Village Greens Golf Course has reduced its ethanol fuel usage 24 percent in three years, Brandon Evans announced at Tuesday's park district meeting.  Evans is the golf course manager at Village Greens. Village Greens is owned by the village and maintained by the park district.  The course used 7,279 gallons of fuel in 2008; 6,869 in 2009 and 5,520 in 2010.  Village Greens also reduced its diesel fuel usage 9 percent over that period, from 2,669 gallons in 2008 to 2,428.  Evans said completing a three-year fuel analysis was a goal in 2011. In 2008, the course began working toward Audubon …

Mark Biskeborn (http://www.biskeborn.com) is the author of the novels, Mojave Winds and the recently published A Sufi's Ghost, and the yet-to-be-published Mexican Trade.  And more: Short Stories: Californians and Other Cowboys, as well as Decades of Poetry, and Ten Years of Underground Essays   The earth faces numerous environmental crises caused by pollution and other impacts from human beings. Here are suggestions for steps you might consider to help improve the environment. 1) Talk the talk: Make ecological awareness part of our social fabric and culture as Americans. The more you learn …

In the final part of our Earth Day series, Patch presents tips for going green at home -- and we don't mean a paint job! When doing laundry, whenever possible, wash clothes on the cold water cycle.  Up to 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. That's quite an energy savings! Also, in the warmer months, think about air drying your clothes outside on a clothesline. If it was good enough for our ancestors, it's good enough for us! Save energy and money by lowering your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter. You can always throw on a sweatshirt to …

Sure, we all can recycle paper, plastic bottles and glass, but in celebration of Earth Day, think outside the blue recycling bin and consider reusing these items and going a little greener: 1. Prescription Bottles You could just recycle these brown little bottles, or you could give them a new life. Use them as a change holder in your car, a new home for Barbie's shoes or Polly Pocket pieces or fill them with safety pins, buttons or rubber bands. Fill them with dried beans and make sure it is tingly sealed and you have an instant maraca or toy for your pet. Or, contact your local vet or animal…