The Genesis Farm Education Foundation is looking for volunteers to work on farms and help with education, outreach, and program development.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Moving out? Support local non-profits with your discards. Items deposited in residence hall donation stations will be used by TROSA in its substance abuse recovery programs. Sell your books to Student Stores for cash so that others can reuse them. Old or broken electronics and batteries will be recycled by American Greenz. Check out the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling’s “zero-waste” move-out guide. Off-campus students can drop off many of these items and more at the Orange County Solid Waste Recycling Center on Eubanks Road.
Carolina Recognized as "Green College" by Princeton Review
“The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition" recognizes Carolina as a national leader in campus sustainability. This free downloadable guide, published in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), highlights colleges that scored at least 83 on its 99 point scale. Carolina’s Green Rating of 95 recognizes investments in high performance infrastructure, moving towards climate neutrality, and engaging students in green initiatives. Sixteen schools made the Green Rating Honor Roll by attaining perfect scores.
Erin Hiatt, co-chair of the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee (RESPC), Receives 2012 Edward Kidder Graham Award
The Edward Kidder Graham Award honors a graduating senior who has made an outstanding contribution to the University as a member of an officially recognized student organization. During Erin’s tenure as co-chair of RESPC, the committee researched and approved approximately $500,000 of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Erin was closely involved in every project and decision while effectively delegating work to her peers, supervising their progress, and interacting with university project managers.
Director of Sustainability Office Contributes to Book on Sustainable Universities
Cindy Pollock Shea, Director of UNC’s Sustainability Office, and Leith Sharp, founding director of Harvard’s Green Campus Initiative, co-authored a chapter on Institutionalizing Sustainability: Achieving Transformations from the Inside, in “The Sustainable University: Green Goals and New Challenges for Higher Education.” The comprehensive book, published by The Johns Hopkins University Press, features leading voices in campus sustainability. Chancellors, provosts, CFOs, and governing boards are the intended audience. Read more »
Carolina Students Receive Honorable Mention for EPA Grant Proposal
The US EPA awarded 15 student teams with People, Prosperity, and Planet (P3) Phase grants. The Gillings School of Global Public Health student team received an honorable mention for developing a point-of-use disinfectant for drinking water that is cheap, non-toxic, and effective in reducing waterborne illness in developing nations. Regional grant recipients include:
• Appalachian State University, NC, for developing an artificial wetland to recycle grey water
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FL, for designing a portable solar-powered water purification system
• Vanderbilt University, TN, for developing a biohybrid solar panel that substitutes a protein from spinach for rare mined metals and is capable of producing electricity.
Piedmont Farm Tour
Learn about the Triangle’s local and organic farm and food scene from 1-5pm this Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29. Load up a car with friends and family and visit your favorite sustainable farms. Don’t forget to take a cooler so that you can take home some of the farm fresh products for sale! Read more »
New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Chapel Hill
In another sign of the rise of the electric car, Orange County has installed two electric vehicle charging stations at the Orange County Skills Development Center on Franklin Street. Located next to the Chapel Hill Visitor’s Bureau, the stations were funded through the Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative, led by the Triangle J Council of Governments. The stations were funded by the US Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Scholarships for Marine Sciences Students
The Marine Aquarium Societies of North America seek marine science students for their 2012-2013 scholarship program. Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is June 22, 2012. Read more »
Green-Themed Film Grant Program
The Whole Foods Silverdocs Grant is accepting applications from filmmakers working on green-themed documentary feature films. Grant winners will receive $25K each. The submission deadline is May 4, 2012. Read more »
Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy
The University of Illinois at Chicago invites students to apply to an interdisciplinary workshop on sustainability and energy from August 9-17, 2012. The application deadline is June 1. Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
NC Student’s Guerrilla Project to Encourage People to Walk Gets Support of Officials
The Associated Press
On a January night, under cover of darkness, Matt Tomasulo and friends dared to commit a subversive act: They placed 27 signs at three intersections in Raleigh, advising people how long it takes to walk from one destination to another. They were also part of Tomasulo’s master’s project in city and regional planning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to create an advocacy campaign called Walk Raleigh, designed to promote healthier communities through walking. Read more »
Obesity Linked to Neighborhood Features: Do You Live in a Fat Neighborhood?
