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Carolina in the News

Check out these recent UNC-related news stories:

LEAP tackles climate hands-on
The Chapel Hill Herald
While most students are spending their summer vacation working odd jobs or relaxing at the beach, 24 Chapel Hill and Carrboro high school students are making their summer educationally useful by participating in the Climate Leadership and Energy Awareness Program held at UNC. ...Climate LEAP is designed by staff members from the UNC Institute for the Environment's environmental resource program, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, and the physics and astronomy department in the College of Arts and Sciences.
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1186272.cfm
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2705/107/

Commuting by Bike or Foot Provides Heart Help for Men in Study
Bloomberg News (Wire Service)
Men who walk or bike to work are less likely to be obese and more likely to have healthier blood pressure and insulin levels, research showed. Men whose commute involved such exercise were half as likely to be obese as those who drove or took public transportation, said Penny Gordon-Larsen, lead author of the study in today’s Archives of Internal Medicine. ...“Even if you adjust for other forms of physical activity, walking or biking to work really does add an additional benefit,” said Gordon-Larsen, an associate professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in a telephone interview today.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aj8sY5nKT1Vw
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2695/71/

More Commuters Taking Heart-Healthy Approach
CBS News
While most people get to work by car, some people take a different approach and doctors say they are walking and riding their way to a healthy heart. ...Experts at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hills studied more than 2,300 adults, their average length of commute and other factors were assessed by a treadmill test.
http://cbs2.com/local/active.commuters.daily.2.1083754.html
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2695/71/

Minority Business Expo is Sept. 12
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The Black Faculty and Staff Caucus of UNC will host its first UNC Minority Business Expo, "Where Commerce Meets Culture," from noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Great Hall of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union. Besides minority businesses showcasing their services and products to the public, the free expo will provide an information session, networking opportunities and entertainment.
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1184383.cfm
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2707/67/

Book says 'big food' making us bigger (Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
The next time you kick yourself for eating a cinnamon roll the size of Alaska, ponder this: Maybe you did it because you've been programmed to. Is your brain controlled by food industry wizards? It's not so far-fetched. In his new book, "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite," David Kessler explains how the food industry manipulates fat, sugar and salt in processed foods to make them irresistible. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical assistant professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1607386.html

-Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories AND compiling the summaries! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/category/8/34/103/

UNC study: People who bike or walk to work are more fit, less fat than drivers

As if the financial costs of driving to work weren't enough (i.e. gas & maintenance, parking permits, and stressful traffic), there is now a health cost! Fortunately, "active commuting" has none of those costs...and is healthier! A win-win, if you are able!

Read it up:
UNC study: People who bike or walk to work are more fit, less fat than drivers
Trying to get fit but can’t work it into your daily schedule? Incorporating even relatively short bouts of exercise into a daily commute appears to deliver significant rewards, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Researchers looked at the health and fitness levels of active commuters – people who walk or ride a bike to work at least part of the way – compared to those who drive or take public transportation.
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2695/71/

The Blob

A giant, living, fibrous brown mass, approximately 12 to 15 miles long, was recently discovered to be floating in the Chuckchi Sea off the coast of Alaska. Seriously. It sounds like a 50s horror flick, but the mass—nicknamed “The Blob”—was originally thought to be an oil spill and has now been declared by scientists to be a living algae bloom.

“The fact that the locals say they’ve never seen anything like I suggests that it might represent some exotic species which has drifted into the region, perhaps as a result of global change. For the moment, that’s just a guess,” stated Barry Sherr, an oceanography professor at Oregon State University.

Although speculation as to its origins is just that at this point—speculation—it does bring up the issue of algae blooms. Blooms require three things in order to grow: nutrients, light, and particular water temperatures. Often, these nutrients are inadvertently supplied by people fertilizing their lawns. In a process called “eutrophication,” the fertilizer is washed by the rain into water ecosystems and feeds nutrients like nitrogen to algae, allowing algae to thrive and other animal life to choke.

The blooms are often toxic to marine organisms and humans alike. Another algae bloom called a “red tide” is currently occurring off the coast of Maine and has caused a complete shutdown of clam, mussel, and quahog harvesting. Choosing an alternative to the traditional lawn, like organic agriculture or grass substitutes, can help stop this problem and save energy, water, local plant species, and the oceans!

