Winter break!!

The semester is officially over!!

With exams finished and Fall Commencement tomorrow, this blog will be joining the students for a winter holiday until the spring semester begins on January 9, 2009. In the meantime, I recommend getting your "green" news and entertainment from some of the following sites:

• Grist (http://www.grist.org/)
• Care2 (http://www.care2.com/)
• TreeHugger (http://www.treehugger.com/)
• Planet Green (http://planetgreen.discovery.com/)
• Mother Nature Network (http://www.mnn.com/)
• Matter Network (http://www.matternetwork.com/)

See you in January!

Do you reuse your reusable bags?

I'm going to start this post by just assuming that you own one or more reusable shopping bags. If you do not have one yet, you can pick one up at the Rams Head Market on campus for just $1.50. Each year the US needlessly wastes 14 million trees and 12 million barrels of oil to make 30 billion plastic and 10 billion paper grocery bags. Having and using a few reusable shopping bags can have an immediate positive impact.

And using those bags is what this post is about. While many folks have reusable shopping bags, it is still quite common to forget the bag(s) when going to the store. For a some pointers on how to remember your bag(s), I recommend you check out the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition's tip sheet at:
http://www.igotmybag.org/tips.htm

My personal favorites are:

• Carry a super compact ChicoBag in your purse or backpack at all times. It's super small, super light weight, and super strong! For ChicoBag info, visit http://www.chicobag.com
• Shop at retailers that financially rewards you for bringing your own bag(s). Whole Foods gives you $0.05 off for each bag. After a few big grocery trips, that loose change adds up! Anyone know any other retailers with similar programs?

Climate Neutrality & Carbon Offsets

Nearly 600 colleges and universities have committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050 via the ACUPCC. In the long term, that requires making significant changes to the way that campuses are built, operated, and maintained. In the short term, however, a number of schools are looking towards carbon offsets as a quick path towards creating a “carbon neutral campus.”

What is a carbon offset? According to the ACUPCC:
“A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that is used to counterbalance or compensate for (“offset”) emissions from other activities; offset projects reducing GHG emissions outside of an entity’s boundary generate credits that can be purchased by that entity to meet its own targets for reducing GHG emissions within its boundary. Generally, offsets fall into two categories: 1) emissions reductions or avoidance, such as replacing a diesel generator with solar panels, and 2) sequestration, or removing GHGs from the atmosphere, such as planting trees that will absorb CO2 as they grow. There are many different types of projects that generate offsets in both categories, however different offset markets and offset standards only recognize certain project types as acceptable.”

While there are a plethora of carbon offset opportunities available on the market today, they remain largely unregulated. Thus there is still much debate about the value and actual impact of carbon offsets. To help universities understand the challenges and opportunities in purchasing carbon offsets, the ACUPCC has published a protocol document. You can read it all online at: http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/offsetprotocol.php

Perhaps more interesting to us here in the Triangle is a report recently published by Duke University. With 13 schools in North Carolina having signed the ACUPCC, there is a shared interest in attaining carbon neutrality AND investing in local (i.e. North Carolina) offset production. The report suggests that state universities partner to drive these programs. It’s an interesting read and can be found online at:
http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/institute/dukeoffsets.pdf

So what do you think? Are carbon offsets a valuable short term solution to bring down net greenhouse gas emissions?

From our friends in the Institute for the Environment:

"You care about global warming and want to do something about it, even if you don't drive a hybrid or are more likely to order in a pizza than roast a tofu turkey. No matter where you are on the path toward a greener lifestyle, you can join the community of Chapel Hillians and Carrborites who are taking action for a better environment.

"UNC's Institute for the Environment has teamed up with the creators of the eco-networking site MakeMeSustainable.com to create a unique group for Chapel Hill/Carrboro and offer a full set of tools and tips to track and reduce your environmental impact. The site also allows you to share your success, network with other concerned individuals, check out sustainable businesses, and see the progress of our community's combined carbon reduction efforts.

