Archive for the ‘green’ Category

Looking for all things green this summer? From the beach to bugs to beer, National Geographic has a huge list of ways to keep it eco-friendly.

Check it out.

BY KERRY HALL
NBC17
RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh is harnessing the power of the sun to light up one of its facilities at night.The city’s first solar LED lights have been installed at an operating facility at Marsh Creek.

The 16 outdoor light posts don’t use traditional electricity. Instead solar panels capture energy during the day that is stored in no-maintenance batteries.

Sensors that go off when the sun has set illuminate the long-life, energy-efficient bulbs.

The system can also be programmed to go on and off at timed intervals to save energy.

Watch the video above to hear Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and Dan Robertson of Progress Solar Solutions discuss the project.

BY: PRESS RELEASE
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The City of Fayetteville realizes becoming a sustainable community comes from energy savings, an improved environment and greener facilities. Recent news that $1.6 million has been appropriated for energy conservation measures is a big step towards accomplishing those goals. The funds are stimulus dollars and must still be applied for to be awarded. Once awarded, there is a large list of eligible projects the City is researching and will pursue to make Fayetteville a more energy-wise community.

Eligible conservation projects that could be implemented include:

Cool roof technology to keep buildings cooler by emitting the sun’s heat back to the sky
Energy efficient HVAC units
Replacing single-pane glasses with double-pane glasses
Improved insulation
Solar panels for supplemental electricity generation
Cameras at intersections that will reduce wait time, idle time, fuel use and emissions
LED street lighting
Lighting upgrade in City buildings.
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By Dee Henry
Media General News Service

NEWTON - To make biofuel, you have to crush some seeds.

The county continues to develop the Eco-Complex and approved a $150,000 grant from the Biofuel Center of North Carolina, earmarked for the purchase of seed-crushing equipment and a silo for seed storage.

“We’re in the process of identifying the best equipment for what we’re doing,” said Barry Edwards, director of Catawba County Utilities and Engineering Department.

Edwards said the county is hoping to purchase the new equipment in the fall.

The equipment is headed for the county’s Eco-Complex, a joint project between the county’s Utilities and Engineering Department and Appalachian State University, where biodiesel fuel will be created from sunflower and canola seeds. The project will be housed in a building at the Blackburn Landfill off Rocky Ford Road.

Currently, the operation, done mostly on the campus of Appalachian State University, a partner in the complex with the county, consists of a portable seed crusher Edwards describes as “very labor intensive” and stores the seeds bagged in piles. The grant will help buy a silo for storage and an automated crusher that extracts oil from sunflower and canola seeds.

Edwards said the county planned to spend approximately $300,000 on the equipment. The grant is cutting the county’s cost by half. (more…)

RALEIGH, N.C. - Lawmakers have checked out an experimental ban on plastic bags on North Carolina’s barrier islands, and they are sold on the idea.

The Senate agreed 44-2 to Monday night to House changes to a bill pushed by Senate leader Marc Basnight of Dare County designed to preserve environment and protect wildlife. The measure now goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature.

The bill only would apply to large stores on islands or peninsulas in Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties. It would require stores to use paper bags or have their customers bring in reusable bags.

Supporters have said the Outer Banks attract millions of tourists annually in part because they’re clean. They also say the bags can be swallowed by turtles that choke on them.

I was feeling organized this weekend, so I cleaned out my closet and dug through a bin of drawers. There, I found my old cell phone. It’s been sitting there uselessly for months. What to do with it?

According to the EPA: Of the 2.25 million tons of TVs, cell phones and computer products ready for end-of-life (EOL) management, 82 percent (that’s 1.84 million tons) were put in landfills.

EEK! A quick Internet search led me to Recyclemycellphone.org, where I filled out a short form and even printed a free mailing label that will give me FREE shipping for the phone. Pretty cool.

Did you hear about this plan to create more green space in ailing cities? The feds are talking about bulldozing the blight. Not only is it green for our planet, but some argue it will save cities money.

Read Full Story

The Town of Carrboro is pleased to invite you to a free, customized business training – “GOING GREEN: Part One – An Introduction to Options, Resources, Strategies, and an Environmentally Thoughtful Planning Process for Small Businesses.”

This training will take place on Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Carrboro Creative CoWorking, 205 Lloyd Street, Suite 101 in downtown Carrboro. In this seminar participants will be guided in a decision-making process to consider “green” and “sustainable” business practices, where appropriate, for their enterprises.

Experienced, specialized, well-known speakers from our region will present information and answer questions in topic areas that will include: motivations to go green, energy analysis of your building and current operations, green building practices and standards (LEED), solar technology options, green marketing & branding, true cost benefit analysis. Additionally we have inspiring case studies from a number of local “deep green” businesses that range from – an exceptional coffee roaster to an organic cotton / environmentally friendly ink T-shirt company, a high successful restaurant group, a thriving organic / sustainable catering company, and others. The stories should be captivating. The information should be timely and useful.

The company will be creative, familiar, and all from Carrboro. LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.  This is part one of a two part series of business training on this topic. “Going Green…” is a “by invitation only” training event for twelve local companies. Participants need to register to secure their space in this program since seating will be limited.

We look forward to a wonderful, productive, enjoyable day. For more information and to register for your place at this green table, contact: Holly Holland 919 918-7318 or email hholland@ci.carrboro.nc.us, Town of Carrboro, Office of Community & Economic Development

We have openings for 12 participants who did not attend the first session. Please RSVP.

RALEIGH, N.C. — An electric Green Machine (aka a modified Prius hybrid electric car) will be in Raleigh at the Advanced Vehicle Research Center Monday from 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. on its way to Washington DC from Florida on one tank of gas. It’s a 1,100-mile journey.

The Electric Green Machine, a 2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid, modified with a high-capacity A123 System lithium battery by Hymotion will visit the Advanced Vehicle Research Center at 8451 Garvey Drive in Raleigh.  The vehicle was modified by AVRC in Raleigh prior to its historic journey.

It’s one of many stops the Electric Green Machine is making on the trip. The car left North Palm Beach at noon June 1 and is expected to arrive in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

Earl Stewart Toyota modified a 2009 Prius with a A123 Hymotion Lithium battery, creating an electric, plug-in hybrid able to travel 30-40 miles without using any gas. Driver Rick Kearney will drive the modified Prius 30-40 miles, and then stop and plug in for a few hours to recharge the battery before continuing the epic journey.  Several Prius owners along the route have invited Kearney to “plug-in” at their homes.

A 2010 Prius Hybrid will also make the North Palm Beach, FL to Washington, D.C. trip to demonstrate the outstanding gas mileage achieved with Prius hybrid technology, even without the plug-in modification.

A Cary-based company is looking for ways to make a project as “green” as possible.

SAS rolled out a five-acre solar farm late last year, and have recently come up with a unique way of making it a little more sustainable.

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