For more information on "The Blob," visit the Time's article: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1911517,00.html.

For more information on human-caused algae blooms, visit: http://www.umces.edu/HABs.htm.

For grass lawn alternatives, click here!

MakeMeSustainable Monday: Sustainable Seafood

Welcome to our regular Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can do this week to help live more sustainably!

If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group!

This week's project: Sustainable Seafood Pocket Guide
It's the summer - and summer means beach trips and seafood! But what kinds of seafood are or are not sustainable? To find out, just follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Print out the following Seafood Watch card: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/content/media/MBA_SeafoodWatch_SoutheastGuide.pdf
2. Cut and fold the sheet to fit in your wallet or purse.
3. Consult your card whenever you are considering eating seafood. Don't be afraid to ask the waiter or clerk about where and how your fish were caught. They may not know the answer at first. However, the more people that specifically ask for sustainable seafood, the more likely restaurants and grocery stores will be to start offering it!

So what are you waiting for? Go out and enjoy some catfish (US farmed), salmon (Alaska wild), and oysters (farmed)!

FORMAL NOTICE: Adoption of New Energy Use Policy

The following is the email sent to all campus community members on July 8. This marks the implementation of UNC's new Energy Use Policy. This important policy establishes the framework that will guide our university towards a cleaner, greener future! Forgive the late post - summer always leaves the office a bit understaffed!

To: Carolina Faculty, Staff and Students
From: Richard Mann, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Date: July 8, 2009
Subject: Adoption of New Energy Use Policy

In response to the grave global economic situation, the University's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 and state legislation that mandates reductions in energy consumption, the University has adopted a new Energy Use Policy. As a result, the University is implementing campus-wide Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) that will achieve significant and relatively immediate reductions in energy consumption and reduce the University's utility costs.

Space temperatures in campus buildings will be optimized for energy conservation during the times the buildings are occupied, and will not exceed 78 degrees during summer months or drop below 69 degrees during cooler weather. Further, most buildings will be programmed to relax these set temperatures during times of low occupancy when buildings are unoccupied.

Certain campus facilities such as labs, animal facilities, museums, libraries and computer server spaces that require strict, consistent temperatures may be exempt from many of the planned ECMs. The Facilities Services Division is working to accommodate the needs of facilities in these buildings while identifying other energy-saving measures that can be implemented.

Although building occupants could notice some change in their comfort levels because of the temperature adjustment, the University is committed to keeping facilities within safe and reasonably comfortable temperature ranges at all times. The temperature and humidity standards to be implemented are in accordance with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommendations for occupied spaces.

The technical work involved in reprogramming and adjusting building control systems is complex and can be time-consuming. Facilities Services is making implementation of this policy a priority, and the division has committed Energy Management engineers and maintenance staff to this effort. Most of their work will be done "behind the scenes" and with as little disruption as possible to building occupants, the work environment and building operations. During the process to implement these energy-saving measures, several maintenance technicians will be temporarily taken away from their regular duties, potentially resulting in delayed response times for trouble calls.

University-wide support of the energy policy will save both energy and money, and there are many ways individuals across campus can make a difference. People should always dress appropriately for the weather and for temperatures inside buildings. Because lighting consumes a considerable amount of energy in most buildings, simply turning off unnecessary lights when there is adequate daylight and turning off lights whenever people step out of their offices will help conserve energy. It is critical to turn off all lights and nonessential computers and equipment at the end of the day.

The University community is asked to be tolerant of any discomfort as a result of adjusted room temperatures or other ECMs and to recognize the importance of taking such steps. Beyond reducing the University's utility bills, careful energy management benefits the environment and preserves natural resources.

Energy conservation is an ongoing commitment. Facilities Services will update the University community about the latest developments in implementing these measures. Information will be posted on a new Web site, www.save-energy.unc.edu, and people can send energy-saving ideas to a specially designated e-mail address, save-energy@unc.edu.

