Riders push for light rail

image copyright The Daily Tar Heel

The Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) took to the bus this past weekend to advocate for light rail in the Triangle and deliver a letter to state legislators. Check out the Daily Tar Heel's article here:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/city/riders-push-for-light-rail-1.1633561

Earth Hour Saturday Night

Turn off the lights for an hour on Saturday night, and come out and enjoy an evening walk under the stars or have a romantic candle lit dinner, suggests the Earth Hour website. On Saturday, March 28th at 8:30PM local time, more than 1,000 cities and towns in 80 countries have committed to turning off their lights for an hour to raise awareness for climate change.

The thousands of residential houses and apartments that are set to turn off their lights will be joined by several landmarks and iconic office buildings. The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the Empire State building and the Sydney Opera House will all turn off their lights. The lights out initiative began in Sydney in 2007 as a one-city environmental campaign and has evolved into a grassroots action that has captured the attention of thousands. In 2008, 371 cities across 35 countries turned out their lights to present a united stance on climate change. Will you join?

The Rise of Super Bugs on Unsustainable Farms

Two recent New York Times articles by Nicholas Kristof about MRSA (an antibiotic-resistant Staph infection) popping up on pig farms reminded us of the issues discussed in Omnivore’s Dilemma.

As Americans slowly turn away from overusing antibiotics in hope of creating less antibiotic resistant “super-bugs”, many are surprised to learn that the animals on industrial farms are routinely treated with antibiotics whether sick or not. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that at least 70 percent of the antibiotics used in America are fed to animals living on factory farms. For cows, antibiotics are administered as a result the all-grain diet which their stomachs are not suited to, causing a change in the acidity of the stomachs and an increasing E. coli presence. For most animals raised on industrial farms, the cramped quarters mean that infections spread quickly and antibiotics prevent this from happening. Except when they don’t of course, which is precisely what happens when viruses become resistant to antibiotics.

The New York Times articles bring this issue to the forefront by discussing the routine presence of MRSA in supermarket pork. This “flesh-eating bacteria” as its often known causes lesions on the skin that quickly spread and is known to have caused more than 18,000 deaths per year. “The peer-reviewed Medical Clinics of North America concluded last year that antibiotics in livestock feed were ‘a major component’ in the rise in antibiotic resistance. The article said that more antibiotics were fed to animals in North Carolina alone than were administered to the nation’s entire human population,” writes Nicholas Kristof. Which is why we’re especially excited about the news that Carolina Dining Services will be serving grass-fed beef in Rams Head on Wednesdays.

Read more:
Our Pigs, Our Food, Our Health
Pathogens in Our Pork
Grass-fed Beef a Welcome Addition to Dining Halls

In tough times, save the planet

copyright 2009 by the Daily Tar Heel

If you're not a regular, on-campus reader of the Daily Tar Heel, you might have missed last week's guest columnist, Josh Tetrick. Interesting read, to be sure!

"We are drowning. And not just in credit card bills and tuition payments. We are drowning in false choices.

"We are told that we must choose between making money and making a difference, that it is not possible to harness our strengths, embrace our passions and have a career at the same time. We’ve been misled, misinformed, and we’re now anxious about the future. But crisis — both economic and planetary — creates opportunity.

"Whatever you think about your career during this economic maelstrom — think the opposite."

Read the rest of this column at:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/opinion/in_tough_times%252C_save_the_planet-1.1619718

Senator John Kerry, too, made a similar call last week while on campus for the Weil Lecture on American Citizenship:

“There are some that try to argue that you can’t deal with climate change in an economic crisis. But I can’t think of a thinking that is more off-base than that. Dealing with climate change is part of the solution to the economic crisis.”

Your can check out the DTH reporting of his visit at:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/university/kerry_pushes_environmental_action-1.1623286

More Projects for Managing Electricity Use

As it turns out Google.org is not the only one in the testing stages of technology that will help households manage their energy use more efficiently (see our previous blog post on the Google PowerMeter).

A recent study, the Pacific Northwest Gridwise™ Demonstration Project, allowed 112 families to preset their desired levels of energy use based on their desired comfort level and economy. These presets were applied to their thermostats, heaters and dryers and as peak electricity price increased, the software automatically lowered thermostats and turned off the heating device on water heaters to reduce the energy costs and decrease stress on the power grid. A virtual online bank account was established to allow customers to see their expenditure and savings, and participants received constantly updated pricing information that helped them change their presets if they so wished. This project helped reduce energy use during peak hours by as much as 50%. Individual families saved approximately 15% more energy than normal.