"Good Morning America" ABC News
Where you live may determine your child's weight, according to a series of new studies. GIS (geographic information systems) research still faces many challenges, wrote Janne Boone-Heinonen of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Penny Gordon-Larsen of Oregon Health and Sciences University, but it still holds a lot of promise for driving policies geared toward preventing and reducing childhood obesity. Read more »
UNC Plays Major Role in New Water Partnership
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
As part of UNC’s new, two-year campus-wide focus on the theme of water, UNC’s Water Institute is taking the lead in co-founding the U.S. Water Partnership, a public-private venture aiming at solving various water problems around the world. Environmental sciences and engineering professor Jamie Bartram says many different agencies are working together to address these problems. Read more »
Marine Scientists Urge Government to Reassess Oil Spill Response Following Deepwater Horizon Disaster
The Athens Banner-Herald (Georgia)
On the second anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon blowout, a national panel of researchers… is urging the federal government to reassess how it would respond to similar oil spills that might occur in the future...The authors noted that the lack of a model for understanding deep-water spills may have hindered initial work on this disaster and obscured understanding of what actually happened in the key early days. “The problem here is that scientific assessment would be faster and more thorough if this were a familiar type of spill,” said the study’s lead author, Charles “Pete” Peterson, a professor at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, who has been deeply involved in the study of Exxon Valdez environmental effects for more than two decades. 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.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Carolina Dives into “Water in Our World” Theme
Carolina announces “Water in Our World,” a two-year campus-wide academic theme that will make waves by encouraging new thinking and research in water-related issues, such as access to clean potable water on a global scale. Chancellor Thorp marked the occasion, “The water theme is a perfect springboard for engaging and inspiring the campus to do even more to meet the challenge of sustainability. It’s a great opportunity to show how Carolina fosters scholarship that helps improve people’s lives.” The water theme aims to energize and guide activities across diverse schools and programs through interdisciplinary collaboration. Read more »
Earth Week Events
Celebrate Earth Day with more than a week of activities! Earth “Week” events kick off Thursday, April 12, with the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt and continue through to the Campus Earth Day celebration, Friday, April 20. Activities include the NC Science Expo, Earth Action Day, movie screenings, lectures, a farmers’ market, green themed meals (both a lunch and a dinner), and multiple exhibits on the quad. Check out the full list of activities now to start planning! Read more »
Solid Waste Program Manager and Move-In Team Receive Awards
BJ Tipton, Solid Waste Program Manager of the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling (OWRR), received the “Recycler of the Year” Award at the Carolina Recycling Association annual conference. The award honors an individual who has made contributions to the advancement of solid waste reduction. During her tenure at Carolina, BJ started the food waste recovery and athletics recycling programs and expanded the indoor recycling and construction and demolition programs.
Carolina’s 2011 Student Move-In Team was also recognized with the “Spotlight” Award. By starting early and working long hours, the dedicated Move-In Team recycled mountains of cardboard and other discards, including 450 pounds of shrinkwrap. Team members include representatives from Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, Building Services, Housekeeping, Materials and Logistics, Business Operations, Grounds, HVAC, General Storeroom, Life Safety, and Environment, Health, and Safety. Congratulations to BJ and the Move-In Team!