This email is sponsored by: Division of Finance and Administration

You can read the full policy, learn more, and submit feedback online at:
http://save-energy.unc.edu/

The environmental impact of EVs

At first blush, the environmental impact of electric vehicles (EVs) can be broken into 3 categories. Without getting too deep into the many variables of each, here's a quick overview:

1) Production of the car: Possibly Polluting!
Whether you are buying a new gas-guzzling SUV or a hyper-efficient EV, there is still a tremendous environmental impact from building a new car. Think about all the different parts and materials that go in to building a complete vehicle. Solution: Consider if you really need a personal vehicle. If so, consider purchasing a used EV (unfortunately, not really an option yet) or having a used car converted into an EV. This will minimize your environmental impact and give your old car a second life!

2) Powering the car: Possibly Clean!
There is a lot of debate about the emissions associated with EVs. While EVs do not have emissions, there are emissions from the power plants that charge those EVs. Fortunately there are 3 solutions that make this less of a factor.

First, charging EVs at night reduces peak loading on power plants. Power plants are constantly producing enough energy to meet their "peak load." However this peak load occurs rarely, so that energy is unsued. Charging during off-peak periods (e.g. nights) maximizes the use of existing energy while minimizing the need for additional power generation.

Second, it is easier to regulate and clean emissions from a handful of power plants than millions of tailpipes. By shifting emission sources, we are better able to monitor and address emissions. This doesn't solve the problem - but it makes it easier to address.

Third, there is a growing movement to charge EVs with home- or business-based renewable energy systems. For example, a solar panel on the garage could be used to charge the EV. It's a simple idea that makes for an emission-free EV running on clean energy!

3) Disposing of the Battery: Possibly Clean!
Batteries for EVs can be made of a number of different materials. Lead, which is the cheapest and has the shortest charge, is what most of our current conventional car batteries use. Lead is heavy and toxic. It is estimated that 2.6 million metric tons of lead is currently "on the road" in today's cars. Even worse, 40,000 metric tons of lead are landfilled annually, and another 70,000 metric tons are released in lead mining and manufacturing.

Nickel, used in many hybrid cars, is a bit more expensive and has a longer range than lead. However, it is also a probable carcinogen and has a polluting mining/manufacturing process. The good news, though, is that some components of nickel batteries can be recycled. For example, leading hybrid car producers Toyota and Honda facilitate recycling of their batteries. Toyota claims to recycle all components. Honda recycles some materials and "neutralizes" others before landfilling them.

Lithium, the newest and most promising battery material for EVs, is expensive but has a much longer range. While there are obvious mining concerns, as with any of these materials, lithium has a much smaller environmental impact according to Jim Kliesch, ("Green Book: The Environmental Guide to Cars and Trucks"). The longer battery life means that it will be disposed of less frequently, and many materials in lithium batteries are already recyclable. Lithium batteries are currently being used in such EVs as the Tesla Roadster. You can read about their clean production and recycling program here:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/tesla-electric-car-batteries-non-toxic-recycled.php

In summary, EVs have the potential to radically improve our environment and our health IF paired with cleaner energy production and advanced recycling programs.

Your thoughts?

EV infrastructure? 2 solutions.

One of the largest hurdles to any new fuel - electricity, hydrogen, ethanol, anything - is the cost and effort required to build the new distribution infrastructure. Here are 2 interesting solutions:

First, place charging stations at parking spaces everywhere. This is exactly what Vancouver is starting to do! In a bid to become the next EV "hot spot," Vancouver City Council has passed new regulations that require developers to include EV plug-in outlets in at least 20% of parking spaces in new apartment buildings and some city-owned lots. You can read more about this plan here:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/07/09/bc-vancouver-electric-cars-plug-ins.html

Second, place "battery-swap" stations everywhere. This is an interesting idea that addresses 3 issues - infrastructure, cost, and range. The most expensive and limiting component of an EV is the battery. Shai Agassi makes an interesting case - the battery should be considered the fuel, not a part of the car. Rather than buy an expensive, limited life battery with the EV, consumers would instead go to automated battery switch stations similar to gas stations. Consumers would just pay for a charged battery and hit the road! Watch this video to learn more about this idea:


And learn more about who is adopting Shai Agassi's plan at his startup "Better Place" at:
http://www.betterplace.com/global-progress/

Your thoughts?