"After you register, recruit your friends and family to sign up by November 24th and be eligible to win the grand prize; a $150 camping rental package from Townsend, Bertram and Company, a $100/shop local/ gift certificate*, a Sigg water bottle and a $15 gift card to the Global Cup Café/ Daily Grind - a prize worth nearly $300!

"Questions? Contact Amy MacDonald at amyjmac@email.unc.edu"

So what are you waiting for? All the cool kids are doing it! Click on over to: http://www.makemesustainable.com/!

Sustainable Food Week is NOW!

You like eating? Me, too!

If you understand the tremendous impact our dietary choices can have on the environment AND economy, then this is your week to get involved! Monday - Thursday this week, a range of student organizations will be hosting a number of food-centric activities. A farmers market, film screening, roundtable, and more. Check the calendar (on the right toolbar of this blog) for a schedule of events, and get hip to FLO Foods!

FLO Foods = Fair Local Organic

Curious what is going on with all the construction by the Bell Tower? And how all that construction will contribute to sustainability at UNC?

The short answer is that in addition to a 710-car parking deck, a 25,000-ton chilled water plant, and a new Genome Science Laboratory Building, the Bell Tower project will also include natural areas and a fully integrated central park area underlain by a belowgrade, 360,000-gallon concrete stormwater detention structure and 350,000-gallon stone-filled cistern for storage and reuse of harvested roof water. This new reservoir will eventually be part of a long-term, sustainable solution for reducing potable water demand at UNC.


This is a pretty exciting project that will have immediate and long lasting impact on the sustainable operation of the university. If you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend reading this article in the Nov/Dec 2008 edition of Stormwater:
http://stormh2o.com/november-december-2008/unc-sustainable-projects.aspx

Where does NC's energy come from?

With all the talk of America's energy future in the recent election, it is important for us all to understand our state's current energy situation. Did you know:

• North Carolina’s electricity consumption is among the highest in the Nation.
• North Carolina is one of the top nuclear power producers in the United States.
• Coal-fired power plants typically account for more than three-fifths of North Carolina’s electricity generation, and nuclear power typically accounts for about one-third. Hydroelectric and natural gas-fired power plants produce most of the remainder.

Learn more about energy production & consumption in North Carolina by visiting our Energy Information Administration (EIA) state profile page at:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=NC

(Thnx to our friends at NCSU's Sustainability Office for pointing this out!)

What’s new?

A quick heads up on a few Sustainability Office website updates that were just recently made. Now available:

• 3 internship openings: Research and Outreach Internship, Multimedia Outreach Internship, and Graphic Design Internship
• More campus tours & maps, including a horticulture tours and area greenways
• 2008 Strategic Energy and Water Plan
• UNC Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Retrospective
• Our promo video with the "virtual tour" of campus
• Updated info and stats on most pages for the 2007-2008 year
  
• And any broken links have now been fixed!

Thank you, all, for the positive feedback. If you are not already familiar with our website, hop on over to http://sustainability.unc.edu. Enjoy!

LEED buildings near you?

On the heels of yesterday's post about LEED Platinum buildings in North Carolina, we've received a number of requests for information on other LEED certified buildings in the area. If you, too, are interested in learning what projects in your area may be LEED certified, I recommend you consult the LEED Projects Directory at:

http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Project/CertifiedProjectList.aspx

It is a free, easy to search database of all the LEED projects on record. Some project listings even have case studies attached. This is a great resource for anyone interested in sustainable development in their town, state, or region.

P.S. – Today is election day! VOTE! Now. No excuses.

LEED Platinum

Currently in construction is the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s new Visitor Center. Designed to reflect the conservation mission of the Botanical Garden, it is incorporating a number of “green” features and aspiring to LEED Platinum certification. Want to see how another North Carolina building earned LEED Platinum? Check out the "Hotel is so Green it's Platinum" video at:

http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=12607&from=news_top_video

For more information on the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Visitor Center, visit http://sustainability.unc.edu/Buildings/CampusBuildings/NCBotanicalGardenInConstruction/tabid/112/Default.aspx

Real Men go green!

