NEW YORK—In a world where “green” is a common adjective and environmental sustainability is discussed in classrooms, boardrooms, and council chambers across the country, you’ll see more than the hippy, tree-hugger types at an environmental fair like the one held Wednesday at Union Square.
Only a couple of notable eccentrics were seen amid the crowd of suits and school children at the New Green City environmental fair. One lady had a sun hat made of newspaper, with flowers strung around to add an organic flourish. Another man, with a hat made of leaves, wore a tie-dyed shirt, green crocs, and a preying mantis puppet on his hand.
Students from Manhattan Country School on the Upper East Side, all carrying Citibank reusable bags almost as big as them, crowded around the leaf-topped character and his preying mantis for unexpected entertainment.
The school children came to the fair on a field trip as part of their environmental studies, explained a parent supervisor. As they learned, they also had fun baking s’mores in the hot afternoon sun with a solar oven made out of a pizza box, aluminum foil, construction paper, and plastic wrap.
The corporate presence, such as that of sponsor Citibank, was prominent alongside government and non-profit organizations. Of the exhibitors at the event, 16 were privately owned companies, seven were non-profit organizations, and five were government agencies.
Participating businesses offered a wide range of services, from recycling electronics to ecologically sustainable landscaping, and city booths with representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Buildings, and NYC Service, which provides volunteer opportunities to those interested in making the city greener, also lined up at the event.
Greener Choices, which provides ecologically informed consumer reports, was among the not-for-profit groups participating at the fair.
GrowNYC, another non-profit organization dedicated to “greening” the city, hosted the event following success of their last year’s “Green Brooklyn … Green City” fair.
“We have here a critical mass of both educational providers, such as ourselves and other non-profit city agencies, and for-profit companies that are allowing people to make low-impact, sustainable choices in their lifestyle,” said Juliet Walsh, a volunteer with GrowNYC.
A DIY (Do It Yourself) booth, hosted by Green Mountain Energy, featured a massive solar panel and provided all the latest information on their alternative energy services.
All sorts of eco-wares were also showcased at the event, including film props otherwise destined for the dump, non-chemical cleaners, furniture made from reclaimed wood, and a watch made of bamboo, corn resin, and organic cotton (plus a few metal elements necessary to keep it ticking).
The “green” theme continued even into the Union Square subway station, where half of the R-line train departing the environmental fair was covered with Con Edison ads testing consumers’ “EQ” or energy quotient, with multiple-choice questions about saving energy.
Fairs like New Green City promote awareness of the environmental issues and sustainable solutions, but they’re not alone. Big businesses have also jumped aboard the “green” train.
Only a couple of notable eccentrics were seen amid the crowd of suits and school children at the New Green City environmental fair. One lady had a sun hat made of newspaper, with flowers strung around to add an organic flourish. Another man, with a hat made of leaves, wore a tie-dyed shirt, green crocs, and a preying mantis puppet on his hand.
Students from Manhattan Country School on the Upper East Side, all carrying Citibank reusable bags almost as big as them, crowded around the leaf-topped character and his preying mantis for unexpected entertainment.
The school children came to the fair on a field trip as part of their environmental studies, explained a parent supervisor. As they learned, they also had fun baking s’mores in the hot afternoon sun with a solar oven made out of a pizza box, aluminum foil, construction paper, and plastic wrap.
The corporate presence, such as that of sponsor Citibank, was prominent alongside government and non-profit organizations. Of the exhibitors at the event, 16 were privately owned companies, seven were non-profit organizations, and five were government agencies.
Participating businesses offered a wide range of services, from recycling electronics to ecologically sustainable landscaping, and city booths with representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Buildings, and NYC Service, which provides volunteer opportunities to those interested in making the city greener, also lined up at the event.
Greener Choices, which provides ecologically informed consumer reports, was among the not-for-profit groups participating at the fair.
GrowNYC, another non-profit organization dedicated to “greening” the city, hosted the event following success of their last year’s “Green Brooklyn … Green City” fair.
“We have here a critical mass of both educational providers, such as ourselves and other non-profit city agencies, and for-profit companies that are allowing people to make low-impact, sustainable choices in their lifestyle,” said Juliet Walsh, a volunteer with GrowNYC.
A DIY (Do It Yourself) booth, hosted by Green Mountain Energy, featured a massive solar panel and provided all the latest information on their alternative energy services.
All sorts of eco-wares were also showcased at the event, including film props otherwise destined for the dump, non-chemical cleaners, furniture made from reclaimed wood, and a watch made of bamboo, corn resin, and organic cotton (plus a few metal elements necessary to keep it ticking).
The “green” theme continued even into the Union Square subway station, where half of the R-line train departing the environmental fair was covered with Con Edison ads testing consumers’ “EQ” or energy quotient, with multiple-choice questions about saving energy.
Fairs like New Green City promote awareness of the environmental issues and sustainable solutions, but they’re not alone. Big businesses have also jumped aboard the “green” train.
