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