Easy EV intro

Electric vehicles (EVs) are the next big thing in the automotive industry. They're quieter, cleaner, and less expensive to "fill up." There are, however, a few rather significant hurdles to full-scale adoption of EVs. This week we'll touch on a few of those items.

Let's start with a quick summary of the different EV options available.

Option #1: Electric Vehicle (EV)
While not as well-known, there are a small number of companies currently producing electric, highway-capable cars with performance similar to traditional gas-powered cars. Most of the major car brands have also announced plans for their own EVs to be available in the near future.

Pictured: Fully electric "Tesla Roadster"

Option #2: Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV)
Most of the electric vehicles currently available are called neighborhood electric vehicles because they have limited miles per charge and a maximum speed of up to 35 miles per hour. These vehicles are perfect for the shorter, local trips that most people take everyday. Models range from golf carts to full cars with prices from $2,000 to $13,000.

Pictured: NEV "ZENN"

Option #3: Plug-in Hybrids
Plug-in hybrids combine an internal combustion engine with rechargeable batteries to maximize the range and versatility of the vehicle. For short trips, the electric batteries power the car. For longer trips, the gas engine switches on to recharge the batteries and power the car. Plug-in hybrids are the most promising near-term solution to reduce emissions and transition to an all-electric future.

Unfortunately, plug-in hybrids are not yet commercially available. Currently, the only way to get a plug-in hybrid is to have an existing hybrid vehicle converted by a specialty mechanic. In the coming years, a number of car makers have committed to put plug-in hybrids into production.

Option #4: Electric Conversions
Can’t find an electric vehicle to suit your needs? Make one! Specialty
mechanics can convert almost any existing gas-powered vehicle into an electric
vehicle. It only takes a few days to pull out all the gas-engine pieces, install an
electric engine, and put in batteries. The cost, range, and charge time of your new electric vehicle will depend primarily on what kind of batteries you select.

Good: Lead acid batteries are the least expensive and get 35-30 miles per charge.
Better: Nickel-metal hydride batteries get 60-100 miles per charge.
Best: Lithium ion batteries are the most expensive and get 200+ miles per charge.

Tomorrow - building an EV infrastructure!

MakeMeSustainable Monday: "Lights Off" Stickers

Welcome to our regular Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can use this week to help make your life a bit more sustainable!

If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group!

This week's project: "Lights Off" Stickers
This week is an easy project for everyone on campus. We need your help to conserve energy and reduce the University's operating budget. One of the easiest ways to do this is by turning off unnecessary light on campus. You can help in 2 easy ways:

1. If you see a room that is not being used, make sure the lights are off. Common areas such as office kitchens, classrooms, and conference rooms are the most likely offenders.
2. Request "Lights Off" stickers from your building's facility manager or the Sustainability Office (http://sustainability.unc.edu). You can put these stickers directly on the light switch to reminder others to help us conserve energy

Bike and Smile

Two unrelated UNC research projects recently presented their findings to the public:

1) Active Commuting: People who use alternative, physical forms of transportation—specifically people who walk or ride a bicycle to work—are less likely to be obese and more likely to have healthier levels of triglyceride, blood pressure, and insulin.

2) Positivity: People with positive attitudes who spend time each day looking on the bright side and finding small things in life to be happy about have increased resilience against challenges.

Bicycling as a mode of transportation is quite fun. Next time you get a chance, try biking to work: with the physical fitness and positivity you exude, challenges will seem like nothing. You can definitely make it over that big hill!

To view the articles, click here:

Active Commuting: http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2695/71/

Positivity: http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2688/1/

Jobs. Green Jobs. (Part 2)

Whether you're looking to make the world a better place or just trying to make enough to pay rent, the following "green jobs" search sites might be helpful. If you know more, add them in the blog's comment section or email us.

