Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars are slowly but surely replacing gas guzzlers on the road. But what if every American swapped their SUV for a more fuel-efficient vehicle today? The writers at Consumer Car Reviews researched the issue to find out, and put together the data in a visual form to document the impact.

While hybrids generally cost more than a equivalent car, most owners will make up the cost quickly thanks to gas savings and state and federal rebates. Because Americans drive so much in one year, the environmental savings could be even greater. As the graphic illustrates, if every American drove a hybrid, we could save over 715 million tons of CO2 emissions from polluting the atmosphere, the equivalent of the emissions of Canada and the UK combined.

Electric and other alternative fuel vehicles are likely to have an even greater cost-savings and CO2 reduction, so the sooner the country transitions to these new technologies, the sooner the savings for the pocketbook and the planet can begin.

The website Consumer Car Reviews works to find the most up-to-date information on cars and trucks for people looking to buy a new or used vehicle. They share information on mileage, quality, and sustainability, offering readers advice on hybrid cars and car repairs to get the most possible life out of their vehicles.

Job- NC

NC State Facilities Operations is hiring an Energy Program Assistant.  Position will focus on Clean Transportation projects across North Carolina and will work directly with the NC State Solar Center.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

N.C. Oil spill didn’t hurt seagrass-dwelling juvenile fish
Science News
...F. Joel Fodrie of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Kenneth Heck Jr. of the University of South Alabama Dauphin Island Sea Lab tallied numbers of juveniles retrieved by research vessels between mid-July and October 31, 2010. The abundance of these youngsters offered one gauge of whether eggs and larval fish had taken a big, deadly hit from early exposure to hydrocarbons spewed during the months-long spill.

UNC and Duke will read together
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
Tar Heels and Blue Devils are teaming up for this summer's reading assignment for incoming students. Both UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke have selected the book "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer. New students are asked to read the book before arriving, then they will participate in small group discussions. Foer himself will speak at both campuses on Aug. 25.

Research campus, spared in budget cutting, will get leader
The Triangle Business Journal
The University of North Carolina System is searching for an executive director to lead its operations at the N.C. Research Campus. It will be the university system’s first administrative post dedicated to the Kannapolis biotech hub, which is focused on health, nutrition and agriculture.

Chapel Hill honored for WISE home energy effort
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The Town of Chapel Hill received a U.S. Conference of Mayor's Climate Protection Award in the Small Cities Category for its success with WISE, a home energy efficiency incentive program. The honorable mention award was presented to Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt recently in Baltimore. The Chapel Hill WISEHomes and Buildings Program (Worthwhile Investments Save Energy) began in March and quickly reached its capacity with 125 homes registered to receive energy assessments and improvements.

Get help to turn your diet green
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
Triple-digit temperatures warming you up to the possibility of man-made climate change? If so, you might want to know that there's something you can do to help protect our planet. It hinges on your knife and fork. Your dietary choices make a difference, and collectively, the fewer meat and dairy products all of us eat, the greater the benefits to our environment. I've discussed this in previous columns. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Call for Abstracts- GreenNC Symposium and Expo

You are invited to attend and participate in the GreenNC Conference and Exposition, December 8, 2011, at the Durham Marriott City Center. Abstracts must be submitted to education@triangleusgbc.org by Tuesday, August 9, 2011. Candidates chosen as presenters will be notified by e-mail no later than Friday, September 2. 

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring an Administrative Assistant.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring a part time (20 hours weekly) Community Education and Relations Specialist for the Asheville Region.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring a part time (20 hours weekly) Community Education and Relations Specialist for the Wilmington Region.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring a Community Education and Relations Specialist for the Charlotte Region.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring a Community Education and Relations Specialist for the Raleigh/Triad/Triangle Area.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring a Senior Regulatory and Policy Analyst.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is hiring a Solar Outreach Specialist.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Job

The Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive (CoFed) is seeking a part-time, as-needed grant-writer to draft and polish initial letters of inquiry and grands to medium-sized and family foundations.  The position has the potential for full-time work.

Job- CA

The California Student Sustainability Coalition, a project of the Earth Island Institute, seeks a graduate research assistant to help develop and launch a campaign to mobilize student leaders and the California  system of higher education to eliminate coal dependence.

Job- IA

Luther College's Campus Sustainability Office is currently accepting applications for an energy and waste steward.  This is a temporary position.

