Thursday, January 29, 2009

It's Hotter to Use Cold Water

You know want to reduce your carbon footprint. All the cool kids are doing.

This PSA about water and energy from our friends at the Environmental Resource Program and UNC School of Journalism is super hella wicked COOL. If you know of any other similar videos, let us know!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

What's your Walkability Score?


Non-motorized modes of transportation have been in the spotlight in sustainable circles lately and what better way to promote health, equity and decrease greenhouse gases all at the same time?

Many not only make it a priority to walk, but also choose to live in walkable areas. Deciding how walkable an area is just got easier with a new website that will calculate a score for any address in the United States. This walkability score is assigned based on how many amenities such as grocery stores, schools, restaurants, movie theaters, etc, are less than a mile away. The closer the nearest facility in each category is, the higher the score. If the closest amenity in a category is located more than a mile away, that category receives a zero. The idea of course, is that if certain shops or recreational areas are close, people will be more likely (or at least will have the potential) to walk to them than if the neighborhood is purely residential for miles and miles.

Besides the obvious health and environmental benefits, the website also cites stronger local businesses, increased social capital and better transportation options as welcome side effects of walkable neighborhoods. A walkable neighborhood encourages people to socialize and frequent local enterprises, strengthening the character of the neighborhood.

The system still has some pitfalls: for example the distances calculated are based on 'as the crow flies' calculations, not actual walking distances. The presence or absence of sidewalks is not taken into account, and if there are bodies of water in the way the website joking suggests that you swim across. But in general, the website's calculations seem to be fairly accurate and enlightening and might even help people choose where to locate. Apparently, even real estate agents use the walkability score to advertise certain houses and neighborhoods!

Not only that, but the website also has maps of the best and worst neighborhoods for walking, a checklist for what makes a neighborhood walkable (hint: high density, lots of mixed use, and grid-like streets, among other things) and a description of “Complete Streets,” which are designed to encourage walking. Not surprisingly, the top 9 "Walker's Paradise" neighborhoods are dominated heavily by New York and then San Francisco, with a Kansas City neighborhood coming in at #10.
Find out your score at http://www.walkscore.com/

-Daria Khramtsova, Research & Communications Intern, UNC Sustainability Office

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

New Orleans: Cleaner, Smarter

Few US cities have had to deal with such widespread devastation as New Orleans. And few other US cities have had the opportunity to rebuild in a "greener" way. So how is New Orleans taking advantage of that opportunity? Solar technology, green building jobs, weather stripping, compact fluorescent light bulbs, urban organic farming, new bicycle lanes, 39 hybrid buses, and restoration of natural habitats that protect the city from storm surge. You can read all about it here:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5joX1V3yloqxJTw174TlyCRg6fHpAD95VFHG80

UNC students have played a part in this rebuilding effort. A group of APPLES Service Learning Students made a trip down to New Orleans for an Alternative Spring Break Program last year. Students on the Hurricane Relief program worked with Common Ground on wetlands restoration, home insulation, painting and bioremediation projects. Interested in joining an Alternative Break service learning trip? Learn more at:
Students at the School of Law at the UNC have also assisted in the recovery of New Orleans. In fact, they have been recognized with the Pro Bono Law School of the Year award for providing free legal assistance to New Orleans residents. These UNC law students have been spending spring and winter breaks working in the area since Hurricane Katrina devastated the city in 2005. Follow their blog at:
-Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, UNC Sustainability Office

Monday, January 26, 2009

Sustainability in YOUR course?


Would you like a representative from the UNC Sustainability Office to visit your class, lab, or club? The Sustainability Office is available to offer presentations and campus tours (max 20 people) that:
  • Define sustainability
  • Provide an overview of sustainable practices, policies, and curricula at UNC
  • Highlight specific projects and achievements that continue to make UNC a more sustainable campus community
  • Provide recommendations for ways in which individuals can get involved
Interested? Please contact Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, at 919-843-5295 or brian.cain [at] fac.unc.edu. In most cases, presentations and tours may be tailored according to time requirements and specific areas of interest. Please send your request as far in advance as possible to ensure availability.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Obama inaugural speech

Just in case you missed it, President Obama included the following paragraph in his inaugural address:

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
So what was Chancellor Thorp's reaction to this statement? And how could federal stimulus dollars impact higher education? Eric Ferreri at the News and Observer has a blog that does a good job summarizing the answers to those questions. Check it out at:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/campusnotes/obama-speech-brings-hope-for-universities

-Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, UNC Sustainability Office

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sustainable Travel & Study Abroad


Do you like to travel? Are you planning on studying abroad?