1. Association of Zoos and Aquariums - http://www.aza.org/joblistings/
2. Business for Social Responsibility - http://www.bsr.org/resources/jobs/index.cfm
3. EcoBusinessLinks - http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/environmental_jobs.htm
4. EcoEmploy.com - http://www.ecoemploy.com
5. Environmental Career.com - http://www.environmentalcareer.info/index.asp
6. Environmental Career Opportunities - http://ecojobs.com
7. Environmental Protection Agency - http://www.epa.gov/careers
8. Green Career Central - http://www.greencareercentral.com
9. Green Drinks International -http://www.greendrinks.org
10. GreenBiz.com - http://jobs.greenbiz.com
11. Greenjobs - http://www.greenjobs.com
12. Grist - http://jobs.grist.org
13. National Park Service - http://www.nps.gov/personnel/index.htm
14. NC Sustainable Energy Association - http://www.ncsustainableenergy.org/resources/sustainablejobs
15. Treehugger.com - http://jobs.treehugger.com
16. World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms - http://www.wwoof.org
17. Yahoo! Hot Jobs - http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobs-k-green

Annual Car Costs & Carbon Calculator

Are you planning on buying a car?
Are you planning on buying LOTS of cars for your company/university fleet?

Then you HAVE to check out this great tool developed by the UNC Environmental Finance Center! It allows you to compare 2 vehicles by automatically calculating the:

• yearly fuel cost & savings
• yearly operating costs
• yearly carbon output & savings
• total annual cost

Make sure you make smart fleet decisions and check out the calculator here:
http://www.efc.unc.edu/tools/car_cost_carbon_calculator.swf

MakeMeSustainable Monday: Rain Barrel

Welcome to our regular Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can use this week to help make your life a bit more sustainable!

If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group!

This week's project: Cheap & Easy Rain Barrel
Whether you have a apartment container garden or a lush backyard landscape, a rain barrel will help you take care of your plants. As an added bonus, it is also an easy way to conserve water and reduce run-off pollution!

Lots of stores sell expensive rain barrels. Fortunately, you don't need an expensive barrel! You don't even need a gutter! Here's all you need for a basic barrel (at a fraction of the cost):

• 1 sturdy, thick trashcan (remember the water will add a LOT of weight)
• A drill or some tin snips
• A hose (for drainage, so it does not overflow)
• Plastic drainage pipe (to connect to the gutter)
• *If you don't have a gutter, just make a hole with wire screen in the top OR leave it open during rainstorms to fill up.
• *You can also easily add a faucet to the bottom if you want to connect it to a hose or drip irrigation line.

Here are some easy instructions for a slightly nicer barrel. It took me about 1 hour and 1 trip to the hardware store to make my barrel. Not bad for a Saturday afternoon project!
http://www.naturalrainwater.com/make_rainbarrel.htm

Univ of Denver starts bike sharing program

image by Wayne Armstrong, copyright 2009 Denver University

It's always great to see how sustainable practices are promoted at other universities around the country. This week, the following headline caught my interest:

"U. of Denver Students Start Bike Program With the City"

So I followed the link to the USA Today article and read about how 2 students in Denver helped attract funding ($50,000) and support for a bike-sharing program. 600 bikes will soon be available at 40 kiosks around town. 2 of those kiosks will be on the university's campus.

What makes this story unique is more than just the student involvement, it is also the city's response. It looks like Denver is also making a strong commitment to sustainability. There stated goal is to have "10% of the total commuter population on bikes in 10 years." Pretty cool, huh?!

Almost reminds me of another town/university combination here on the East Coast. A town and university that came together in 2006 to become the first town-gown partners in the country to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 60% by 2050. A town and university that partner to offer a free mass transit system that is among the highest per capita bus ridership in the country. A town and university that work together to facilitate sustainable development and a greener future for all state residents.

Any guesses what town/university combination I'm thinking of?

Yup, Chapel Hill and Carolina!

Now if only we had a bike sharing program on campus...

$8.5M for UNC water project in Southeast Asia

The following is an excerpt from the recent UNC News Services press release:

"A program started at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received an award of up to $8.5 million over five years from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The funding will help expand a project to bring clean drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene to homes in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

"The program, called WaterSHED (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Enterprise Development), is a joint effort between UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health, Kenan-Flagler Business School and the Kenan Institute-Asia.