Botanical Garden Celebrates 50 Years of “Silent Spring”
Three April events planned by the North Carolina Botanical Garden celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Silent Spring,” Rachel Carson’s classic and revolutionary exposé of toxic chemical use in the US. Events include a book discussion led by garden director Peter White, a morning Bird Walk led by Cynthia Fox of the Wild Bird Center, and a lecture by Priscilla Coit Murphy on the events leading up to and following the book’s publication. Advance registration is necessary for all events. Read more »
Students Earn National Honor for “Coal: A Love Story”
“Coal: A Love Story” is an interactive website that showcases the social realities of coal mining. Carolina journalism students recently won a national award for the project at the “South by Southwest” conference. Read more »
Citizens United and Environmental Policy
In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations’ spending on campaign advertisements cannot be limited because it is a First Amendment free speech right. The Student Environmental Action Coalition, 350.org, and the UNC Scholars Program will host an event Monday, April 9, at 7:00 PM in the Hanes Art Center Auditorium to address the effects of Citizens United on environmental policy. Gene Nichol, Professor of Law and Director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity, and Pete MacDowell, Program Director of NC WARN, will speak at the event and discussion will follow. Read more »
Professor Co-Authors Study on Coral Reefs and Climate Change
Dr. John Bruno of the UNC Biology Department recently collaborated with scientists at Conservation International and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a study about the relationship between global climate change and coral reefs. The study suggests that coral reefs will be strongly impacted by global warming. Read more »
University Presents Transportation Updates to the Town of Chapel Hill
The University’s 2011 transportation report to the Town of Chapel Hill outlines trends and traffic mitigation measures on main campus and in adjacent neighborhoods.
State Environmental Agency Issues Draft Report on Hydraulic Fracturing
According to a draft report issued by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” can be done safely in North Carolina as long as the right protections are in place prior to the issuance of any permits. The report also notes the need for more information on groundwater resources where drilling may occur before making final decisions on environmental standards. Read more »
Local Waters Reopen for Recreation
Relax on the shores or row your stress away at University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoir, now open for boating, fishing, picnicing, and sunbathing. The waters are stocked with bass, catfish, and sunfish, and canoes and fishing boats are available to rent. Read more »
Development Along the 15-501 South Corridor?
Chapel Hill 2020 has launched a discussion group to examine the impacts of potential development along the 15-501 South Corridor. The group will discuss the pros and cons of additional tax revenue and urban sprawl. Interested parties are encouraged to join in the conversation. Read more »
Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market Announces New Market Season
The Chapel Hill Farmers’ Market has reopened for the season and features seasonal produce as well as meats, eggs, cheeses, desserts and more.. Market hours are Saturday from 8am–12pm and Tuesday from 3-6pm in the parking lot of University Mall. The market will celebrate Earth Day on April 21st with an Earth Day Plant Sale, featuring cut flowers, starter plants, and saplings. Read more »
Western Climate Initiative to Implement Regional Emissions Trading
The recently formed Western Climate Initiative (WCI), designed to implement a cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions among independent jurisdictions, has hired its first executive director. Anita Burke will lead the initiative of seven western states and four Canadian provinces. Each WCI partner jurisdiction will have an emission allowance budget consistent with its emissions goal for 2020. Three year compliance periods, consistent reporting methodologies, and a new auction system will help achieve the regional goal of 15% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2020. California, British Columbia, and Quebec are the first jurisdictions to appoint members to the WCI board. Read more »
9th Annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference is Around the Corner
The annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference will take place in Raleigh on April 19 and 20 at the McKimmon Center at NC State University. Speakers and panelists will address a variety of key energy issues, including financing, deploying renewable energy systems, and drilling for natural gas. Read more »
The Spring of Sustainability
Get inspired and educated as renowned leaders in sustainable living share the best ideas and opportunities to create a clean, green, and serene world. The Spring of Sustainability is a free series of online webinars produced by the Shift Network and the Sustainable World Coalition. Read more »
Wildlife Scholarships Announced
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation provides grants to students majoring in wildlife, fisheries, forestry, conservation, or the environment. Deadline for applications is June 29. Read more »
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
Those Stinky Veggies are Good for You
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
In the category of "food as medicine," some of the most potent disease fighters around are also the strongest-flavored and stinkiest. Among the most elite of the good-for-you crop are brassica or cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. 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. Read more »
Voices for Civil Rights
WUNC-FM (Chapel Hill)
In the third installment of our series Voices for Civil Rights, hosted by Eric Hodge, Seth Kotch shares excerpts of two oral histories conducted by the Southern Oral History Program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Freeman Hrabowski describes a clash with his parents over joining the Civil Rights movement in Alabama, when he was just twelve years old. And Moses Newson recounts a trip with a group of freedom riders, when their bus was firebombed by an angry mob. Read more »