Another project, also in the Pacific Northwest, hooked up controllers to specific appliances such as dryers and water heaters. The Grid Friendly Appliance project was aimed at reducing stress on the power grid by detecting periods of high energy consumption and using their controllers to shut off the appliances they were hooked up to. This action decreased the stress on the grid enough to re-stabilize the system and sometimes even prevent or reduce the impact of power outages.

Looks like energy use is making huge strides forward! We can’t wait for these projects to finish up the testing stages and go mainstream.

Read the full story here.

On our Bookshelf: Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Polyface Farm, VA. Photo by Megan Lovett

With spring just around the corner any day now and the local farmer’s market beginning to provide fresh produce, our mind turns invariably to food.

Food, and the effects of what we eat on our greater environment.

According to Michael Pollan, thinking about our food is a great part of what defines us as omnivores. Koalas do not need to think about food, for they are completely wired to exclusively eat eucalyptus. Humans (and rats for that matter) must dedicate a vast amount of brain space and time to determining what is good to eat. However, the overabundance and ready accessibility of food in America complicates the question for much of what looks good to eat in a supermarket has been engineered for that very purpose, with less thought to its actual nutrition content.

So with so much available to us for consumption, what should we eat? For a clear mind, a good conscience, a healthy body, what are our responsibilities in picking out our dinner? Americans especially, with our mosaic of cultures to draw upon, resulting in a virtually limitless number of cuisines and accompanying food philosophies, have been victim to not deliberating the omnivore’s dilemma enough, and either overeating or jumping on extreme diets. Michael Pollan contends that the entire country is suffering from “a national eating disorder.”

Thus he takes it upon himself to examine the effects of our food choices, not only on our personal health but on the country as a whole – agribusiness, politics, medicine and the antibiotics industry. From CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feedlot Operations) to mass production of organic produce for Whole Foods to a small family farm called Polyface in Virginia to even hunting his own dinner, the author examines the implications of four of his meals and empowers his readers to do the same.

Speaking of which, did you know that Carolina Dining Services has teamed up with the student group Fair, Local and Organic Foods to serve locally-raised, grass-fed beef in Rams Head Dining Hall? Starting this week, the dining hall will serve this beef every Wednesday at lunch for the rest of the semester. So order up a hamburger next Wednesday to support healthier food and local business!

Compost...the Musical

In a word - wow. Enjoy!

Do you live on campus? Do you eat at Lenoir or Rams Head? Then much of your food waste is already composted for you. Good for you! In 2007-2008, 443 tons of food waste from Lenoir Dining Hall, Rams Head Dining Hall, and the Friday Center were composted and picked up by Brooks Contractors. The decomposed product is then sold to local farmers and gardeners. At Rams Head Dining Hall, used fryer oil is collected for pickup by the Piedmont Biofuels cooperative.

Van Jones, Green Jobs, and Earth Day

Green jobs are all the talk these days with the stimulus package and the emerging green economy. What are they? Why do they hold such promise? How can universities play a part? Van Jones, TIME Magazine 2008 Environmental Hero, did a pretty good job answering these questions back in November at the AASHE Conference. It long, but worth it!



On Wednesday, April 22, UNC is celebrating Earth Day by hosting a green jobs panel here on campus. Join us at 7:00 PM at the Sonja Haynes Stone Center Theatre for a fascinating panel on the future of green-collar jobs and the development of the green economy in North Carolina and beyond. Expert panelists will include Joseph James, Purpose Prize winner and CEO of Corporation for Economic Opportunity; John Hardin, Acting Executive Director of the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology, and Larry Shirley, Secretary of the NC State Energy Office. The panel will be moderated by Dr. James Johnson, Director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center and the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, and William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. See you there!

It's St. Patty's Day! Are you green?!