"Researchers will search for sustainable ways to increase the use of ceramic or biosand water filters in homes that lack clean drinking water, to help reduce diarrhea and related diseases that kill nearly 2 million children a year. They will also investigate ways to achieve financially sustainable, scaled up access to safe water sources, such as harvested rainwater; improved sanitation, including latrines; and greater practice of personal hygiene, especially hand washing with soap at critical times."

For the full press release, visit:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2667/71/

MakeMeSustainable Monday: Free Rides

Welcome to our new Monday-morning blog feature, where we share easy tips and DIY projects that you can use this week to help make your life a bit more sustainable!

If you haven't already setup your sustainability profile at MakeMeSustainable, you can start by visiting http://makemesustainable.com. If you live in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, you'll automatically join our local group!

This week's project: Go car-free
A wise woman once told me: "All days from hell begin with a car." After experiencing a few car issues, I was starting to see the logic in her statement. Empty tanks, traffic jams, "check engine" lights, and fender-benders all strain our patience and our wallets. So how realistic is it to go car-free on a regular basis?

Very realistic! Especially in Chapel Hill. Learn from my experiences and give it a try yourself this week. The weather is beautiful and everything I mention here is FREE. I've been living car-free for over a year now, and have saved both my money and my sanity.

Tips:

• All Chapel Hill Transit buses are FREE. You don't need a special card or anything - just walk on!
• If you need to travel outside Chapel Hill (e.g. commuting from Durham or Raleigh), there are special Triangle Transit express buses. You can ride these for FREE as a UNC student or staff by signing up for UNC's Commuter Alternatives Program (http://www.dps.unc.edu/Transit/gettingtowork/gettingtowork.cfm).
• You can also join CAP for a 30-day trial without giving up your parking permit. You will not be able to take advantage of the $20 vanpool subsidy, or the free annual Triangle Transit GoPass. You will receive a Park & Ride decal, giving you access to 5 additional park & ride lots and a membership card, opening the door to discounts with several area merchants and a chance to win prizes distributed at random throughout the year. Call 962-3951 and ask to speak to someone about the trial CAP program.
  
• If you are not within walking distance of a bus-stop, consider using your bike to get to a bus stop. All Chapel Hill Transit and most other area transit systems have easy bike racks on the front of all buses. Just pull down the rack, load your bike, and lift the tire guard over your tire to secure the bike.

Step-by-step guide to start living car-free:

1. Make a list of your usual destinations and arrival times. For example, I make 3 trips per day. I go from my home to my office at 8. I go from my office to campus at 3. I go from campus to my home at 6.
2. Enter those routes and times in the online GoTriangle Trip Planner (http://www.gotriangle.org/trip/en/). This website uses the current scheduling information from all the Triangle-area transit systems, so it is an excellent resource.
   
3. Based on your travel information, GoTriangle will give you multiple itineraries for your trip. These include bus routes, times, a map, and sometimes pictures of the bus stops. I recommend printing or copying the information for at least 2 of the proposed itineraries. That way you have a back-up in case a bus (or you!) is late.
4. Pack your things in a single, easy-to-carry bag, such as a backpack or canvas bag. I also recommend packing a magazine or bringing your MP3 player to entertain you on the bus ride.
   
5. Arrive at least 5 minutes early to the bus stop just to be safe. And don't panic if the bus is a few minutes late. If you have internet access, you can always check NextBus to make sure your bus is on time (http://www.nextbus.com/predictor/stopSelector.jsp?a=chapel-hill).
   
6. Don't forget to ring the "Stop Request" bell about a block before your desired destination. On most buses this is plastic yellow strip by the window OR a cord hanging in front of the windows.

Going car-free is a simple, inexpensive, stress-free way to get around Chapel Hill! Once you start learning the major routes and stops, you'll be able to easily navigate your way around town. No more parking pains, no more gas guzzler, not more wasted time in traffic!

The Really, Really Free Market is really, really free...really!

On the first Saturday of every month from 2:30 to 5:30 PM, people of all ages, sizes, and interests gather in a corner of Carrboro for socializing, for community spirit, and for free stuff. Some people come with treasures to be passed on: bags full of clothes, candlesticks, tapestries, strange books, lunch boxes, lanterns, or fragments of electronics. Others come empty handed to hunt through the piles of old belongings.