Today is Halloween. In case you don’t already know, this is a REALLY FUN DAY here in Chapel Hill! So in keeping with the celebratory spirit, here’s an entertaining (and thought provoking!) post for today:

So what makes a man a man? Being manly, of course! And nothing in more macho than being environmentally, socially, and economically responsible. Don’t believe me? Read up at on 10 Reasons Real Men ‘Go Green’ at:
http://artofmanliness.com/2008/07/13/10-reasons-real-men-go-green/

P-A-R-T-Y

Don’t forget the big Sustainability Celebration this afternoon! Join us from 4-7 PM at the Rams Head Center for acoustic music, organic food samples, and lots of great information from student & university groups. This is your chance to have fun, get informed, and get involved!

If you can’t make it to the party, you can still get in on the action by joining MakeMeSustainable! UNC's Institute for the Environment has teamed up with the creators of the eco-networking site MakeMeSustainable.com to create a unique group for Chapel Hill/Carrboro and offer a full set of tools and tips to track and reduce your environmental impact. The site also allows you to share your success, network with other concerned individuals, check out sustainable businesses, and see the progress of our community's combined carbon reduction efforts.

Just visit http://makemesustainable.com.

Campus Sustainability Days are here!

What are you doing this Wednesday-Friday, Oct 22-24?

UNC will be celebrating Campus Sustainability Days with events and activities all around campus, and you are invited to join in the fun! All events are FREE and open to the public. The big live music, free food, “get involved” fair will be Thursday afternoon. Here’s the schedule:

Wednesday
12:00 - 2:00 Green Roof Information Fair (Location: FedEx Global Education Center, 4th Floor)

Thursday
10:00 Tour LEED Visitor Center @ Botanical Garden (Limited space! Call 962-0522 to RSVP)
11:00 - 12:00 Responsible Coffee Info & Tastings (Location: Global Cup Cafe, FedEx Global Education Center)
12:00 Tour LEED Visitor Center @ Botanical Garden (Limited space! Call 962-0522 to RSVP)
12:00 - 2:00 Recycled School Supply Giveaway (Location: Polk Place Quad)
12:30 - 1:30 Responsible Coffee Info & Tastings (Location: Daily Grind, The Pit)
12:30 - 1:30 Walk-n-Talk Sustainable Buildings Tour (Location: Start at Rams Head Plaza, end at FedEx Global Education Center)

4:00 - 7:00 SUSTAINABILITY CELEBRATION! (Location: Rams Head Center)
FREE Fair, Local, Organic Food Samples
LIVE Acoustic Music from Vinyl Records
Local, Seasonal Menu @ Rams Head Dining Hall (starts @ 4:30)
Student Organizations and Campus Departments

Friday
3:00 - 7:00 Harvest Grow-Down (Location: Carolina Garden Co-Op behind Kenan Dorm)

If you would like to download & print the flier, just visit:
http://sustainability.unc.edu/Portals/0/Documents/CSD%20Schedule.pdf

Chancellor Thorp: Sustainability is “part of our culture.”

When Chancellor Moeser stepped down after 8 successful years leading UNC, he left a strong legacy of institutionalizing sustainable practices and policies at UNC. During his tenure as chancellor, UNC developed a Sustainability Office, implemented a university-wide Sustainability Policy, signed the Community Carbon Reduction Pledge and American College & University President’s Climate Commitment, built a number of “green” buildings (including the first LEED building in the state system), invested in extensive resource conservation projects, and incorporated themes of sustainability into a number of curriculum areas.

This past Sunday, Oct 12, Holden Thorp was inducted as UNC’s 10th chancellor. Already an accomplished scientist, teacher, and entrepreneur, Chancellor Thorp will now be responsible for leading Carolina through a period of dramatically growth and change. This will include the groundbreaking and construction of Carolina North – UNC’s largest single expansion project in history. So how does our new chancellor see sustainability fitting into Carolina’s future?