Job- CA

The California Student Sustainability Coalition, a project of the Earth Island Institute, seeks a campaign director to help develop and launch a campaign to mobilize student leaders and the California system of higher education to eliminate coal dependence.

Job- ON

York University (ON) seeks a sustainability project coordinator to identify and support university sustainability projects.

Job- ON

York University (ON) seeks a sustainability engagement coordinator to identify and implement a program in which students can participate, learn and engage in sustainability initiatives on campus.

Job- OH

Xavier University is seeking a sustainability coordinator to promote and guide sustainability efforts throughout the university.  Applications will be accepted through July 29, 2011.

Job- KS

The University of Kansas seeks an environmental stewardship manager/administrator to supervise the program, budgetary duties and the program data collection and distribution of recyclables and solid waste reduction efforts on campus.

Job- CT

The Yale University Office of Sustainability seeks to fill the position of Sustainability Project Manager for Outreach and Engagement.

Job- NC

Sustainable Sandhills is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the natural resourses of the eight county region surrounding Fort Bragg.  The Board of Directors and former Executive Director are currently searching for a dedicated person to fulfill the position of ED.

Job- CA

Self-Help, a nationally recognized nonprofit community development leader, real estate developer, and credit union, is hiring a Special Projects Assistant to the California Managing Director. 

Australia Puts a Price on Carbon Pollution

Picture from Globe-Net.com
Australia will move forward with a national emissions trading scheme. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the Australian Government's carbon price on the weekend - $23 for each tonne of pollution beginning on July 1, 2012.

Job- MA

Harvard University (MA) is accepting applications for the position of Longwood sustainability program manager.

Job- IA

Iowa State University has announced a search for the next director of its Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.  Applications are due Oct 1, 2011.

Launching the Venture Accepting Applications through 8/1

Launching the Venture (Launch) is a series of courses designed to teach, empower and inspire entrepreneurial teams at UNC to LAUNCH commercial businesses and social ventures. Teams may comprise any mix of students, faculty and staff at UNC. Courses combine lectures, workshops, guest speakers and hands-on expert coaching and mentoring.  Many sustainable ventures have gone through this program and achieved great success, aBAN beign one of them.

UNC faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to learn from the entrepreneurship experts at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in the renowned "Launching the Venture" series of courses ("LAUNCH").  The first phase of the class, "Launch Feasibility," comprises seven Monday evening sessions beginning August 22 at 5pm. Due to limited space, interested parties should apply online by August 1.

We are offering several "Countdown to Launch" sessions in August to help you decide if Launch is a good fit for you. If you have any questions about LAUNCH -- the classes, the application or the workshops -- attend an info session or contact Patrick Vernon in the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at launch@unc.edu.

Job- NC

The North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light Council is hiring a half-time, contract employee to augment their volunteer program. 

Internship- DC

The National Wildlife Federation is hiring a Wildlife and Climate Safeguards Intern. 

Funding for Nationwide Student-Focused Clean Energy Business Competitions

The Department of Energy has announced funding for Nationwide Student-Focused Clean Energy Business Competitions.  The competitions will encourage entrepreneurship in clean energy nationwide.  U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu believes that this $2 million in available funding will foster "innovation at America's universities and producing our nation's next generation of clean energy entrepreneurs."  "This investment..." explains Chu, "...will train a new generation of scientific and technical leaders and support the Administration's continued effort to ensure that America has the workforce we need to secure our energy future, create jobs here at home, and win the future."

Job- IL

Southwestern Illinois College is seeking a director for its Green Jobs/Green Economy Initiative.

Tip of the Week

For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.  Thanks to Water: Use it Wisely for this week's tip!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

NC Science Teachers to Explore the Future of Electricity

Middle and high school science teachers from across North Carolina will attend a professional development workshop Wednesday and Thursday (July 13-14) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that will explore the future of electricity and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mention of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
Celebrate Thoreau's birthday at N.C. Botanical Garden
The Herald Sun
The North Carolina Botanical Garden will host a special lecture in celebration of the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, 19th-century naturalist and author, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. Writer William Stott presents "Thoreau's Berries: bogs, swamps, and the botanist of Concord." The lecture takes place in the Reeves Auditorium of the Botanical Garden's Education Center, located at the garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Road, off of Fordham Boulevard.

