Job- AZ

Arizona State University is hiring a new Director of Sustainability Practices.  This is a full time job.  Applications close on June 6, 2011, but will continue to be accepted and considered until the search is closed.  Click here for details.

Job- DC

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is hiring a new Regulatory Programs Chief.  The application will close on Monday, June 6, 2011.  Click here for details. 

Job- DC

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is hiring a new Deputy Director.  The application will close on Monday, June 6, 2011.  Click here for details. 

Job- LA

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is hiring a Gulf of Mexico Regional Director.   The application will close on Monday, June 6, 2011. Click here for details.

Job- DC

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is hiring a new Strategic Resources Chief.  The application will close on Monday, June 6, 2011.  Click here for details. 

Job- DC

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is hiring a new Chief Environmental Officer.  The application is due Monday, June 6, 2011.  Click here for details.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:

10 N.C. colleges make green list

The News and Observer (Raleigh)

Ten North Carolina schools have made The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges. Appalachian State University, Brevard College, Duke University, Elon University, Guilford College, N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Warren Wilson College and Western Carolina University made the esteemed list.

Click here to read more.

When Bikes And Cars Collide, Who's More Likely To Be At Fault? (Blog)

National Public Radio

...Cities and states vary greatly in terms of their infrastructure, topography and bike friendliness, Libby Thomas, with the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, tells Shots. So in the end it's pretty hard to draw any big conclusions about who ultimately errs more.

Click here to read more.

'Natural' doesn't tell you much (Column)

The News and Observer (Raleigh)

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that any food that is natural or organic is good for you. It may be, but often it's not. It's a distinction that bears the potential for confusion across cultures, I've learned. (Suzanne Havala Hobbs is a registered dietitian and a clinical associate professor in the department of health policy and administration in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Click here to read more.

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/

Tip of the Week

Turn your computers off at night time instead of just putting them to sleep!  You will save an average of 4 cents a day, which adds up to $14.60 a year while also saving energy.

Job- NC

The Town of Cary is pleased to announce an open position of Volunteer Coordinator for the SPRUCE Program.  Click here for details.

Job- NC

Pamlico Community College seeks applications for a Director/Chair of General Studies and Allied Health.  The application is due June 15, 2011 at noon. 

Internship- UNC

DELTA Student Energy Internship Program

Developing Energy Leaders Through Action (DELTA) seeks applications for a summer internship with the UNC Energy Services in Chapel Hill, NC. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Udall Fellow to Examine Water Scarcity

Nationwide, only two doctoral candidates received dissertation fellowships this year from the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation of Tucson, Ariz.  Lauren Patterson of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was one of them.

Job- MA

The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Department of Environmental Conservation seeks applications for a non-tenure, nine month, renewable lecturer position in sustainability science with a desired emphasis on the integration of sustainability systems.  Review of applications will begin on June 23, 2011.  Click here for details.

Job - AZ

Arizona State University is seeking a director of its Office of Sustainability Practices, responsible for planning and directing all activities of the department. This is a full time position.  Click here for details.

Job - IN

Indiana University seeks a director of its Office of Sustainability to develop and coordinate a campus-wide program of environmental stewardship, energy conservation, applied environmental science, policy research, environmental literacy and community outreach. Click here for details..

SmartCommute Challenge

Help UNC to beat Duke and NC State in the SmartCommute Challenge, which ends June 1st.  SmartCommute Challenge is an annual spring campaign hosted by GoTriangle which encourages commuters in the Triangle to find alternative ways to work.  Click here for a "Commute Savings Calculator" to see how much money you can save by riding the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, or riding your bike. 

For more information, visit the SmartCommute Challenge website.

2011 Water and Health Conference

Keynotes and workshops have been posted for the 2011 Water and Health Conference, October 3-7, 2011, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Attendees of this year’s conference have the opportunity to hear four keynote presentations from renowned experts spanning human rights, water resources, policy, practice, and financing. Keynote Presenters are Catarina de Albuquerque, Charles J. Vörösmarty, Jaehyang So and Frank Rijsberman. You can view their complete bios here.

Registration is now open; early bird rate ends July 31, 2011. Click here to register.