If so, be sure to check out our NEW Sustainable Travel guide! It includes helpful tips and resources for "greening" your travels. You can pick up a FREE copy at the Study Abroad Fair tomorrow (11-4 on Friday, January 23 in the Student Union Great Hall) or download it here:
http://sustainability.unc.edu/Portals/0/Documents/Sustainable_Travel_Guide_WEB_Jan09.pdf

If you are planning on study abroad, then you should definitely also enroll in the Green Passport program. The program is designed to promote socially and environmentally conscious behavior for study abroad students. Learn more at:
http://studyabroad.unc.edu/downloads/Green%20PassportHandbook.pdf

Lastly, there is also some great sustainable travel info on "Endangered Places" at the following non-UNC blog:
http://endangeredplaces.com/Endangered_Places/Blog/Blog.html

So where are you going? And how will you keep it sustainable?

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The economy stinks? Not if you're green!

You're about to graduate and the economy seems to be in a tailspin. With this global economic recession, the job prospects look bleak and you fear that you might have to move back in with mom & dad.

Does this situation sound familiar? Fear not! Much of the economic instability right now is a result of unsustainable business practices. So what's the fix? Sustainable business practices, of course!

"In a world beset by economic woes as well as environmental problems— from the scarcity of natural resources to climate change—sustainability represents one of the few potential bright spots in an otherwise dismal recruiting environment." - Francesca Di Meglio, MBA Programs Go Green, BusinessWeek

So how does one join the new "green economy" after graduating?

For graduate students, register for the 2009 Sustainable Business Career Fair this Friday, January 23. It will be hosted by UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise and Duke's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship. Everyone from GE to Trinity Design/Build to Latino Community Credit Union will have recruiters present. For more information, visit http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/KI/cse/careerfair.cfm

For undergraduates, consider how your degree and professional skills can be used to advance sustainable practices, policies, or technologies. A few options:
  • If you have been active at UNC and are interested in continuing to work towards sustainability in higher education, check out the job postings in the AASHE Bulletin (http://www.aashe.org/resources/bulletin-archives.php).
  • If you are looking at persuing an MBA, check out the MBA Programs Go Green article in BusinessWeek (http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jan2009/bs20090119_936863.htm).
  • If you are not a member of the UNC Sustainability listserv, join! Local, regional, and national job postings are regularly sent to our listserv members.
  • Finally, just remember that almost any profession can support sustainability. Whether you are in marketing, journalism, education, chemistry, astonomy, or international studies, there are a plethora of opportunities out there.
What green job search resources would you recommend to fellow readers?

-Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, UNC Sustainability Office

Friday, January 16, 2009

Belated New Year’s resolutions

It’s not too late! Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Need some ideas? If you’re not ready to commit to a whole year, try out a resolution for a semester or a month to see how easy it is and then just keep going. Here are some suggestions:

1. Eliminate bottled water completely. Invest in a Kleen Kanteen or other non-plastic bottle that will not leach harmful chemicals and take it with you wherever you go! At home invest in a filter to always have clean, tasty water. Hey if you complained about $4/gallon gas how can you not complain about $1/liter bottled water?

2. Support your local corner grocery store. Try spending 10% of your income in locally owned businesses. And walk there. It helps the local economy and gets you to exercise! Join a CSA or visit the farmers market. The one in Carrboro is open all year round.

3. Grow your own herbs indoors! Rosemary grows freely around Chapel Hill and Carrboro, but what about basil, mint, chives, parsley and cilantro?

4. Compost and recycle!
Well those resolutions will probably keep me busy for the year. What are your sustainable New Year’s resolutions? Let us know!

-Daria Khramtsova, Research & Communications Intern, UNC Sustainability Office

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Submit your sustainability ideas directly to President Obama!

Making good on his promises for change, President-elect Obama has shaken up the way the public communicates with the President. Via the Citizen's Briefing Book (http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov), anybody can submit and vote on ideas that will be directly passed on to Obama once he is sworn into office. Here's a quick video explanation:

What does this have to do with sustainability? Um...everything! This is YOUR chance to make sure that YOUR great ideas to make our country more ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable are read by the President. Right now there are almost 3,000 recommendations related to Energy and Environment, 1,300 related to Service, and 2, 500 related to Education.

Even better than submitting recommendations is getting a response. Obama and his team have yet are not even officially in office yet, but they are already starting to respond to citizen suggestions from the website!!! Here are two responses that address different "green" initiatives:


So what are you waiting for?! Get over to http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov and have a direct impact on making the US a more sustainable country!

-Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, UNC Sustainability Office

Chapel Hill is Cool!

The list of Cool Cities in North Carolina is growing! In 2008, North Carolina had 47 cities including Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham and Raleigh taking part in the initiative. These cities' mayors have signed the Climate Protection Agreement pledging to reduce their city's green house gas emissions 7% by 2012 from the 1990 level. Through the effort of community-based volunteers, this program aims to encourage local efforts in the fight against global warming so each city or county can take a personalized approach to reducing their carbon footprint. And these grassroots efforts have yielded some amazing results!So what are some cities doing to reach their goal?
  • Durham and Asheville hired sustainability coordinators• Cary installed LED lights in all their traffic signals

  • Chapel Hill and Carrboro are thinking about building energy audits, solar power projects and amending city ordinances. Chapel Hill's fare-free hybrid buses are also doing their part to reduce single passenger car trips!

