Plan on vacationing along the coast this summer? Help protect our beaches by avoiding walking on the sand dunes that protect our coastlines and packing reusable water bottles and food containers to prevent waste. At home, remember that what goes down the drain or soaks into your lawn ends up in the ocean. Are you properly disposing of cooking grease, pet waste, and household chemicals? Read more »Thursday, June 19, 2014
Green Tip
Plan on vacationing along the coast this summer? Help protect our beaches by avoiding walking on the sand dunes that protect our coastlines and packing reusable water bottles and food containers to prevent waste. At home, remember that what goes down the drain or soaks into your lawn ends up in the ocean. Are you properly disposing of cooking grease, pet waste, and household chemicals? Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
Solar Farm Planned North of Chapel Hill
Newsobserver.com
Sunlight Partners may be building a 4-megawatt solar farm just north of Chapel Hill. At a recent public hearing, local residents expressed concern over potential effects of the farm, such as noise, traffic, potential chemical leaks, increased stormwater runoff and sunlight glare. Solar researchers report traffic is minimal once a farm is built, and the sound generated usually can’t be heard 50 to 100 feet away, according to a 2012 UNC School of Government report. The inverter, which converts the power before it enters the electrical grid, sounds like an air conditioner, and vegetation under the solar panels continues to absorb runoff, the report says. The glare risk is typically in early morning or late evening, it says. Sunlight Partners would sell the electricity to Duke Energy. Read more »
Offshore Wind Farms Work like Hurricane Speed Bumps
Discovery News
Scientists at the University of Delaware and Stanford University say that in addition to generating several thousand megawatts of electricity, giant wind farms could also help mitigate the destructive forces of hurricanes. Simulations showed that wind turbines could reduce a hurricane’s wind speeds by as much as 92 miles per hour. “If you pack enough of these in, it seems like it’s realistic to think you can take some of the punch out of the storm,” said Rick Luettich, director of UNC’s Institute of Marine Sciences and the Center for Natural Hazards and Disasters. 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 uncnews.unc.edu.
Bioinformatics Building Ranks 4th in EPA’s Battle of the Buildings
UNC’s Bioinformatics Building ranked fourth among 3,200 competitors in the EPA’s 2013 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition. Bioinformatics reduced its energy use by 36% over the last year through various energy saving strategies, including HVAC tuning and optimization and occupant education and outreach. Building energy savings resulted in avoided costs of $317,307 and prevented 1,204 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to the emissions of 110 homes. Together, competitors reduced their energy costs by more than $100 million. Read more »
Environmental Protection Agency Proposes CO2 Emission Limits for Power Plants
As part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed new standards for power plants that will reduce carbon emissions by 30% over 15 years. The regulations are the first of their kind for the fleet of existing power plants which currently produce 39% of U.S. emissions. The proposal is expected to maintain an affordable, reliable energy system, while ensuring a healthier environment, spurring innovation, and strengthening the economy. Read more »
Chapel Hill-Durham Light Rail Moves Forward
The Chapel Hill-Durham Light Rail project has received approval to begin planning the 17- mile route from UNC Hospitals to east Durham. The project development phase is scheduled to take two years. Voters in Durham and Orange counties recently approved a one-half cent sales tax to fund the rail project along with new and expanded bus service. Read more »
UNCG Works to Eliminate Junk Mail on Campus
The Spartan Mail Management system at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro emails students to pick up mail at a central campus location instead of assigning individual mail boxes. The modernized mail system decreases junk mail and saves space. Read more »
North Carolina in LEED Top 10
Established by the U.S. Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high performance, green buildings. North Carolina ranks 7th in the nation for LEED development, and is one of only two southeastern states to make the top ten list with 133 building projects certified, or 1.8 square feet per person, in 2013. Read more »
Durham and Orange Counties Propose Expanded Public Transit
New bus routes to expand Orange County Public Transit and Triangle Transit services into central and rural Orange County were recently proposed to Orange County Commissioners. The Orange-Durham Express route would provide peak-hour, commuter services between the county, Duke and VA Hospitals, and downtown Durham. The route would also provide a connection to Route 420 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, DATA routes in Durham, and potential future connections with PART in Mebane. All proposed services would be fare-free. Read more »
Local, Sustainable Food Available for Pick-Up
Firsthand Foods, a local distributor of sustainably produced meat and a vendor to UNC’s dining halls, will soon provide (M)eat Local Boxes for pickup. The boxes are part of a seasonal, subscription-based program that provides monthly delivery of local, pasture-raised pork and beef at select drop-off locations in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. Firsthand Foods was founded by UNC grads in 2010 and works with 60 local farmers. Read more »
Bee Biodiversity Can Double the Value of Crop Yields
A study by researchers at NC State University found that blueberry crops yield up to twice as much fruit when pollinated by multiple species of bees. This is partially due to contrasting behavior between species and their response to inclement weather. Berries visited by more than one type of bee are more likely to be pollinated. Blueberries are an economically important crop in the state and each of the five species of bee studied contributes an estimated $1.42 million worth of yield annually. Read more »
Apply for 2014 Service Learning Initiative
The Service-Learning Initiative provides incoming first-year and transfer students with an immersive introduction to the array of service opportunities in and around Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Over three days in the week before classes start, participants can become more aware of local social justice issues, form lasting friendships with other engaged students, and learn to use reflection as a tool for making meaning out of service experiences. SLI 2014 will take place Aug. 13 -15. Apply by July 20. Read more »
Volunteer – Town of Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation – July 4th celebration
The Town of Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation department needs volunteers for the annual 4th of July celebration as well as the reoccurring Live and Local Music and Art series every Friday until June 27. Events are free, and volunteers are needed to help with set up and break down, information booths, and event evaluations.
For details, contact Amanda Fletcher (afletcher@townofchapelhill.org) or call 919-968-2878.
For details, contact Amanda Fletcher (afletcher@townofchapelhill.org) or call 919-968-2878.
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