Carolina Campus Community Garden celebrates its first year May 26

Members of the public are invited to attend the first anniversary celebration of the Carolina Campus Community Garden on May 26 at 2 p.m. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The event will take place at the garden, located off Cameron Avenue on Wilson Street.

Activities will include a tour of the garden and opportunities to hear from Chancellor Holden Thorp, garden volunteers, UNC employees and others about the garden’s impact. Participants will be able to sample appetizers made from garden produce, help plant a row of beans and enjoy live music.

 

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, people at UNC:

Pioneering green building hits old-style financial snags

Reuters (Wire Service)

...If such a building can't succeed in progressive Chapel Hill, home to the University of North Carolina and part of a regional economy driven by high-tech research, can large-scale green designs succeed anywhere? "I would be afraid that the broader market, regional or national, would think this project is in foreclosure because it's green. That would be a mistake," said Chris Wedding, who teaches about green building at the university's Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Click here to read more.

When It Comes to Helping Others: Just Do It (Blog)

The New York Times

It’s graduation season, and for the past two months I’ve been traveling to campuses in the United States on a book tour to talk about service in the Marines and social entrepreneurship in Africa. (Rye Barcott is the author of “It Happened on the Way to War: A Marine’s Path to Peace.” The book was released this spring in conjunction with the 10th anniversary for Carolina For Kibera, the NGO that he co-founded while an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2001. He is a TED Fellow and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.)

Click here to read more.

Western Triangle bus, rail transit plan backed

The Chapel Hill News

...The plan the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization's transit committee approved calls for: Beefed-up bus service in and between the three municipalities; An electric-powered light-rail line from the UNC campus to East Durham; The Durham County portion of a rush-hour commuter train line from West Durham to Garner.

Click here to read more.

Bus, rail transit plan backed

The News and Observer (Raleigh)

Local elected officials on a western Triangle planning board endorsed a $1.4 billion bus and rail transit plan Wednesday that - if local voters agreed - would be financed in part with a half-cent sales tax increase in Durham and Orange counties. ...The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization's transit committee approved the plan for beefed-up bus service in and between the three municipalities, an electric-powered light-rail line from the UNC-Chapel Hill campus to East Durham, and the Durham County portion of a rush-hour commuter train line from West Durham to Garner.

Click here to read more.

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/

Job - UNC

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center has an opening for a development and communications associate to support the North Carolina Science Festival. This is a temporary position from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012. Click here for details.

Medication Drop-off Program: May 18

Medication flushed down the toilet ends up at wastewater treatment plants, which are not designed to remove dissolved medications. These pharmaceuticals can damage beneficial bacteria that helps to treat wastewater, and end up in our streams, rivers, and lakes. There, they can affect wildlife and end up in the downstream drinking water supplies. Thus proper disposal is of medication is important.

The Chapel Hill franchise of Home Instead Senior Care, in partnership with the Chapel Hill Police Department, will present “Mission Medicine,” a medication take-back program, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 18th, at University Mall on South Estes Drive in Chapel Hill

Tip of the Week

Cutting your lawn this summer? Leave the clippings where they fall, rather than bagging them up. This will naturally fertilize your lawn for FREE as the clippings naturally decompose.

Internships - NC

The Forest Foundation, in collaboration with Good Work, the Abundance Foundation and other organizations in the area are working to develop a local carbon mitigation and lending project for sustainable and green organizations. They are looking for interns who can help improve the infrastructure around this project, particularly web development, social networking and crowd sourcing.

Internships - NC

Greenway Transit is offering cross-marketing opportunities to other green businesses and is working with CommunityGreen.org, a Triangle wide green company website and database, www.ygrin.com, a national yellow grease community based energy project. Greenway Transit is looking for interns to help build this collaboration of green businesses.

Internships - NC

The Green Tracks Training Program (launched by the Forest Foundation and Durham Economic Resource Center) is looking for interns interested in grass-roots sustainable development, networking and building coalitions of green businesses, and innovative, green jobs training and business development.

BikeAbility Adapted Bike Event Coming to UNC Campus

Children and adults with special needs and their siblings can learn about safe bike riding and try a variety of adaptive bikes at BikeAbility, to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Bowles parking lot on the UNC campus.