“Carolina must remain committed to the environment, which has been a topic of research here for nearly two centuries. Our faculty's expertise spans global warming, alternative energy sources, clean air and drinking water, the health of our marine ecosystems, and sustainable development - issues that affect everyone. And with programs in the Institute for the Environment, the College and Public Health, we are even stronger. We must keep pushing these strengths - to lead in the study of the environment and its problems and in devising and providing solutions.

“On campus, we will continue to demonstrate a humble respect for the environment. Sustainability is not just an academic topic. It's part of our culture. It's reflected in everything from our construction program to how we conduct business every day.”

This quote comes directly from Chancellor Thorp’s installation speech. Watch the speech yourself to hear all that he says about sustainability at UNC. Jump to 24:30 on the timeline for the sustainability comments.



Yes, the future looks bright! As Chancellor Thorp would say, “Let it shine!”

Earn green for being green!

“Get a job!”

Ever hear that line from your parents? Your roommates? Your girlfriend?

Good news – being green can earn you green! University Career Services is hosting an Environmental Careers Networking Night on Wednesday, October 1. While this is not a job fair, it is a great opportunity to speak with active professionals and make some useful contacts. Participants will include:

• Southern Environmental Law Center (advocacy, policy, some litigation)
• Peace Corps
• UNC Institute for the Environment
• Emerging Green Builders
• Greentech Consulting
• NC Healthy Built Homes Program
• Springleaf Strategies (marketing firm started by alumna)
• RainWater Solutions
• Southern Energy Management
• Duke University Hydrology Professor
• Vert&Vogue (eco-clothing)
• EcoEngineering
• NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Durham County Health Department
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

For more information, visit: http://careers.unc.edu/events/networking.html

UNC scores B+ for sustainability

The Sustainable Endowments Institute has just released its 2009 College Sustainability Report Card. This year, UNC was again designated a “Campus Sustainability Leader,” as its overall grade improved from a B- in 2008 to a B+. Only 15 schools in Canada and the US received an A-, the highest grade given to any of the 300 schools included. UNC earned the same grade as such peer universities as Yale, Arizona State University, Cornell, MIT, UC–Davis, UC–San Diego, University of Florida, Duke, and Cornell.

Within the report card, UNC earned an A for its Administration, Food & Recycling, Green Building, Transportation, and Investment Priorities. UNC received a B for Climate Change & Energy, and Student Involvement. UNC received a D for Endowment Transparency.

To view UNC’s complete 2009 College Sustainability Report Card, visit http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2009/schools/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill.

For information on other organizations that have recognized UNC's leadership in advancing sustainability, visit http://uncsustainability.blogspot.com/2008/09/unc-recognized-as-national-leader-in.html.

About the College Sustainability Report Card:
“Now in its third year, the College Sustainability Report Card covers the colleges and universities with the 300 largest endowments in the United States and Canada, representing more than $380 billion in endowment assets, or more than 90 percent of all university endowments.”

For more information on the Sustainable Endowments Institute, visit http://www.endowmentinstitute.org

UNC Recognized as National Leader in Campus Sustainability

2008 has been a banner year for sustainability at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! Since the formation of the Sustainability Coalition in 1999, Carolina has invested tremendous resources towards teaching, researching, and building for a sustainable future. By institutionalizing sustainable values, funding sustainable development, and engaging campus community members in sustainability education, the University has worked to ensure that sustainability will remain a core value for generations to come

For its accomplishments in advancing sustainability, UNC has been recognized this year as a national leader in campus sustainability by four independent publications. These include:

• The Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2008, which listed UNC as one of the top 25 campus sustainability leaders in the nation. Carolina scored highly in Administration, Climate Change & Energy, Food & Recycling, Green Building, and Transportation.
• Princeton Review’s 2008 edition of The Best 368 Colleges, which awarded UNC a Green Rating of 96 of 99 possible points. This is the highest score of any rated university in the state, and in the top tier nationally. UNC was also given the designation “College with a Conscience,” which was given to 81 schools that practice outstanding community involvement.
• The Kaplan College Guide 2009, which reviewed UNC as one of 25 environmentally responsible colleges by evaluating campus projects and initiatives, course offerings, organizations and student groups on campus, and more.
• The National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Environment 2008: A National Report Card on Sustainability in Higher Education, which awarded UNC the most exemplary marks for sustainability activities in the state and amongst the top eight in the nation. Exemplary activities included transportation programs, recycling & solid waste management, and planning for green landscaping & grounds.