Documenting the Women's Movement in the South
"The State of Things" WUNC-FM
Contraception, access to health care and representation in Congress are issues that motivated feminist activists in the early 1960s and, if Rush Limbaugh's recent time in the headlines is any indication, those issues persist. Women have been effecting social and political change across the South for more than a century, but, if you read the history of the women's movement in America, you'd think all of the action happened in the Northeast. Host Frank Stasio is joined by a panel of guests to consider what we should know about the women's movement in the South, and to discuss what current activists can learn from the historical record. Those joining him include Rachel Seidman, Associate Director of the Southern Oral History Program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Joey Fink, a PhD student in history at UNC-Chapel Hill; and Laura Clark Brown, a senior librarian at the Southern Historical Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill. Read more »
Supremely Indifferent to Historic Injustice
Editorial by Gene Nichol, Boyd Tinsley distinguished professor at UNC's Law School and director of the UNC Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity
The News and Observer (Raleigh)
I've spent much time of late in Eastern North Carolina - where the linkage between history, poverty and race astounds. In much of the region, over half of all black, Hispanic and Native American children live in poverty; numbers so vast, so humiliating, they're hard to admit to ourselves. 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 Saludamos initiative of the Sustain Foundation is looking for a Cooking Program Director to organize weekly cooking sessions with Latina women and children in Carrboro.
Job- NJ
Princeton University is hiring a Visiting Professor in the Environment and Humanities. Read more »
Job- MA
The Harvard University Office for Sustainability is hiring a Digital Communications Senior Coordinator. Read more »
Job- IN
The University of Notre Dame is seeking a Managing Director of the Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame. Read more »
Job- IN
The Center for Urban Ecology at Butler University is seeking a three-year Sustainable Urban Food Systems Fellow. Read more »
Job- TX
The Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University is hiring a Sustainability Research Postdoctoral Fellow. Read more »
Job- OR
The University of Oregon is hiring a Program Manager for its Center for Sustainable Business Practices. Read more »
Internship- NC
The UNC Environmental Finance Center is looking for an Environmental and Energy Finance Analyst.
Internship– NC
RTI International is seeking summer interns for a variety of projects related to environmental and health issues. Read more »
Internship- NC
Self-Help is seeking a summer intern to help implement a new energy efficiency loan program in either Durham or Asheville. Read more »
Internship- NC
A farm in Carrboro is seeking part-time workers to help with gardening and landscaping tasks.
Internship- MA
The Sustainable Endowments Institute is hiring summer Research Fellows to work on sustainability-related projects. Read more »
Internship- MA
GreenerU is hiring summer interns to fill the Graduate Training Development Intern and Campus Sustainability Program Development Intern positions. Read more »
Internship– IN
Two graduate students at Purdue University are looking for a field technician to help collect data for research projects involving carbon budgets and old-growth forests.
Undergraduate Research Experience- NC
The IDEA Program at UNC is seeking motivated undergraduate students interested in participating in a summer research program. Read more »
Undergraduate Research Experience- CA
A Research Experience for Undergraduates summer fellowship is open at the Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara.
Volunteers- NC
The Orange County Solid Waste Management Department is looking for recycling volunteers for two upcoming events.
Did you know that you can reduce your water footprint by changing your diet? Meat, dairy, and processed foods require significantly more water than grains, vegetables, and fruits. Click here to calculate your water footprint and learn other water-saving tips.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Job- NC
Appalachian State University is looking for an Assistant Professor in sustainable development. Read more »
Job- NC
The Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University is hiring a Sustainability Education Program Coordinator. Read more »
Job- NC
Johnson Service Group is looking for a Director of Environment and Energy with a background in engineering. Read more »
Job- NC
VF Corporation is hiring a Manager of Global Sustainability to help reduce energy and water consumption and waste generation. Read more »
Job- NC
Advanced Energy is seeking a Project Manager to join the Transportation Initiatives team. Read more »
Job- NC
Southern Research Institute is looking for a Director of the Environmental and Energy Department. Read more »
Job- SC
The South Carolina Coastal Conservation League is seeking a Utility Regulation Specialist with knowledge of utility regulation, utility-scale energy efficiency programs, and renewable energy. Read more »
Job- OH
The Environmental Studies Program at Oberlin College invites applications for the position of Sustainable Technology Research Fellow. Read more »
Job- MT
Montana State University is hiring a tenure-track faculty member to teach in the Sustainable Energy Technician program. Read more »
Internship- NC
Nourish International is looking for nine summer interns to fill a variety of positions that support its work to address global poverty. Read more »
Internship- NC
The National Center for Environmental Assessment at the Environmental Protection Agency is seeking an intern. Read more »
Internship- NC
Aramark is partnering with the Student Conservation Association to hire interns to work on environmental sustainability initiatives. Read more »
Internship- DC
The American Enterprise Institute is looking for a summer Energy and Environmental Policy Intern. Read more »
Internship- WY
The University of Missouri at St. Louis is seeking two field assistants for summer work in the Grand Teton National Park.