Some things are ragged and torn, while others are brand new: I have seen everything from old family photographs to a shiny red unicycle. There is food laid out on tables, thousands of items lining the sides of the covered walkway, pamphlets and literature for the taking, and even signs for free haircuts or hugs. Best of all (you guessed it): everything is free.

At the heart of the Really Really Free Market is a community supporting itself and keeping goods from going to waste. You don’t have to bring anything to offer—I didn’t the first few times I went—but it’s more fun when you can smile as, ten minutes after you arrive, a 5-year-old parades down the sidewalk ten minutes later with your old scarf tied around his head. You’re also welcome to take whatever you see, and if you don’t like it later, bring it back next time!

The official website states that “everyone is welcome” and “encouraged to give, receive, and create on their own terms.” There are no rules, no buying, selling, or exchanging, and absolutely no price tags!

For information and pictures, visit: http://www.carrboro.com/reallyreallyfreemarket/

Home-Grown 4th of July!

Looking for a way to spend July 4th weekend, but want to stay local?

Then consider going to the West Point on the Eno by the Durham City Park any time this upcoming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the Festival for the Eno. The festival is sponsored by the Eno River Association which is dedicated to the preservation of the nature, culture, and history of the Eno River basin. The festival includes over 80 musical performances, 15 food vendors, and tons of activities such tours, crafts, and workshops. They are also featuring a Sustainable Home and Garden Expo! It is sure to be fun for the whole family!

Get details at:
http://www.enoriver.org/Festival/index.html

Carolina in the News: Green Stories

Check out these recent UNC stories:

EPA renews UNC air quality modeling contract for $5.7 million
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment has been awarded a $5.7 million contract with the Environmental Protection Agency to continue and expand their operation of the Community Modeling and Analysis System (CMAS) center.
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2672/107/

‘Environmental Heroes’ to air on UNC-TV July 4
A documentary produced by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication science documentary television course will air Saturday (July 4) at 11 p.m. during the “North Carolina Visions” film festival on UNC-TV (North Carolina Public Television).
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2675/74/

Students to document water program
The Chapel Hill Herald
Five UNC students are traveling to the other side of the world July 2-31 to document on film the impacts of the work of WaterPartners, a nonprofit organization with its roots in North Carolina that empowers people in developing countries to gain access to clean water.
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1176061.cfm

Business interns after the new green
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
Lindsay McCombs has a summer internship that shows a different face of capitalism. Instead of taking the usual route -- corporate finance, investment banking, or marketing -- the UNC-Chapel Hill business student will spend her summer as an energy conservation consultant for Grubb Properties, a real estate management firm in Raleigh. She's one of 26 MBA students nationwide, including three in the Triangle, who are advising businesses for 10-week stints on how to cut costs by cutting energy waste. The Climate Corps summer internship program was created by the Environmental Defense Fund and is in its second year, attracting students who want to have energy expertise on their résumés.
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1576442.html

'Green Plus' businesses recognized
The Chapel Hill Herald
UNC's Institute for Sustainable Development has recognized two Research Triangle region businesses as Certified Green Plus: Bland Landscaping of Apex and Zemo Trevathan & Associates of Chapel Hill. ...The overall business plan for Green Plus was commissioned by UNC Chapel Hill Vice Chancellor Tony Waldrop in 2007. The Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC's Kenan-Flagler School of Business developed the plan, and a partnership of UNC, Duke, and chambers of commerce built and tested the program with small businesses in North Carolina and Ohio in 2008.
http://heraldsun.southernheadlines.com/orange/10-1173268.cfm

Local high school students to experience "green" summer camp on UNC campus
UNC News
Two dozen high school students from Chapel Hill and Carrboro are taking part this week in “Climate LEAP,” a climate change and energy workshop on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus. During the week-long workshop, designed by the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Environmental Resource Program, students will take part in hands-on activities such as experiments, computer data modeling and games.
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/2638/74/


-Thanks to UNC News Services for finding these great stories! You can find more UNC media coverage and stories online at:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/category/8/34/103/