To learn more about sustainability policies, practices, and curricula at Carolina, visit our official website at http://sustainability.unc.edu

For more information on the Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2008, visit http://www.endowmentinstitute.org

For more information on Princeton Review’s Green Ratings, visit http://uncsustainability.blogspot.com/2008/08/unc-receives-high-marks-in-green-rating.html

For more information on Kaplan's list of 25 environmentally responsible colleges, visit http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20080805/NYTU06805082008-1.html

For more information on the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Environment 2008 report, visit http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/campusreportcard.cfm

Get "green" at Carolina!

How can you be "Carolina Green?"

Study Green:
New Sustainability Minor
Intro to Environment & Society (ENST 201)
Seminars on Sustainability (ENST 204)
Field Sites in NC, Bangkok, and Cambridge
Sustainability Capstone Research Projects

Learn more @ http://www.ie.unc.edu/

Live Green:
Organic, fair-trade, local food on campus
Sustainable activities & events
Energy & water conservation
Carolina Green Games
Recycling

Learn more @ Sustainability.unc.edu

Ride Green:
Commuter Alternatives Program
ZipCar campus car rental
Point to Point (P2P) shuttles
Chapel Hill Transit
Bike registration

Learn more @ http://www.dps.unc.edu/

Join Green:
Carolina Garden Co-op
Campus Y: Center for Social Justice
Students Working in the Environment for Active Transformation (SWEAT)
And many, many more!

Learn more @ Sustainability.unc.edu

P.S. - This glorified slide show took most of my day to put together. If there is a journalism/communications student out there who would like to work on producing more in-depth, professionally produced shorts about sustainability at UNC, drop us a line! We would love to sponsor an internship and/or capstone project!

Don't be a fool. Recycle at school.

Remember the "Don't be a litter bug" campaigns of your youth?

These campaigns have lasted so long and reached such a wide audience because they are entertaining and educational. Also, nobody wants to be defined by a negative behavior. And now the recycling movement may be taking a page from this book.

North Carolina's own RE3 was created specifically to increase participation in recycling through positive behavior change. They have a range of fun videos, facts, and myth busting on their website. Taking a page from the "litter bug" playbook, RE3 has taken a more entertaining take on encouraging positive recycling behavior. Check out this fun spot:



RE3 has even attached a not-so-positive label to any would-be non-recyclers:


Visit RE3 online at http://www.re3.org/
Check out more RE3 videos online at http://www.youtube.com/re3org

UNC Ranked Amongst Top Green Schools in the Nation – Again!

UNC has now been ranked as one of the top “green” schools in the nation by both Princeton Review and Kaplan! This is in addition to already being listed as one of the top 25 campus sustainability leaders in the Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2008.

Last week, UNC scored 96 of 99 possible point in Princeton Review’s newly debuted Green Ratings. This was the highest score of any rated university in the state and amongst the top in the country.

This week, UNC is being acknowledged again. This time in the Kaplan College Guide 2009 as one of 25 environmentally responsible colleges. In reviewing the top 25, Kaplan took into account:

• Campus projects and initiatives,
• Course offerings,
• Organizations and student groups on campus,
• Efforts highlighted on the school's sustainability website,
• And the achievements highlighted in the Sustainable Endowments Institute's 2008 College Sustainability Report Card 2008.

Just like UNC's Sustainability Policy said back in 2005: "As a leading research university, UNC will influence generations of students and a range of communities from local to global. Campus operations and course offerings that incorporate sustainability will help maintain our competitive edge in recruitment, funded research, and development."

Other colleges that made Kaplan's list include Yale, Harvard, MIT, Oregon State University, the University of Washington, Duke University,Penn State University, the University of California system, the University of New Hampshire, and Arizona State University.