So how are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year? Don't just wear green - live green! Here are some quick suggestions on how you can green your celebrations and your life:

1) Celebrate sustainably! If you like good food, then you'll love these sustainable holiday recipes - corned beef and cabbage, chocolate cake, and more! Check them out at:

http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/03/16/sustainable-st-patricks-day-recipes-green-your-green/

2) Green your small apartment or dorm room! Some fun recommendations, like Bidon Lamps and composting at:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/carbon-neutral-urban-apartment.html

3) Compare your eco-footprint with others in the local community by starting a profile at MakeMeSustainable. Our local group is administered by UNC's Institute for the Environment online at:

http://makemesustainable.com/

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

UNC-W's sustainable student store

Image copyright UNC-Wilmington ECOteal

Welcome back from Spring Break! Let's jump back in with a bit of inspiration. Want to hear what some other students have done that is pretty AWESOME?

A student run store at UNC-Wilmington is specializing in selling environmentally green, recycled products. The store, titled ECOteal, focuses on transportation-related items that provide an alternative to cars, sustainable products and repair services. The only one of its kind within the UNC system, ECOteal gives students a chance to research environmentally friendly products while gaining real-life marketing and retail experience while educating their customers at the same time.

From t-shirts (organic cotton or bamboo) to skateboards (sustainable travel option) to cards with wildflower seeds that you can plant, this store caters to the needs to students who care about making sustainable purchasing choices. Located in the Fisher University Union, the store opened in October 2008 in conjunction with Sustainability Day. UNC-W also recently purchased an electric truck, so it looks like sustainable efforts are alive and well at the Wilmington campus!

Check them out online at:
http://www.uncwil.edu/ba/ecoteal/index.htm

Sustainable Enterprise Quarterly

Everybody loves newsletters!

Check out the Sustainable Enterprise Quarterly' from Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School. The Winter 2009 issue is online at:

http://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/KI/cse/newnewsletters.cfm

Headline's include:

• Green Supply Chain Management Practices Complement EMS Systems
• New Center for Sustainable Enterprise Director
• Sustainable Businesses Join BASE
• CSE Program News
• Notes from the Field
• New Sustainable Business Teaching Resource
• Executive Education Course on Sustainability
• News from around the World

Rain, rain, don't go away...

Today (and probably this whole weekend) will be overcast and rainy. Not great for celebrating the last weekend of Spring Break, but sorely needed by our region to avoid drought conditions. While the good news is that our OWASA resevoirs appear full, the bad news is that most of the state is already suffering "Abnormally Dry" or "Moderate Drought" conditions. Hopefully this patch of wet weather can help us "top of" and avoid water shortages as the weather starts to warm up.

For daily updates on OWASA resevoir levels, visit OWASA's Water Watch at:

http://www.owasa.org/right/WaterWatch.aspx

For regional maps of drought conditions, visit the US Drought Monitor at:

http://drought.unl.edu/DM/MONITOR.HTML

For information on UNC's water conservation efforts, visit us at:

http://sustainability.unc.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=65

PS - Go Heels!! Game is at noon, so tune in!

Sustainability Summer Internships!!

Summer 2009 internship positions now open! Applications will be considered starting March 25. All internship will be open until filled.

Campus Community Outreach Internship
This intern will primarily serve as a representative of the UNC Sustainability Office at campus community events during the summer. Outreach events may include “tabling” at information fairs, hosting sessions at new student orientation events, or responding to questions. This intern will also help develop and update various outreach materials that document sustainability on campus, such as website content, activity calendar, newsletter, email updates, brochures, and more. Excellent public speaking skills are required. Interns must also be self-motivated, able to work independently, and possess strong interpersonal skills. Familiarity with existing sustainability programs on campus is a BIG advantage. Proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint is necessary. Minimum commitment of 20 hours per week (approximately 3 days/week) is required from mid-May until early-August.

Multimedia Outreach Internship
This intern will contribute to the development of multimedia outreach materials, including virtual campus tours, Google mapping of sustainability features, promotional videos, and website resources. Proficiency with html, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and basic video production are strongly preferred. Interns must also be self-motivated, able to work independently, and possess strong interpersonal and communication skills. Minimum commitment of EITHER 20 hours per week for full summer session OR 40 hours per week for half summer.

Internship Requirements
All internships are competitive and require an in-person interview. All current undergraduate or graduate students in good academic standing are eligible. Recent graduates are also eligible. The Research & Outreach Manager serves as the internship coordinator and is responsible for communication with the participating academic supervisor, if necessary.

If you are interested in a specific internship, please contact:
Brian Cain, Research & Outreach Manager
UNC Sustainability Office
103 Airport Dr.
CB 1800
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
E-mail: Brian.Cain [at] fac.unc.edu

Energy’s challenges are UNC’s future gain

"I knew UNC had a pretty forward-looking energy policy, but until I started writing this column, I didn’t realize how much green work was going on right in our backyard.