Summer Undergraduate Research- GA
Georgia State University is seeking students to participate in a Research Experience for Undergraduates focused on social and environmental disparities. Read more »
Summer Undergraduate Research- DC
The Wimp Lab at Georgetown University is seeking students to participate in a Research Experience for Undergraduates to examine the effects of nutrient runoff on plant productivity and decomposition in an intertidal salt marsh.
Summer Undergraduate Research- HI
The D'Antonio Lab at the University of California is seeking students to participate in a Research Experience for Undergraduates project on invasive grasses.
Volunteer- NC
The Town of Chapel Hill is looking for volunteers for Earth Action Day and their Egg Hunt Celebration.
Carolina in the News
Check out the recent media mentions of sustainability-related programs, practices, and people at UNC:
State Must Get the Facts before Allowing Fracking
The Winston-Salem Journal (Editorial)
With each passing day, there are new questions and concerns regarding the natural-gas drilling process known as fracking. Given concerns that the process may be responsible for earthquakes elsewhere in the country, it is good to hear that geologists at UNC Chapel Hill plan an independent study. Read more »
Not All Migrating Birds Adjusting to Climate Change, Report Says
Bloomberg/Businessweek
Some birds are adjusting their migration patterns and adapting to climate change better than others, researchers found. […] Birds that aren’t adapting, like the Barn Swallow, could be threatened if the crop of insects they feed on aren’t available at the same time, for example, said Allen Hurlbert […] “This is a new threat,” said Hurlbert, an assistant professor of biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “It’s an additional risk factor for the health of their population.” Read more »
Roses and Raspberries
The Chapel Hill News (Editorial)
Roses to the Friends of Bolin Creek, the UNC Institute for the Environment and the N.C. Botanical Garden for reminding us our waterways need our protection. The Friends and its partners held a daylong symposium to call attention to the two major waterways—Bolin Creek and Morgan Creek—that flow through Carrboro and Chapel Hill. The effort, which included activities for children, reminded us of the importance of building protection into planning. Read more »
As Seniors Climb from Poverty, Young Fall in
USA Today
It's not surprising that child poverty rose in Randolph County because the community has been buffeted by factory closings and job cuts, says Gene Nichol, who heads the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina. Those jobs once provided stable salaries and benefits for parents and their children, he says. The rural county of 138,000 people is known for textile, hosiery and furniture manufacturing. Since 1999, 64 plants have closed or downsized, resulting in more than 6,300 jobs lost. Read more »
Beach Renourishment May Have its Dark Side for Coastal Marine Life
The Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Fla.)
Pumping sand onto the coastline helps maintain wide beaches for tourism and property protection, but some scientists say it also damages a fragile and often overlooked ecosystem for fish and birds. ...Few people study nourishment's ecological effects because it not a "popular topic" and it is seen as necessary to protect coastal property, said Lisa Manning, a federal biologist who did research at the University of North Carolina with biology professor Charles Peterson, the author of some of the latest studies. Read more »
Governor Perdue Finds Money to Add 2,000 Pre-K Slots
The North Carolina News Network
North Carolina's Pre-K program will create 2,000 additional slots this year for at-risk 4-year-olds. The move comes after Gov. Bev Perdue said she has identified $9.3 million from child care subsidy funds. ...The Governor's administration sites data from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill that show children who attended the Pre-K program have significantly higher end-of-grade test scores in third grade than similar children who did not have the benefit of the program. 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
Ready for spring? Remember to switch off the heat before opening the windows to bring in fresh air! If you need more light weight clothes, consider visiting one of the many local thrift shops instead of buying new clothes.