The event is presented by Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation's Adapted Recreation and Inclusion program, in partnership with UNC police, UNC's Trauma Prevention Office and the Crumley Roberts Law Firm. They'll help you or your child practice bike riding and take you through a bike safety course to help practice braking, turning and staying safe while riding. Bring your own bike or try one of vendor Ambucs' adapted bikes. Also at the event will be the Recyclery, Cycle 9, face painting and more.

The event is free, but you must register. Register in advance at www.townofchapelhill.org/register. For more information, email mkaslovsky@townofchapelhill.org or call 919-968-2813.

Town of Cary RFP for Public-Private Solar PV

The Town of Cary is seeking proposals from qualified vendors for a “public-private partnership photovoltaic (PV) system.” Proposals for the public - private partnership photovoltaic (PV) system project will be received by the Town of Cary, Public Works and Utilities Department, located at 400 James Jackson Avenue, Cary, North Carolina until Wednesday, June 6, 2011 at 3 p.m. Click here for more information.

Job - UNC

The UNC Institute for the Environment (IE) seeks a temporary half-time administrative support associate for experiential education programming. The position will assist with the recruitment, selection, coordination and monitoring of energy and IE field site interns across the state, as well as provide general support to IE experiential education staff.

Bike to Work Week: May 16 – 20

Triangle cyclists will have plenty of chances to celebrate National Bike Month with over twenty-four scheduled events in May, especially highlighting Bike to Work Week (May 16 – 20) and Bike to Work Day (May 20). Events will be held throughout the Triangle region. Select events include:

• May 14th - Annual Bike for Hope at Trek Bicycles of Raleigh - Join CAP Member Glenn Girtman and Team Midnight Ramblers on their Bike for Hope. The Hope Foundation is an organization founded to help find cures to mental illnesses.
• May 16 - 20: Sales and Free Inspections at local bike shops in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
• May 17th, 7 - 10 AM: Carrborro Parking Lot across from Armadillo Grill - free bike checks, give-aways, coffee, biscuits, and handouts so stop by on your bike to work.
• May 20, 5:30 PM: Go Chapel Hill - Carrboro Friday Night Cruiser Ride and Entertainment! Gathering will be at the Wallace Deck

Visit http://smartcommutechallenge.com/biketowork.php for more events and information!

Request for Proposals: 2011 Carolina Diversity Summit

The 2011 Carolina Diversity Summit is sponsored by the Diversity Education Team (DET) and will be held on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in November, 2011. The DET welcomes RFPs from faculty, staff and students on any diversity issue, including, but not limited to: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation/identity, age, disability, gender, socio-economic status. We are particularly looking for presentations that are interactive and that deal with multiple or varied demographic topics. Click here for more information.

Job - NY

Echoing Green is accepting applications for a Fellow Programs Associate to provides day-to-day management of search, selection, and support processes for emerging social entrepreneurs. Click here for details.

Share Your Graduation Bucket List for $200 Free Zimrides

Do you have a Bucket List before you graduate! With Zipcar, getting off-campus is a cinch! If you’ve been meaning to go camping with your buddies or take that endless crush on a date, now’s the time. Tell us what’s on your Bucket List at facebook.com/zipcaru. Our favorite entry wins $200 in free driving to get out there and make it happen.

Remember Zipcars are parked right on campus, ready to go for as little as an hour or for the whole weekend. And guess what? Gas, insurance and 180 miles/day are all on us. Sign up at Zipcar.com/unc, it’s only $35 for a whole year, plus you’ll start off with $50 free driving when you enter promo code BUCKETLIST2011.

Help Shape Chapel Hill's Parks and Rec Master Plan

The Town of Chapel Hill is soliciting public input to help shape the future of the park system through a master plan that will establish a 10-year vision for future parks, greenways and recreational facilities. Public involvement is encouraged. Opportunities to provide input include public workshops, online public comment form, and randomly selected household surveys.

For more information on the development of the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan, visit www.greenways.com/CHPRMP.html or contact Parks and Recreation Department Assistant Director Bill Webster at 919-968-2819 or bwebster@townofchapelhill.org.

