Philadelphia’s largest environmental festival powered by solar energy to feature free bike valet, over 100 sustainable exhibitors and organic food and drink offerings

(August 23, 2017) PHILADELPHIA, PA – Clean Air Council announced today that the organization’s 2017 Greenfest Philly presented by Toyota Hybrids will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the first time ever, the event will be held at Bainbridge Green on Bainbridge Street between Third and Fifth Streets. The festival will bring together more than 100 environmentally-friendly businesses and organizations in a festive outdoor marketplace. The popular day-long event attracts more than 15,000 socially conscious and engaged consumers. Greenfest will feature live music from popular local bands, MOM’s Organic Market Kids’ Corner with eco-friendly crafts and activities, a bike valet sponsored by Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Toyota Hybrids’ ride and drive experience, organic food and drinks, a beer garden, handmade goods, and innovative green businesses and products – with the whole event being powered by solar panels presented by The Energy Co-op. A celebration of local sustainability efforts, Greenfest Philly will provide ways to take action to protect clean air, support environmental advocacy, and much more.

“As we celebrate the Clean Air Council’s 50th anniversary, Greenfest Philly remains one of our most important and exciting events, as it brings together tens of thousands of socially conscious consumers  and businesses who support the fight to protect the environment at this most critical of times,” said Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director. “Greenfest offers a brilliant opportunity for people throughout the region to exchange sustainable products, services, recipes and tips – all while enjoying a Sunday with their families in one of downtown Philadelphia’s most beautiful green spaces.”

 

New Festival Additions for 2017

The Clean Air Council’s Greenfest Philly event will feature a number of new and exciting activities for Philadelphians of all ages, all designed to help festival goers make more environmentally conscious choices and live more sustainable lifestyles. The new additions include:

Environmental Film Festival: Attendees will be treated to a free sneak peek of films from Philadelphia’s Environmental Film festival and expert commentary from the Film Festival’s founders.

Green Facts Everywhere You Look: Guests should also keep an eye out for Clean Air Council volunteers who will be strolling around with giant thought bubbles displaying compelling environmental facts and information.

Other Greenfest festivities this year include free yoga classes, succulent arrangement classes and vegan cooking demos. What’s more, there will be dining, shopping, samples and resources from an exciting group of environmentally conscious vendors and the event’s amazing sponsors. Guests can also test drive the all-new hydrogen fuel cell powered Toyota Mirai.

“Toyota and the Tri-State Toyota Dealers are very proud to be the Presenting Sponsor a 2nd year in a row for the 12th annual Greentfest Philly.  With Toyota’s ongoing commitment to the development of vehicles that help reduce carbon emissions and as a leader in the alternative fuel segment, we are thrilled to once again support the Clean Air Council and this year’s Greenfest,” said Paul Muller, President of the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association.   “Toyota is committed to helping play a role in delivering cleaner air and environmental sustainability to our customers.  With a portfolio of eight Toyota hybrid models plus the addition of our fuel cell vehicle the Mirai, we are the leader in alternative mobility and have a large selection of both hybrid sedans and SUV models to fit our customers’ diversified needs. The newest edition to our hybrid line-up, the Prius Prime, will be on site for event goers to check out in this year’s Toyota Hybrid display. We also plan to bring a ride-and-drive and provide the ability for event goers to take a test drive in one of our hybrid models in addition to our FCV, the 2017 Mirai. The Mirai with a range of over 300 miles per tank and emissions that consist only of water vapor, Mirai is leading the world toward a more sustainable fuel cell vehicle. ”

 

This year’s Greenfest will be a zero-waste event and will prioritize accessibility for all attendees. Philadelphia Insurance Companies will provide valet bike parking for all cyclists to make it easy for attendees to get to Greenfest sustainably. Clean Air Council is dedicated to creating an event that gives the entire city of Philadelphia the chance to celebrate healthy living, interact with some of the city’s most environmentally friendly companies and support Clean Air Council’s ongoing mission to protect everyone’s right to breathe clean air.

For more information contact the Special Events Team at 215-567-4004 or events@cleanair.org.

About Clean Air Council’s Methane Education Program

Clean Air Council uses celebrated events like the Greenfest Philly to support and increase awareness and advocacy for a broad range of environmental and public health initiatives. Recently, Clean Air Council has focused a targeted campaign of research, public education and advocacy calling for state and federal regulations to curb methane pollution. Methane leaks can exacerbate respiratory diseases (such as asthma) and lead to lung and heart disease, even cancer. Despite public support for rules limiting current and future methane leaks, there are few laws on the books putting such safeguards in place.

About Clean Air Council

Clean Air Council is a member- supported, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air. For more information about Clean Air Council, visit www.cleanair.org.

GoPhillyGo.org, the free online mapping site for the greater Philadelphia area from Clean Air Council, has now released a mobile version for use on all mobile devices. Designed to make getting around without a car both easy and fun, the power of GoPhillyGo’s mapping technology will now be available on the go. You’ll be able to take the ultimate trip-planning tool for biking, walking and public transit with you—anywhere you go, any time you need it.