Campus Sustainability Scavenger Hunt
You won’t need to look far for Carolina sustainability initiatives - they’re all around you! Learn about sustainability programs and operations in an interactive scavenger hunt hosted by the Sustainability Office, Thursday, April 12, at 5:30pm. Navigate campus locations and visit as many checkpoints as you can in one hour. Then return to Polk Place for food and prizes! The event is free and open to the public. RSVP by April 4. Read more »
“Revenge of the Electric Car” Film Screening
Interest in electric vehicles is speeding up. Accelerate your knowledge about this increasingly popular technology as the Roosevelt Institute, the Sustainability Office, and the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee host a screening of the film “Revenge of the Electric Car,” Wednesday, April 18, at 6:30pm, in Bingham 103. Anne Tazewell, transportation program manager at the NC Solar Center, will lead a conversation about electric vehicles immediately prior to the film. The event is free and open to the public.
New CSA on Campus
Nourish International-UNC recently announced Sprout, a new Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiative. Sign up for the pilot program and receive a bundle of fresh produce from a local farm every week for six weeks. Read more »
Who “Owns” the Arctic?
The Arctic lies at the nexus of critical global issues, including climate change, energy, peace and security, global competitiveness, and twenty-first century strategic partnerships. Join policymakers, academics, students, and environmentalists March 28, 10am-7pm, at the Carolina Inn and the FedEx Global Education Center. The international and interdisciplinary conference is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Read more »
Walmart Director to Speak on the Future of Sustainability
Carolina, NC State University, and Duke University will host Miranda Ballentine, Walmart’s Director of Sustainability, to present “The Future of Sustainability: A Perspective from Walmart,” Wednesday, March 28, at 6pm at NC State. Ms. Ballentine will provide Walmart’s global perspective on how sustainability will unfold in the next five years. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Optional campus tours of NC State’s Centennial Campus will start at 4:30pm. The Center for Sustainable Enterprise and Net Impact will host a student brown bag event with Ms. Ballentine the previous day, as she discusses building a career in sustainability at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, in McColl 2250, at 12:30pm, March 27. RSVP to cse@unc.edu.RSVP to cse@unc.edu.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
New Mixed-Use Development Planned for Downtown Chapel Hill
The Chapel Hill Town Council recently approved Shortbread Lofts, a seven-story building planned for West Rosemary Street. The building will feature 85 apartment units, with retail space on the ground floor. Increasing residential density downtown may reduce car travel and help draw students away from the nearby Northside neighborhood. Read more »
Rain Barrel Workshop at Earth Action Day
Rain barrel workshops will be held at the Earth Action Day festival, Saturday, April 14, at 1pm and 3pm at Southern Community Park. Three different types of rain barrels will be available for purchase at a discounted rate. Earth Action Day festivities begin at noon. Read more »
Wind Power Research Center Opens at NC State
China-based Ming Yang Wind Power recently opened a research and development center at NC State University, signaling a step toward the potential construction of wind farms in North Carolina. The move is expected to build on existing efforts, including a 2009 study led by Harvey Seim, a marine sciences professor at Carolina, to bring wind power to the state. Several initiatives have demonstrated the feasibility of building turbines, but private energy firms have yet to pursue development. Read more »
Study Finds Decline in Solar Costs
A new study by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, “Levelized Cost of Solar Photovoltaics in North Carolina,” shows a drop in the cost of solar power. While conventional electricity costs for NC customers have increased over the last decade, costs of PV panels and components have declined, making solar power more accessible. Read more »
New Raleigh Convention Center Solar Array
FLS Energy and Powerworks are installing 2000 solar panels on the roof of the Raleigh Convention Center. The panels will provide enough electricity for about 125 homes. Read more »
Durham Plugging in with Electric Vehicle and Charging Station
Join the Durham City-County Sustainability Office to celebrate the installation of electric vehicle charging stations throughout Durham and the purchase of electric vehicles for the city fleet on March 21, from 10am – noon, at the Durham Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street. Test out an electric vehicle in downtown Durham, and view the map of new charging stations. Read more »