"UNC has a bright green future if we seize the moment.You might not realize that climate control in all the buildings on campus is done by steam and cold water. The steam is waste from coal and natural gas power plants nearby; the cold water is chilled at a handful of facilities around campus.

"There are great benefits to this type of 'district' system. It aggregates the cost of many users, so small boosts in efficiency have a big impact. In the past year, the chilled water operation alone has improved its efficiency by 4 percent and is saving UNC $300,000 annually.

In case you missed this opion piece in the Daily Tar Heel, I recommend giving it a quick read at:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/opinion/energy_s_challenges_are_unc_s_future_gain-1.1568106

The column correctly recognizes that increasing the use of renewable energy on campus as the ultimate way to tranform our campus's energy and ecological footprint. However, this for now this would only offer a partial solution. While the university does operate an award-winning cogeneration facility, this "on campus" energy production only represents a fraction of UNC's daily energy needs. Much of UNC's energy is actually purchased from utilities such as Duke Power.

However, the recommendation that would have the most substantial and immediate impact is a "collaboration between the supply and demand sides." Fortunately, the new Energy Management team in Facilities Services is working on just that! If you are interested in how the Energy Services and Energy Management are working together to optimize UNC's energy usage, check out the university's annual Strategic Energy and Water Plan. It includes overviews on departmental intiatives AND lists of specific efficency with their cost and savings. It's online at;
http://sustainability.unc.edu/Portals/0/Documents/State_Energy_Plan_07-08.pdf

Build the environment, too

Todd BenDor, an assistant professor of city and regional planning at UNC and a 2009 GSK Faculty Fellow at N.C. State University's Institute for Emerging Issues, and Martin Doyle, an associate professor in the Geography Department and Institute of the Environment at UNC, have penned an very interesting editorial in the News and Observer. It concerns stimulus funding, the creation for green jobs, and environmental restoration. Check it out:

"The $787 billion federal stimulus package will help North Carolina improve its infrastructure and create jobs. And by putting the environment front and center as we build the roads, bridges and waterworks that we need, we can put even more people to work.

"North Carolina needs money for its infrastructure. The first glimpses of our 2009 infrastructure report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) are awful. Our roads get a D and our drinking water systems a C+. Even our dams receive a D, with some 22 percent of them labeled high hazard, i.e., in poor condition and located upstream of residential or commercial areas.

"Using the stimulus package to improve roads, repair bridges and reinforce levees is an absolute necessity. Better infrastructure doesn't just prevent disaster. According to White House estimates, 105,000 jobs will be created here through the stimulus package. Many of these jobs will come from new investments in public infrastructure."

Read the rest at:
http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/columns/story/1428828.html

Social entrepreneurs learn the secrets in BASE!

Image copyright Kenan-Flagler Business School

Make money, help others, make the world a better place. Sounds easy, but starting a successful socially responsible business venture is no simple matter...especially in this economy. That is why the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School offers BASE (Business Accelerator for Sustainable Entrepreneurship).


On Jan. 28, twenty-one sustainable entrepreneurs began a 12-month journey to grow their "triple-bottom-line" businesses. Through workshops members learn from investors, entrepreneurs and other experts in the field how to prepare their businesses for investment and how to strengthen their business models.


So what have they learned thus far? Check out this wrap-up article on their recent "Getting Ready for Capital" workshop:
http://www.kenaninstitute.unc.edu/centers/cei/?y=news.20090219&t=News

Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Microfinance at UNC

Image copyright UNC Global News

"Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are no strangers to enduring long lines when it comes to getting good seats. Whether it is to see the Homecoming concert, or to win the last few sacred tickets to the Carolina-Duke basketball game, Tar Heels are not easily dissuaded by cold weather and sleep deprivation when duty calls.
"But as students began lining up as early as 5 AM outside of Kenan-Flagler Business School on Wednesday February 4, it was not in hopes of seeing Tyler Hansbrough sink yet another layup. Rather, it was to hear 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus discuss his strategy for the daunting task of alleviating poverty around the
world."

Read the rest of this excellent article from UNC Global News online at:
http://global.unc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=834&Itemid=94
It has an excellent introduction to microfinance and how the microfinance movement has grown at UNC.