Eco-survey: Hit the beach at your own risk
USA Today
Skip beaches after rainstorms and avoid swimming near storm drains, says an environmental group that today releases its assessment of the nation's best and worst beaches in 2010. ...Storm runoff is the main reason beaches see spikes in offshore bacteria that lead to closings, says environmental biologist Rachel Noble of the University of North Carolina, who was not part of the report. "One caution is that some states do more testing than others, which might make them look worse," Noble says.

Grant helping Campus Y tackle issues
The Chapel Hill Herald
With two grants totaling $62,000, the Campus Y at UNC will work with three communities close to campus to help solve environmental and social issues. The Campus Y received $52,000 from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and $10,000 from Strowd Roses Inc. to pull together and strengthen various student- and community-led projects in the Abbey Court, Northside and Rogers Road neighborhoods.
Aluminum Panels Set To Take On Pollution As 'Smog Eaters'
National Public Radio
...Ultimately, though, the environmental impact of its new product will depend on how many people buy and install it. And Jason West, a professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the University of North Carolina, tells Shots that most of the serious work to fight NOx emissions is happening at the source, trying to prevent them in the first place, not when they're already in the air.

NC gas tax going up; sales tax going down
WNCN-TV (NBC/Raleigh)
...UNC economics professor Michael Salemi says the increase isn't enough to keep people off the roads especially with prices falling. "Taxes will go up and those increases will provide more money for highway development in the state of North Carolina, but right now consumers are not going to complain because what they see is lower pump prices," said Salemi. Salemi also doesn't think the sales tax decrease will be a big saver for most consumers.

Progress seeks proposals for wind-energy production
The Associated Press
Progress Energy Carolinas is seeking proposals for wind-energy projects as it continues to ramp up its alternative energy production. ...Progress officials said it already generates over 100 megawatts of renewable energy, but does not yet have any contracts for electricity generated by wind power. Progress is also investing in a three-year study with UNC Chapel Hill of the potential for offshore wind energy.

Provocative reading from Carolinas schools
The Charlotte Observer
Across the country, college-bound students already have their first homework - required summer reading. The books colleges assign tend to highlight important social issues and spark discussion. If you're looking for a thought-provoking book this summer, check out these choices from Carolinas colleges: ...Duke University and UNC Chapel Hill: "Eating Animals," by Jonathan Safran Foer. An examination of the stories we use to justify our eating habits.

Roadway safety is a two-way street
The Sun Journal (New Bern)
When it comes to roadway safety, whether you’re riding on two wheels or four, it’s a two-way street. Law enforcement officers from city to county to state agree that responsibility is the key to safe roads. ...In 2009, the most current statistics available from the Highway Safety Research Center at UNC Chapel Hill, there were 640 bicycle crashes on state-maintained roads.

Thanks to UNC News Services for finding this great story AND compiling the summary! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at http://uncnews.unc.edu/.

Job

Berkebile, Nelson, Immenschuh, McDowell (BNIM) Architects seeks a higher education architect with ambitious sustainability aspirations to lead design concept generation for technically complex projects.

Tip of the Week

With all the locally grown produce in season right now, it's no shock that barbeque season is at its peak.  Switch from disposables to reusables in your serving products to cut down on waste. 

Monday, July 11, 2011

Job- NC

Queen City Forward is seeking an Executive Director.

National Wildlife Federation Guide to Accessing Federal Dollars

The National Wildlife Federation developed "A Guide to Accessing Federal Dollars to Rebuild our Communities", which provides information on Federal grants supporting under-served communities. Click here to view this document.

Department of Energy Training Partnership

To complement the Obama Administration's launch last week of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has announced a series of new manufacturing job training partnerships using the Department of Energy's National Training and Education Resource (NTER). DOE will provide IT tools and technical support to each of the partner organizations, which will allow them to upgrade their existing curricula and create new immersive learning environments for students and technicians.

EPA School Integrated Pest Management Grants

EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs announces the availability of approximately $1 million for assistance agreements to further through research, development, monitoring, public education, training, demonstrations, or studies the adoption of verifiable integrated pest management by the nation's kindergarten to 12th grade public and tribal schools. Applications are due July 18, 2011.

If you have questions or need additional information regarding this announcement, please contact Frank Ellis at (703) 308-8107 or ellis.frank@epa.gov.

