with our solar panels we received quite a nice chunk of change from the government for getting them installed. Just a heads up though—it took a long time to get the check in the mail from the government, so be sure to budget and not count on an instant payback.
• Maintain A Connection To Your Electric Company: Since our careers depend on an internet connection, we did not cancel our ComEd account for our home. Though we aren’t using any electricity from ComEd, we are keeping the connection for $13 in case our solar panels ever get damaged by a tornado or anything that would prevent them from working.

2. Adopting Smart Technology

Smart home technology was instrumental in our sustainability journey, as it allowed us to monitor and control energy usage more effectively. Installing smart thermostats and energy-efficient appliances helped us optimize electricity consumption.

Implementation Tips:

• Invest in Smart Thermostats: These devices learn your habits and adjust heating and cooling accordingly.
• Switch to LED Lighting: LEDs are more energy-efficient and long-lasting compared to traditional bulbs.
• Integrate Smart Plugs: Control devices remotely to prevent unnecessary power usage.
• Smart Window Blinds: Since our blinds are motorized and can be remotely controlled via our smartphones, we have them on an automated schedule based on the seasons and time of day. We can adjust their levels to let in just the right amount of light depending on temperature or visibility needs.

4. Sustainable Landscaping

Finally, we reimagined our outdoor space with sustainable landscaping. By planting native species and creating a pollinator-friendly garden, we are supporting local biodiversity and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and excessive watering. We worked with local family-run landscaping company A Touch Of Green in Homer Glen.

Implementation Tips:

• Choose Native Plants: Native plants are adapted to local climate and require less maintenance. To save you some time, here are a few native plants for Northeast Illinois:
  • Big Bluestem (Andropogon Gerardii)
  • Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
  • Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laevis)
  • Rough Blazingstar (Liatris aspera)
  • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
  • Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
  • Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
  • Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
  • Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
  • Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
  • Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
  • Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
• Create a Pollinator Garden: Include plants that attract bees and butterflies. Some of these include lavender, poppy, and sunflowers.
• Incorporate Mulching: Helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Next On our Radar

Efficient Water Management

Water conservation is something we are curious about adopting to manage our usage more effectively. Implementing a rainwater harvesting system is one example, which would enable us to utilize rainwater for our garden, reducing our dependency on municipal water supply.

What We Know So Far About Efficient Water Management

• Install Rain Barrels: Place barrels beneath downspouts to collect rainwater.
• Use Smart Irrigation Systems: These adapt to weather conditions, optimizing water use.
• Regular Maintenance: We’ll have to check the irrigation systems for leaks and ensure they are functioning efficiently.

Conclusion

Individual efforts can collectively lead to significant community impact on the environment. And after all we went through to get to be able to build a home, our forever home no less, the award from the Environmental Enhancement commission felt like we had reached a finish line. A random pat on the back just feels different. Thank you Village of Tinley Park Environmental Enhancement Commission for this incredible recognition.

Seeing our daughter’s face was the cherry on top for us because almost everything Geoffrey and I do is with her future in mind. Our kids learn from watching more than what we try to directly teach them. Being environmentally conscious and trying to live hashtag green is something we hope she takes with her when she becomes a woman of the world. 

Of course we had to rock our agency’s green leather jackets to accept the Green Award for our family’s environmental friendliness efforts.

As you consider embarking on your own sustainable green living journey, ask yourself: ‘How can I incorporate sustainability into my home?’ ‘What local businesses can I support?’ By reflecting on these questions, you can make informed decisions that benefit both your environment and community. Together, let’s continue to cultivate a sustainable future, one home at a time.

Special Mention

The Village of Tinley Park’s Environmental Enhancement Commission also recognized a second Tinley Park home, as well as Tinley Park business the OpenBottle with Green Awards.

Extra

The Process Of Building A House Series

If you’re just learning about this blog, and you’re curious about our family’s first journey: building a house—here is that months long odyssey:

Month 1: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 2: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 3: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 4: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 5: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 6: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 7: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 8: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 9: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 10: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 11: The Process Of Building A House Series

Month 12: The Process Of Building A House Series