NC Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Taskforce
The NC Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Taskforce is focused on establishing North Carolina as the leader in electric transportation and promoting PEV readiness throughout the state. Join the NC PEV Taskforce via live-broadcast to learn about ongoing initiatives related to PEVs in NC, Tuesday, March 20, from 1-5pm. Read more »
Dow Donates $10M to Start Multidisciplinary Sustainability Fellowship at UMichigan
The Dow Chemical Company is giving $10 million to establish a sustainability fellowship program at the University of Michigan to promote multidisciplinary collaboration and training. The program is intended to help cultivate real sustainability solutions for global challenges. Read more »
New Graphs and Figures on Gasoline Consumption and Cost
Looking for a way to illustrate gasoline consumption and costs? Graphs and figures recently released from the White House show increases in gasoline demand, oil production, and price in the United States and around the world. Read more »
Southern Energy Management Earns EPA Award and B Lab Recognition
Southern Energy Management recently received the EPA’s 2012 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award. This award recognizes organizations that are leaders in energy efficiency. Read more » Southern Energy Management was also named a Best for the World Business by B Lab, the organization that certifies B Corporations. Read more »
Energy Efficiency in Buildings Scholarship
Undergraduate or graduate students focusing on energy, climate change, environmental science, or a related field are eligible to apply for the Linda Latham Scholarship, offered through the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Deadline for applications is March 20. Read more »
Scholarship for Students in Environmental Programs
The North Carolina Association of Environmental Professionals welcomes applications for its scholarship program. These scholarships help support juniors, seniors, and graduate students who are studying in environmental programs. Deadline for applications is March 31. Read more »
Green Plus Scholarships for Small Businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce members can apply for scholarships for Green Plus, a national sustainability education, networking, and certification program with local roots. Scholarship recipients will receive guidelines and coaching to improve operations. Deadline for applications is March 31. Read more »
NC Mobile Clean Air Renewable Energy (Mobile CARE) Awards
The MobileCARE awards recognize leadership efforts to improve North Carolina's air quality through alternative fuel, advanced transportation technologies, and fuel economy practices. Nominations are due by 5pm on March 23. Winners will be announced at the Ninth Annual Sustainable Energy Conference on April 20, 2012, in Raleigh. Read more »
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Recycling Bins Installed Along Franklin Street
The Town of Chapel Hill is installing 13 new recycling bins along Franklin Street to collect cans and bottles. Purchased through a grant from the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the bins will be placed at crosswalks, bus stops, and parking lots, increasing opportunities for pedestrians to recycle. Read more »
New Morgan Creek Trail in Chapel Hill
The Town of Chapel Hill announces completion of the new Morgan Creek Trail. The trail provides access to open space to the south and west of Fordham Boulevard, a woodland corridor that James Taylor called “Copperline.” The trail is included in the new Bicycle and Greenways Map of Chapel Hill. Read more »
Piedmont Biofuels Announces Breakthrough in Production Processes
Piedmont Biofuels announces the first zero-waste production of biodiesel in the United States using its proprietary approach of enzyme catalysis. Biodiesel is a diesel fuel alternative made from fats and oils, which can be used in diesel engines without modification. Piedmont Biofuels has been investigating enzyme catalysis for over four years in efforts to find a successful zero-waste output. Read more »
Chapel Hill High School Club Fosters Green Energy
Chapel Hill High School recently placed in the top five schools in the DoSomething.org Green Your School Challenge. The Green Tiger Campaign, an environmental student group, installed motion-detection lighting and started a campus recycling center for batteries and other items. The group also maintains a community garden. Read more »
North Carolina Businesses Get Certified in Sustainability and Save Money
The Green Plus program, administered by the Institute for Sustainable Development, offers a roadmap for businesses to operate more sustainably. Approximately 250 businesses, many in North Carolina, have been certified. Over half of them report that it helped generate new business. Read more »
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)