GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

“Plainfield touts rain barrels” is the headline from Janet Lundquist in the Aug. 6, 2008 edition of The Herald-News. The village of Plainfield, Illinois is developing an incentive plan for residents to conserve water by offering rain-barrels at a lower price in spring. The article has data provided by The Conservation Foundation, stating average homeowners pour up to 40 percent of their household water on lawns and gardens each summer. It also states that using rainwater, instead of water from the house will not only save money, but will also put fewer pesticides in natural rivers and streams and reduce the threat of erosion and floods. The article also mentions that while most the village trustees think issuing rain barrels to residents will encourage water conservation, others remain skeptical of the village subsidizing the program. The 55-gallon plastic rain barrels sell for $85 and the village is looking at offering them for $65. With or without the discounted price, the environmental value of a rain barrel remains its greatest incentive.

Christine Moyer interviews The Conservation Foundation’s in her July 28, 2008 article for The Fox Valley Villages Sun, “Going green, saving green: Rain barrels becoming trendy as homeowners try to save money and the environment.” McDonald says rain barrel sales have grown so hectic that they had to limit buyers to once a week otherwise the staff had no time to help other customers. Rain barrels are nothing new, she says, people have been collecting water in them for decades, but now it’s become trendy. If environmental problems persist this trend may very well turn into a permanent solution. In the article, Moyer also goes into explaining what rain barrels are, how they work and some of the benefits.

Click here to read the article.

Renee Tomell of the GateHouse News Service published an article titled “Rain barrels enjoying up-swell in popularity” syndicated from the Geneva Republican for MPNNow.com on July 16, 2008. Tomell reports on the “big splash” rain barrels are making this summer as they enjoy a surge in popularity. In the article, Brook McDonald, the president and CEO of The Conservation Foundation, says people are beginning to embrace water as a valuable natural resource with the amount of respect it deserves. He says people with rain barrels “understand not only is it healthier for the plants, it saves them money and it’s good for the environment. It’s free, clean and life supporting.” Along with more from McDonald, the article features some “Rain Gathering 101″ advice.

Click here to read the article and view some creative rain barrels.

The Sunday, July 6 edition of the Chicago Tribune featured two reports on rain barrels in Chicago. Erika Slife reports “Chicago-area gardeners thirst for rain barrels,” following local gardener Jim Hollingsed - a resident of Evergreen Park - and the “green engine” that powers his backyard: a 40-gallon rain barrel.

According to Jill Horist, manager of public affairs for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, these barrels have been selling like crazy. With the price for a 50-60 gallon barrel averaging $40, the district has been flooded with demand. The initial 1,500 rain barrels have been sold with another 600 customers on a waiting list. Hollingsed said he doesn’t consider himself an environmentalist, but says he’s “trying to put the ‘green’ back in Evergreen Park.”
Click here to read the article.
With such a high demand this summer, finding a rain barrel for purchase might not be easy. The second report features ways to find out how to get one in your backyard. This report includes The Conservation Foundation’s 55-gallon rain barrels available by calling 630-553-0687, ext. 302, or by e-mailing jkleinwachter@theconservationfoundation.org.
Click here to read the article.