Waste Industries, Carolina’s contracted vendor for solid waste disposal, is converting its Durham fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG). By switching to CNG, Waste Industries expects to save nearly $2.00 per gallon on fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. Other advantages of CNG include reduced air emissions, access to a readily available fuel source, and lower maintenance costs. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 22 will launch the largest private CNG station in Durham County and unveil the new, 20 vehicle fleet. Read more »
Friday, May 18, 2012
Kenan-Flagler Sustainability Immersion Team Shows How an MBA Can Change the World
A team from the Kenan-Flagler Business School earned second place in the Global Business School Network's 2012 MBA Challenge Video Contest. Invited to demonstrate how their MBA experience is making a positive impact on the developing world, UNC students documented their multiple sustainability-focused projects in Eastern Africa. Students of Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business won first prize by addressing the need for low-cost housing in Haiti. Read more »
May is “Bike to Work” Month
Get in gear for the rest of the year! “Bike to Work” Month cycling events include clinics, inspections, and organized rides throughout the end of May. Go Chapel Hill-Carrboro presents the Annual Spring Roll Cruiser Ride on May 18. Cyclists are invited to meet at the Wallace Deck at 150 E. Rosemary St. at 5:30 pm. Read more »
State Regulators Release Final Report on Fracking in North Carolina
A recent report on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, tweaks an earlier agency recommendation issued in March that became the focus of heated debate during public hearings attended by hundreds of people. The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ final report incorporates the public comments and citizen suggestions but does not change the agency’s overall conclusions. The final report contains a litany of safety recommendations, including a request for more state funds to conduct further studies, before fracking for natural gas should be allowed in this state. Read more »
Software Giant Announces Significant Sustainability Initiative
Microsoft announced its commitment to achieve “carbon neutrality” in energy use during the next fiscal year. The company will challenge each business unit, across 100 countries, to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and increase use of renewable energy. Carbon emissions fees levied on the business units responsible for emissions will fund the purchase of renewable energy and carbon offsets. Microsoft already met a previous goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% per unit of revenue between 2009 and 2012. Read more »
Stormwater Management Conference Accepting Abstracts
The APWA-NC Chapter seeks abstracts on water quality and stormwater management for its annual conference, scheduled for September 17-18, in Asheville, NC. Deadline for submissions is June 13.
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
What Will Make The Food Desert Bloom?
"All Things Considered" National Public Radio
"We've learned that access alone doesn't do it," says Barry Popkin, a professor of public health at the University of North Carolina. A few years ago, Popkin chaired a meeting of experts on the health effects of food deserts. The farmers’ markets didn't seem to have a measurable effect on the health of people in that neighborhood, nor did bringing in a supermarket. Read more »
Going Green: MBA Sustainability Programs
Bloomberg Businessweek
About 30 percent of the MBA Class of 2012 at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School completed the Sustainable Enterprise concentration. These students take required courses both in the business school and at other UNC schools in areas such as public policy, international studies, social work, city and regional planning, and environmental studies. Read more »
Irene Teaches New Lessons about Managing Rivers
Vermont Public Radio
Gavin Smith is a Research Professor at the University of North Carolina. After his state was hit by two severe hurricanes, it used a rainy day fund to magnify the effects of the FEMA buyout program and clear large hog farms and thousands of homes from floodplains. North Carolina also did away with outdated FEMA floodplain maps and created its own. 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- NC
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is seeking an Environmental Sustainability Lecturer. Read more »
Job- NC
Central Piedmont Community College is looking for a part-time Sustainability Instructor. Read more »
Job- NC
RTI International is hiring a Microbiologist in the field of sustainable agriculture. Read more »
Job- NC
The Women’s Center at Duke University is seeking a Program Coordinator for its programs focused on social justice and gender issues. Read more »
Job- MA
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is hiring a Sustainability Communications Manager. Read more »
Job- WI
The University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh is hiring a Director of Campus Sustainability. Read more »
Job- OR
The University of Oregon is seeking a Program Manager for its Sustainability Leadership Program. Read more »
Job- AB
Athabasca University is looking for two Research Chairs to work on water research. Read more »
Internship- NC
Green Oil and Light is looking for a student assistant to help implement its Green Tracks training program.
Internship- NC
RTI International is looking for an intern for its Air and Environmental Health Research Internship program this summer.
Internship- NC
The Institute for Sustainable Development and the Graduate School at UNC-Chapel Hill are hiring three graduate students for summer Green Plus Sustainability Fellowships.
Internship- NC
Self-Help, a community development lender in Durham, is seeking an undergraduate or graduate Policy Intern. Read more »
Undergraduate Research Experience- Bermuda
The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences is seeking undergraduate students for research at BIOS during the fall semester.
Volunteers- NC
The Orange County Solid Waste Management Department is seeking Recycling Volunteers for Hog Day.
Do you know the cost of your commute? Check out GoTriangle’s commute calculator to see how much money you can save by riding the bus, vanpooling, carpooling or riding your bike to work. The US could save 33 million gallons of gas each day if everyone commuted with just one other person. And biking and walking saves money and gas and can be part of your exercise routine. Read more »
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