For more information about the Kaplan's list of 25 environmentally responsible colleges, visit http://sev.prnewswire.com/education/20080805/NYTU06805082008-1.html

For more information about Princeton Review’s Green Ratings, visit http://uncsustainability.blogspot.com/2008/08/unc-receives-high-marks-in-green-rating.html

For more information about the Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2008, visit http://www.endowmentinstitute.org/

For more information about sustainable practices at UNC, visit http://sustainability.unc.edu/

UNC receives high marks in Green Rating!

This week Princeton Review, the popular college prep company, released its new Green Ratings in the latest edition of The Best 368 Colleges. 534 schools were scored on a scale of 60-99 points that measured their environmentally-friendly practices in three areas:

• The campus quality of life that is healthy and sustainable,
• How well the school prepares students for employment and citizenship in a world defined by environmental challenges,
• And the school's overall commitment to environmental issues.

In this initial Green Rating, UNC scored 96 of 99 possible points! This is the highest score of any rated university in the state and reflects the sustainability leadership that UNC brings to the local, regional, and national level. Notable accomplishments included in the Princeton Review’s scoring include:

• A wide variety of curriculum and research across the disciplines that supports sustainability;
• University Career Services counselors who specialize in the non-profit and environmental career areas;
• Fare-free local transit and the Commuter Alternatives Program, in which UNC invests over $6 million dollars annually;
• Organic, local, fair-trade, and vegetarian dining options available on campus;
• A strong recycling program that diverts more than 43% of waste from the landfill;
• Master planning for a sustainable community at the new Carolina North campus;
• Operation of an award-winning, 32 MW cogeneration facility that actively reduces emissions and produces twice as much energy per pound of coal as a typical coal plant;
• And support for sustainability from top university leadership, including the Vice Chancellor's Sustainability Advisory Committee, which includes faculty, staff, administrators, and students.

In addition to this high Green Rating, UNC was also given the designation “College with a Conscience,” which was given to 81 schools that practice outstanding community involvement.

For more information about the Princeton Review’s new Green Ratings, visit http://www.princetonreview.com/green/press-release.aspx

For more information about sustainable practices at UNC, visit http://sustainability.unc.edu/

Carolina North movie!

Holy smokes! Have you visited the online home of Carolina North recently?

If not, I recommend you hop on over to: http://cn.unc.edu/

Why the excitement? Let me quote the webpage:
"This research-driven entrepreneurship will take place in a highly green environment, one specifically designed to be a model of sustainability and to take advantage of the latest technological developments."

And the video really brings that theme to the forefront! Watch closely for the abundance of working landscapes (e.g. natural stormwater management areas) and green roofs. Click here to view the streaming movie (may require RealPlayer).

Did you know that you can enjoy the Carolina North campus now - even before the first building is built? The 750 acres of woodlands currently have trails that can be responsibly enjoyed by all. And it's just a quick bus ride from Franklin Street! Learn more at: http://www.fac.unc.edu/AboutUs/ShopsDepartments/Grounds/CarolinaNorth/tabid/259/Default.aspx

UNC's Center for Sustainable Enterprise in the news

The Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE) at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School received high praise recently as "one of the top ranked schools in terms of course content" in an article on GreenBiz.com, a well known sustainable business website. You can read the article, which includes an overview of the CSE's sustainable business accelerator program, at:
http://www.greenbiz.com/feature/2008/07/21/new-green-focus-future-mbas?page=0%2C0

If you are not already familiar with the CSE, I highly recommend giving them a visit at:
http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/KI/cse/index.cfm

Or, better yet, watch the video introduction at:
http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/KI/cse/videosPresentations.cfm (RealPlayer required)

Coming Soon...

Coming soon to a computer near you is the all new UNC Sustaina-Blog!!

This blog will offer updates, observations, and alerts that pertain to sustainability at UNC Chapel Hill. If you have topics, issues, or news stories that you would like to bring to our attention, just email your ideas to: Brian.Cain [at] fac.unc.edu

Check back soon for updates...