Developed with state-of-the-art open-source mapping technology from Philadelphia-based geospatial technology firm Azavea, GoPhillyGo makes it easy to plan a route through multimodal methods — combining biking, walking, and public transportation within one trip — to go anywhere within the greater Philadelphia area, its surrounding counties, and even into New Jersey without the use of a car. It provides details on pedestrian and bike routes and, on the bike segment of your trip, you can prioritize routes that are faster, flatter, or safer.

“Using GoPhillyGo on your mobile phone is a very exciting advancement for the website,” says Joe Minott, Executive Director of the Clean Air Council. “Obviously that is how so many people are accessing transportation information today, and I’m excited that planning non-car trips just became easier for people in Southeastern Pennsylvania. GoPhillyGo users can now explore some of the region’s most interesting nature-oriented destinations and quickly plan how they’ll get there on bike, foot, public transportation, or any combination.”

The new version of the website comes equipped with mobile functionality, a new look and sleek features, including drag-and-drop locations. Different modes of transport in your route now show up in different colors.

“Incorporating Indego bike share is the other big advancement we are excited about,” explains Nick Rogers, Transportation Program Director for the Clean Air Council. “This really makes planning trips with bike share much easier, and encourages people to use Indego as a transportation mode and not just a recreation activity.” Point-to-point Indego directions, dock locations, and bike availability are now included in the map, helping you get around by bike, even if you don’t own one.

“As a Philadelphia company dedicated to a positive civic and social impact, Azavea is thrilled to partner with the Clean Air Council to promote walking, biking, and riding public transit to our local institutions, parks, and other natural resources,” says Robert Cheetham of Azavea. “Now that GoPhillyGo has gone mobile, anyone in Philadelphia can easily explore the variety of destinations accessible to them. As a company full of bike enthusiasts, we are especially excited about the inclusion of Indego bike share locations into GoPhillyGo biking directions.”

Now, with GoPhillyGo mobile, you can get out of your house and just go. Covering five counties—including Philadelphia—and parts of New Jersey, the new mobile site allows you to plan ahead and take your route with you, change your plans on the fly, or figure it out as you go for a truly spontaneous adventure. Confidently explore Philadelphia; no car needed.

GoPhillyGo.org. Your destination ahead. Your map to getting there.

Clean Air Council is a member-supported, nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air. The Council has over 8,000 members and works in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey on public education, community advocacy, and legal oversight and enforcement of environmental laws.

 

What’s not to love about Halloween, everyone’s favorite season of tricks and treats? Costumes, candy, and pumpkins can be seen at every turn. But, what if those costumes, decorations, candy, and pumpkins are contributing to frightening amounts of waste or are full of scary chemicals? Probably not the treat you were expecting. According to the National Retail Federation, 7 out of 10 consumers plan on handing out candy and nearly half will dress up in costume or decorate their home – spending on average $82.93.

Here are some tips to keep your Halloween in check so that Hedorah the Smog Monster never comes to life. 

Use Your Pumpkin

Pumpkins are so much more than just decoration. Don’t let that deliciousness go to waste. Roast the seeds, carve the meat, make a body scrub, there are endless possibilities. We love these ideas: 28 Things You Can Do with Pumpkin Guts.

Skip the Smog

In 1971, the movie Godzilla vs. Hedorah (pictured above) featured an emissions-fueled monster that went on a rampage through Japan. Don’t fuel Hedorah. Get to your Halloween party emissions free! Use Clean Air Council’s multi-modal mapping tool Go Philly Go to plan your trip.

Upcycle Your Costume

Save money and have an impressive original costume by DIY-ing it or shopping for a thrift store costume. Even if you don’t have a specific costume in mind, sometimes seeing what is available will get the creative juices flowing. Pro-tip – ask friendly staff for help. They have seen all the merchandise and probably have some great ideas. We’ve scored great costume finds at Philly Aids Thrift and The Resource Exchange. Time crunch? Raid the closet of a family member or friend for free.

Make Your Costume Count

Show us how scared you are of the smog monster or the dangerous emissions from oil and gas production. Put on a gas mask, respirator, or dust mask and trick or treat in support of our #CutMethane campaign. Take a photo and share it on social media with the #CutMethane hashtag, you’ll join the many who have already participated.

Avoid a Candy (Wrapper) Nightmare

For health and safety reasons, individually wrapped Halloween candy is the norm. How can you stop those wrappers from becoming a landfill monster? Channel your inner middle-schooler and upcycle them into jewelry or crafts. Before you know it, it will be holiday season. Here are some homemade gifts that use candy wrappers: 11 Clever Candy Wrapper Crafts.

Alternatively, Terracycle offers candy and snack wrapper recycling. Keep that Captain Planet costume on for a few more days and organize a neighborhood or office candy wrapper collection. Terracycle Candy and Snack Wrapper Box 

Cure the Post-Halloween Hangover

Not sure what to do with costumes and decorations after Halloween? If you aren’t going to use them next year, donate them. The Halloween Helpers collect previously-enjoyed, gently-used Halloween costumes and donate them to children who may not typically be able to participate in this yearly celebration.

Did your trick or treaters score the motherload and now you have enough candy to feed an army? Do just that. Donate candy to Soldiers’ Angels Treats for Troops. 

Happy Halloween!