  • Bald Head Island is encouraging the use of rain barrels and geothermal heating

  • Greenville opened a three-mile greenway to provide alternative transportation opportunities

  • New Bern purchased hybrid vehicles

Did you know?
Chapel Hill became North Carolina's first Cool City in 2006.

To learn more visit:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=83161.0&dlv_id=73501

Get involved! The Sierra Club is hosting a “Building Solutions” workshop in Winston-Salem on January 24th. Register here:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/PageNavigator/cool_cities_workshop

Take a look at a checklist for personal ways to fight global warming here:
http://coolcities.us/resources/personalAction/5ways_city&stateBW.pdf

-Daria Khramtsova, Research & Communications Intern, UNC Sustainability Office

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Top 10...

Courtesy of the Town of Chapel Hill's Office of Sustainability:

Top 10 Ways Chapel Hill Is Working Toward Climate Protection

1. Carbon Reduction

The Town of Chapel Hill became the first U.S. municipality to commit to a 60 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 through the Community Carbon Reduction (CRed) Project.

2. Green Building Development

Developers are encouraged to include a “20 percent more energy efficient” feature in their plans maximizing the potential for energy conservation and use of renewable energy.

3. Green Municipal Buildings

New or expanded Town government facilities are built to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green building Rating System, approved by the U.S. Green Building Council.

4. Alternative Transportation

Since 2002, the buses have been free in Chapel Hill, offering more than 6 million rides a year. The Town is working to complete more than 28 miles of greenways and trails that will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to quickly and safely access every part of town.

5. Green Fleets

The Town has set high standards for obtaining energy efficient vehicles and to operate its fleets in a manner that is energy efficient and minimizes emissions.

6. Tree Protection

Proposed changes to the Tree Protection Ordinance will establish a new vision statement that calls for no net loss of trees/canopy cover and an increase in trees proportional to population growth.

7. Energy Bank

The Town has set aside $500,000 in bond funds to acquire construct, equip and install energy efficient facilities in certain existing public buildings. The savings attributable to these projects are used to reimburse the fund.

8. Active Living by Design

The Town participates in a national program centered in Chapel Hill that establishes innovative approaches to increase physical activity through community design, public policies and communications strategies.

9. Open Space

The citizens of Chapel Hill have supported and helped the Council identify, protect and preserve green spaces and critical natural areas, now totaling about 740 acres.

10. Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee provides guidance to the Planning Board regarding sustainability principles to be adopted and monitors implementation of the principles and policies as adopted by the Council as part of the Comprehensive Plan review process.

Learn more at http://www.townofchapelhill.org/index.asp?NID=1799.

Do you know the Top Ten Ways UNC is Working Toward Climate Protection? You can find the list at http://sustainability.unc.edu/Initiatives/TopTen/tabid/176/Default.aspx.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Internships with UNC's Sustainability Office!


Are you a GRAPHIC DESIGN student that is interested in gaining professional experience AND getting directly involved with UNC's effort to "go green?"

Or are you a MULTIMEDIA or COMPUTER SCIENCE student that loves experimenting with mash-ups to create dynamic content?

If so, we should talk! UNC's Sustainability Office is looking for both a graphic designer and a multimedia specialist for the spring semester. Positions required a minimum commitment of 8-10 hours per week throughout the spring semester. Learn more by contacting brian.cain[at]fac.unc.edu or visiting http://sustainability.unc.edu/Home/JoinUs/tabid/196/Default.aspx.

-Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, UNC Sustainability Office

Monday, January 12, 2009

Spring is here!

Welcome back, Tar Heels! The start of a new semester is always a little chaotic, so here are a few quick bites to enjoy:
  • Want to help the search for better solar cell materials? Harvard’s Clean Energy project will put your idle computer to work helping to process data on organic photovoltaics, fuel cells, and more. Just download the software at http://cleanenergy.harvard.edu

  • Thursday, February 5th is the National Teach-In on climate change (formally known as Focus the Nation). What is your class, residence hall, or student group doing? Get ideas at http://www.nationalteachin.org AND put your activity on UNC’s sustainability calendar by emailing brian.cain[at]fac.unc.edu.

  • As if UFOs, swarms of locus, and tornados weren’t enough to contend with, global warming has now hit SimCity! According to the press release, “Electronic Arts and BP have collaborated to include climate change education within SimCity Societies, the next iteration in the genre-defining city-building franchise that has sold more than 18 million games to date.” Read more at http://kotaku.com/gaming/environment/ea--bp-add-global-warming-threat-to-simcity-309156.php

  • $3.50. That’s how much it costs to own your own reusable take-out container at Rams Head and Top of Lenoir. So next time you have to eat on the run, skip the Styrofoam and use your spiffy translucent reusable container! All the cool kids are doing it. You know you want to.

  • Facebook – we’ve got it! Do you? Search “UNC Sustainability Office” to proudly show your support for the cause!
-Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager, UNC Sustainability Office