CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn joined Mayor Richard M. Daley for the opening ceremony of the Fourth Annual Chicago Green Festival on Saturday, which included Quinn’s signing an amendment to the Capital Development Board Act.

The updated legislation calls for the measurement, reporting and comparison of energy consumption across 10 types of buildings, for the purpose of identifying a simple and easily understood energy labeling system for commercial buildings.

After signing the Amendatory Act, Quinn and Daley strolled the show floor, visiting many of Chicago’s best known green companies and pausing to talk with concerned citizens and activists.

The Chicago Green Festival continues Sunday, May 23, with highlights including its popular Eco-Fashion Show and special appearances by Dr. Kevin Danaher, Ambassador Carol Mosely Braun, Dr. Alan Greene, Chris Moore and others.

While many public events are notoriously wasteful, Green Festival offsets 100% of its electricity emissions with clean, renewable energy and minimizes environmental impact by reusing, recycling, or composting 97 percent or more of show waste. To further lower the impact of the event on the environment, attendees who bike to Green Festival and use the free Bike Valet will receive complimentary admission, courtesy of Clif Bar.

A joint project of Global Exchange and Green America, Green Festival is a forum to explore and build sustainable solutions for successful communities and a healthier environment. For more information, visit http://greenfestivals.org.

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