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