Carolina in the News

Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, people at UNC:

245 Sign Up for EPA's 'Battle of the Buildings'

The New York Times

...Last year's competition only included 14 buildings, which collectively saved more than $950,000 and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of almost 600 homes. The 2010 winner was Morrison Residence Hall at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The dormitory reduced its energy use by 35.7 percent in one year, saving more than $250,000 on its energy bills. Click here to read more.

Sun lights new Bell Tower parking deck stairwells

University Gazette

When football fans take the stairs in the new Bell Tower parking deck this fall, their steps will be lighted by the sun. A total of 30 photovoltaic panels in arrays on the deck’s northeast and southwest corners, cleverly tucked behind Carolina blue signs with the interlocking NC logo, collect the solar energy to power the light fixtures in the stairwells. Click here to read more.

At top colleges, diversity not just black-white

The Associated Press...In recent years, more than 100 universities have adopted institutional initiatives to increase access for low-income students, according to a summary compiled by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The North Carolina effort, known as the Carolina Covenant and begun in 2003, is among the most successful. The program guarantees its participants — who must meet the same admission standards as other applicants — a debt-free education with a combination of grants, scholarships and work-study obligations. Click here to read more.

MIT students ask Kenyan slum residents: Why shun inexpensive, high-quality health care clinic?

The Associated Press

...The clinic is run by Carolina for Kibera, an aid group co-founded by a University of North Carolina graduate and two Kenyans. The group turned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Anjali Sastry, who sends graduate students across Africa and India for her Global Health Delivery Project class. Click here to read more.

Why you Should not let the Greg Mortenson Scandal Discourage you from supporting NGOs

The Huffington Post

...Our organization, Carolina for Kibera, is one of thousands of smaller, community-based organizations that invest scarce resources directly into the hands of young people with enormous talent but little opportunity. It's an effective approach, and it's one low-cost, high-impact way to help brake cycles of violence and poverty from within. (Rye Barcott is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus and cofounder of Carolina for Kibera.) Click here to read more.

The Future of Nuclear

"The State of Things" WUNC-FM

Twenty-five years after the devastating nuclear accident at Chernobyl, the world’s attention is again focused on nuclear energy and the risks associated with nuclear technology. The massive damage to Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant is contributing to growing fears over the safety of such facilities. But are those fears misplaced? How safe is nuclear power? Experts remain divided over the risks and benefits. Host Frank Stasio examines the role that nuclear energy will play in powering the future with ...David McNelis, a research professor of environmental sciences and engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill... Click here to read more.

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/

Tip of the Week

As the weather heats up, be sure your home's air conditioning doesn't burn a hole in your pocket! A programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways you can save energy, money, and optimize your home for long-lasting efficiency. Do you have one yet? Learn more here.

Internship

The UNC Sustainability Office is accepting applications for the PAID Peer-to-Peer Education Internship! You will serve as the representative of the UNC Sustainability Office at student orientation and select campus community events during the summer. Apply now! Click here for details.

Chapel Hill rethinks Jordan Lake allocation

From the News & Observer, an interesting local issue that could have a tremendous impact on us in the Triangle:

The Chapel Hill Town Council split strongly Monday night over its water utility's plans to tap Jordan Lake in case of an emergency. The state is reviewing lake allocations. The Orange Water and Sewer Authority, which also serves Carrboro and UNC-Chapel Hill, asked the council to officially support retaining the utility's 5 million-gallons-per-day allocation and keep the utility in the regional partnership that controls the lake's future.

Click to read more.

Internship

The Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP), a program staffed by the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG), seeks an enthusiastic and creative Intern to assist with developing and delivering outreach about stormwater.

Internships

The Sustainable Furnishings Council office in Chapel Hill, NC, a non-profit that promotes sustainable practices in the home furnishings industry, is seeking multiple unpaid interns:

• Membership Management Intern
• Marketing Intern
• Database Management Intern

For more information or to apply contact Susan Inglis at susan@sustainablefurnishings.org or (919) 967-1137.

