Archive for June, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY, N.C. — Going green got a little slick at Durham Technological Community College’s Orange County Campus Tuesday. The college hosted a biodiesel workshop that was open to the public.

The workshop taught participants about biodiesel, which is “a cleaner-burning alternative fuel produced from fat or vegetable oil, including oil from N.C. field crops such as soybeans and corn.”

According to organizers, “advocates of biodiesel promote the benefits to the environment and to energy security because it is a renewable fuel.”

Participants learned tips on how to operate tractors and other vehicles with the cutting edge fuel.

“Biofuels won’t solve all the problems that we have now, but it will solve some of them,” said Ed Hunt with the North Carolina BioNetwork, an agency that works with the North Carolina Community college system to train “a workforce to produce food, fiber, and fuel for our future.”

“Biofuels will be coming directly from the farm as we move into the next century,” Hunt said.

Tuesday’s workshop included a short lecture, outdoor demonstrations and refreshments. Officials say they have not finalized plans for the next workshop.

   CARY, N.C. - Going “green” will soon be taking up a big chunk of land on the SAS Institute’s campus.

The Cary-based company is partnering with Progress Energy to build a 5-acre solar energy farm.

“I’m fortunate to participate in global business forums with some of the world’s finest corporate and government leaders. Without fail, the environment ranks among their top concerns,” said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight in a press release.  “Additionally, our employees and customers expect us to be responsible corporate citizens. This solar farm is one small gesture among many green initiatives within SAS to diminish the impact on our environment.  Future generations depend on us to do the right thing today.”

The solar energy farm should be up and running by the end of the year.

Once it starts operating, the setup should generate some 1.7 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the press release, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 1,600 tons annually.

The solar energy farm will feature a Sun Power Tracker solar tracking system, which follows the sun and tilts the solar panels accordingly, to maximize the amount of energy they capture.

“This project is a perfect example of the kind of innovation and leadership our state needs to expand the important role of renewable energy,” said Lloyd M. Yates, President and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas.

SAS worked with N.C. State’s North Carolina

TodayShow.com reports that actress Kate Hudson, daugther of Goldie Hawn, will be launching a line of cruelty-free, eco-friendly hair care products.

Which method of hand drying is more eco-friendly? Click here to find out.

DURHAM, N.C. — The Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) will debut a new Hybrid bus today.

DATA will purchase 20 Gillig hybrid buses in fiscal year 2008-2009, stated a press release from the city of Durham.

The new hybrid fleet will help DATA save money on fuel consumption by up to 40 percent as well as reduce emissions and improve air quality.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The online group Freecycle is holding an event Saturday to swap items.

Here’s how it works: People bring their unwanted stuff, like clothes and furniture, to the event, and people who can use it take it home. Freecycle is an online group that swaps stuff through e-mails. When someone needs something they send out an e-mail, then someone who has it can respond. Or if someone has stuff they don’t use anymore, they can offer it up to the rest of the group.

“It keeps stuff from going into the landfills to reduce the amount of stuff in the landfills. And if it’s still usable, why not let someone else use it instead of throwing it in the trash?” said Freecycle Day Organizer Rene Elliott.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Rivers of Living Waters Church on Bingham Drive in Fayetteville. For more information e-mail, mike053073@aol.com or visit www.freecycle.org.

Todayshow.com has an article on some great picks for guilt-free, conflict-free, and eco-friendly jewelry that has you looking fabulous all at the same time. Read the entire story here.

A couple in Haywood County, NC opened up a go green store. The Fullers sell biodegradable cups, plates, bowls and bags. These items are made from potato starch, rice, and sugar among other things.

Read the full story here.

Here’s an interesting fact from “The Green Book” by author Elizabeth Rogers.

Turning off the water while brushing your teeth saves up to five gallons of water a day. This is the amount of water the average person in Africa uses a DAY for cooking, drinking, cleaning and bathing.

Here’s a cool way to recycle. Target sells the Ecopod Recycling System that can hold and crush 50 plastic and aluminum drink containers.

It even has space to hold glass bottles, newspapers, and plastic bags.