Job- DC

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world's leading conservation organization, seeks a Program Officer to coordinate all aspects of the Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Program, as well as take a leading role in developing and coordinating WWF's Conservation Science Network.

Job- PA

Swarthmore College seeks a full-time environmental sustainability coordinator to help coordinate ongoing green initiatives and activities on campus, work with student groups invested in environmental sustainability and attend off-campus conferences and workshops in support of climate action planning.

Job- CA

Holy Names University (CA) is seeking an assistant director for the Center for Social Justice and Civic Engagement.

Job- MN

The University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment is seeking an associate director to manage and coordinate the institute’s internal research and education programs.

Job- GA

Georgia Perimeter College is seeking a director of sustainable living and environmental studies.

Job- OR

The Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State University seeks to appoint a director of development for sustainabiliy initiatives.

Job- NC

NC Wildlife Resources Commission is hiring a fish culturist for the McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery to complete production work in the rearing of fish and maintenance of a warmwater fish culture station.

Research Study About Asthma and the Environment

This observational study will measure the effects of daily variations in outdoor air pollution levels on asthma symptoms, lung function, markers of inflammation, and heart rate variability. Currently we are seeking volunteers with physician-diagnosed severe but well-controlled asthma who are between the ages of 18 and 75. Study participants will wear heart monitors for five 24-hour periods and will keep diaries of their activities and asthma or respiratory symptoms. Ambient air will be assessed through state operated monitoring stations. Compensation is provided.

Carolina for Kibera Prepares Social Work Grad for Career in Nonprofit Work

UNC School of Social Work
When Julie Goldberg (MSW '11) left for Kenya on June 12, she was embarking on the final leg of a year-long internship that the recent master of social work graduate says has prepared her for a career in nonprofit work. Since the summer of 2010, Goldberg has worked as a program assistant for Carolina for Kibera (CFK), an international nonprofit affiliated with the UNC Center for Global Initiatives.

UNC and Ecuador Partners Dedicate Galapagos Science Center

UNC College of Arts and Sciences News
The Galapagos Islands provide an ideal setting for exploring Carolina blue skies, crystal clear water and exotic marine life. The archipelago, located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, is also a perfect place to study the delicate balance between preserving and promoting paradise, known as "the Galapagos paradox." A partnership between UNC and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) has resulted in the establishment of the Galapagos Science Center to explore these issues and more through interdisciplinary research and teaching.

NC's New Energy Code

On Friday, June 24, 2011, Governor Beverly Perdue signed SB 708 into law and, with it, approved a new Energy Conservation Code for the residential and commercial buildings in North Carolina. This new code, the fruit of over two years of work, will save home and business owners money on their monthly energy bills and help retain and create jobs in every region of our state. It delivers significant improvements in insulation levels, window performance and building envelope air leakage reduction. The new code also includes the High Efficiency Residential Option (HERO) Appendix which delivers a 30% improvement in minimum energy efficiency over the state’s current energy code. The new NC Energy Conservation Code has an effective date of January 1, 2012.

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is hiring a full time, permanent Energy Conservation Representative to work in the Raleigh office. 

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting a Payroll Accounts Payable Specialist for Wake County. 

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting a Project Manager in Wake County.

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting for an Energy Conservation Representative in Wake County.

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting a Project Mangager for Carteret County. 

Jobs- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting for a Project Manager for Carteret County.

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting for an Energy Conservation Representative in Carteret County.

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting for a Payroll Accounts Payable Specialist in Asheville, NC. 

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting a Project Manager in Asheville, NC.

Job- NC

The NC Energy Office Weatherization Assistance Program is recruiting an Energy Conservation Representative in Asheville, NC.

Job- NV

The Great Basin Institute seeks a Coordinator for the Research Associate (RA) Program to assist with logistics, operations, and oversight of RAs throughout the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts, as well as the Lake Tahoe Basin. 

UNC Hiring a Greenhouse Gas Specialist

UNC is seeking a dynamic, persuasive, creative, and analytical individual to update and maintain our greenhouse gas emissions inventories and advance our climate action plan. If you like to crunch numbers that tell a story, display data in compelling formats, evaluate new energy options, and champion new initiatives, then please apply today. The position closes July 15.

Job- UNC

UNC is seeking an individual to update and maintain their greenhouse gas emissions inventories and advance the climate action plan.  The position closes July 15.