School of Social Work Collaborates with Carolina for Kibera

For 10 years, Carolina for Kibera, an international nonprofit affiliated with the UNC Center for Global Initiatives, has worked with individuals, children and families in Nairobi, Kenya, to improve their access to healthcare, education and employment. This summer, UNC faculty from the School of Social Work will team up with the organization to explore how to help Kibera’s youth increase their financial stability.

Gina Chowa, an assistant professor at the School, will direct the joint venture, which will focus on using the programs and services that CFK already operates to assist young people in building assets. Founded by a UNC student and Kenyans in 2001, CFK oversees a youth sports program, a medical clinic, a reproductive health and women’s rights center, and a waste management program in Kibera, East Africa’s largest slum.

Read more »

Job

The North Carolina Conservation Network is seeking candidates for the position of Affiliate Organizer. The NC Conservation Network is a statewide network of about 100 environmental, community, and environmental justice organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health. Click here for details.

Job

The North Carolina Botanical Garden is currently hiring a full-time Coordinator for Children's and Family Education. The position is charged with the development, implementation, and management of all aspects of environmental education programming for children and families. Click here for details.

Nourishing NC Community Garden Grant

Research shows that when communities have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, they eat them - and they’re healthier for it, having lower rates of obesity, diabetes and other diet-related diseases. Unfortunately, many North Carolinians have limited access to fresh produce in their community. To address this Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and the North Carolina Recreation & Park Association (NCRPA) have joined forces to establish a community garden in all 100 counties by the end of 2013.

This is a three year program. The deadline for 2011 is May 11th. Up to $3,000 is available per county, and priority is given to gardens sited on parks and recreation properties. Click here to learn more.

Internships

Open to students and recent graduates nationwide, Climate Corps Bay Area is currently recruiting 30 AmeriCorps members for its 2011-2012 program year starting in September. Interns will be trained and paid to work with local governments and nonprofits throughout the Bay Area in California on greenhouse gas emissions reductions programs including energy-efficiency programs and energy conservation campaigns. Click here for details.

Job

Colorado Mountain College seeks an associate professor in sustainability studies. The successful candidate should have at least a master’s degree in sustainability studies, environmental studies, alternative energy or a closely related field with a minimum of one year college teaching experience. Priority will be given to applications received by May 13, 2011. Click here for details.

Job

Union Institute and University (OH) seeks a part-time environmental and sustainability faculty member. The successful candidate should have an advanced degree in a relevant discipline. Applications should be submitted by May 12, 2011. Click here for details.

Reminder: New Blue Graduation Gowns Are Also Green!

Award-winning colorist and fashion designer Alexander Julian – Chapel Hill native and UNC alumnus – was determined that his son, Will, was not going to graduate in May 2011 wearing an aqua gown. Julian, most famous for his clothing line Colours and for putting argyle on the Tar Heels’ basketball uniform, knows a little something about color. And he knew that the regalia in use at his alma mater for the past several years was not true Carolina Blue.

“As a colorist, ever since Holden Thorp was inaugurated as Chancellor, I have been on him like a wet, dirty T-shirt to let me try to improve the true blueness of the robe color,” Julian said.

The robe also wasn’t green, as in sustainably made. With so many students concerned about the environment, the time was right for a gown that might only be worn once in a lifetime to be made from recycled materials.

Deadline Approaching for Chapel Hill WISE Home Energy Improvement Program

Chapel Hill residents interested in participating in the Town's new home energy efficiency incentive program - Chapel Hill WISE - should turn in their application forms ASAP! Participating homeowners can become eligible for up to $5,000 in grant funding for home improvement projects that result in energy savings of 15 percent or greater.

Due to a tremendous response by the community and the need to address all current applicants in a timely manner, the Chapel Hill WISE program is capping the soft launch phase at 125 homes. At the current rate of registration, it is estimated they will reach this milestone by the first or second week in May. Click here to learn more.

May is Bike Month!

At the April 25 Council meeting, Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt signed a proclamation declaring May Bike Month in Chapel Hill. The Town of Chapel Hill strives to be a healthy place to live and encourages residents to use bicycles for work, to run errands or for recreation. Click here for a schedule of great community events to celebrate Bike Month!