I’m For the Farm. Are You?

This year’s NC State University’s Earth Week featured “From Barn to Brick: Sustainable Food and Agriculture at NC State.” It focused on educating the campus and community about the importance of sustainable food. To kick off Earth Week, 100 helping hands from all over the community grabbed a shovel and got to work on the Agroecology Education Farm located off of Lake Wheeler Road. This event was co-hosted by the Education Farm and Campus Dining as the first step towards incorporating local and organic food throughout campus Dining Halls. NC State’s Sustainability Office is working hard to gain support For the Farm to further enhance this partnership between the Farm and Campus Dining. The more support this partnership gains, the more it and the Farm will prosper.

When the farm first started out about 3 years ago, it barely had a tool shed or access to water. It was used as a hands-on learning aid for students taking Agroecology courses for the minor and concentration that are offered at NC State. Now, they have a well-equipped tool shed, their own tractor, a well for spray irrigation and access to electricity. The Farm even receives compost from Campus Dining to put the tremendous amount of waste that accumulates in the dining halls to good use. The Farm had such great production success last summer that extra produce was donated to Raleigh’s Interfaith Food Shuttle. Green Planet Catering has also had great success growing produce in its very own portion of the plot. The farm takes tremendous pride in natural farming methods by using organic fertilizers and limiting the amount of tillage done to preserve the soils. Additionally, a beneficial insect border was established in 2008 to attract insects to better the farm, and plant cover crops are planted in winter and summer months by students on the remaining acreage to help protect the farm. This Farm’s hopeful message is to show that small, sustainable plots of land can provide a better source of fresh, local food.

If you’ve ever eaten at a campus dining hall, you’ve probably noticed that a large amount of food is tossed out and many dishes are used in the process of just one meal. However, NC State’s Campus Dining has been working towards becoming greener. Campus Dining contributes their waste as compost to the farm and has a goal to increase the amount of waste redirected away from landfills to 65% by 2015. Additionally, 26% of the food is sourced from local areas. Howling Cow Dairy products, including fresh milk and ice cream throughout campus comes from NC State’s very own farm and on-campus dairy plant; they feature pita bread, dinner rolls, and artisan sandwich bread from Neomonde, a local bakery that uses natural products and high quality ingredients. Campus Dining also started a program called “My Roots Are at NC State” which connects Dining with NC growers, manufacturers, producers and processes to further increase local and sustainable purchases. The program also allows NC State alumni to share their own stories about working for these companies and how their work positively impacts NC State’s efforts to provide the best food possible for the campus. It is a great program to trace one’s roots back to the University that made their career possible. Recently, Dining created the “Take Out Program” which features reusable, recyclable take-out containers. One must bring back a used container in order to receive a new one, enforcing the concept of reuse and recycle. Containers are washed alongside dirty dishes to be reused. Campus Dining also recycles their cooking oil. In fact, 55,000 gallons have been recycled into sustainable fuels since 2008, which is enough to run 10 Wolfline busses for 10 years!  

The future of agriculture lies within small, sustainable plots like the Agroecology Education Farm. The farm allows for students and the community to become educated about the importance and convenience of local food sources, and the partnership between NC State Campus Dining and the Farm will add to the community’s awareness. So I ask, are you For the Farm? To show your support, click here and help strengthen this partnership that could act as a leading model for sustainable food everywhere. Support For the Farm, and watch as the cycle comes full circle; from Farm-to-Fork, or as we call it here, from Barn-to-Brick.

Other links:

News (WRAL): http://www.wral.com/nc-state-farm-shows-smaller-is-better/12327314/

http://sustainability.ncsu.edu/forthefarm

Inside the James B. Hunt Jr. Library

Have you ever had trouble finding a place to study, let alone sit in North Carolina State University’s D. H. Hill Library? Well, the brand new James B. Hunt Jr. Library on Centennial campus doubles NC State’s study seating capacity and, the best part: it’s GREEN! It has been designed for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Environmental rating and is expected to be the fourth LEED-certified building on NC State’s campus!

Before the opening of the Hunt Library, NC State could seat less than 5% of its students, but this building offers 1,700 new seats and almost 100 group study rooms! Providing technology-enabled furniture, high-definition video walls, a 3D computing and visualization space, and videoconferencing and telepresence facilities, the Hunt Library utilizes technology to encourage innovation and learning. The building goes above and beyond in representing NC State’s strength in technology and design.  

The Hunt Library’s efficient and complex design reduces energy consumption by 31%, downsizing costs and improving ecological conditions. A main contributor of this reduction is the bookBot, which efficiently stores and retrieves books. This incredible design eliminates the need for aisle space and reduces the building’s square footage by 40%! Ceiling-mounted occupancy sensors automatically control the efficient lighting throughout the building as well as room temperature in the study rooms and offices, putting a halt to energy consumption when areas are not in use. Additionally, twelve solar thermal panels on the roof of the building utilize the sun to naturally produce hot water for the entire building!  Vast expanses of glass windows also take advantage of the natural sunlight to light many rooms throughout the day. However, the combination of vertical and horizontal solar blades that contributes to the unique exterior of the building block out unwanted sunlight that causes uncomfortable heat and glare. And you thought the awesome exterior was just for looks! 

 

For those that love that fresh outdoor air, you will be remarkably comfortable due to the air ventilation system sized to deliver 30% more outside air than required by code! The air quality throughout the building is further enhanced through the use of Low-VOC paints and coatings used on drywall and wood finishes, as well as low-VOC adhesives and sealants in the carpets to reduce harmful off-gassing.

The strong sustainable design of the Hunt Library extends beyond its interior and works to enhance its scenic surrounding environment. The Centennial Oval leading up to the building, the terrace overlooking Lake Raleigh, and the exterior design of the building all act to integrate and appreciate the surrounding environment. The natural hydrology of Lake Raleigh and Walnut Creek is preserved by incorporating the rain garden and vegetated green roof, which act to reduce harmful runoff and remove sedimentation and contaminants before reaching the waterways. The green roof also helps cool the building, reducing energy use in the summer time. Water-efficient landscaping throughout the site reduces the need for irrigation and conserves water. Drinking water is also conserved through the installation of infrastructure for future connection to municipal reclaimed wastewater to be used for all toilets and urinals. Water-efficient or ultra-low-flow plumbing fixtures in bathrooms currently contribute to a 38% reduction in water use.

Even the materials used to construct the library were sourced to have minimal impact on the environment! One-third of all materials used to construct and finish the library were both extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of the site. In addition, 82% of all wood products used inside the building have been sustainably harvested and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The library’s environmental impact is also reduced by using 31% recycled content, including steel, carpet, bathroom countertops and aluminum window mullions. Recycling is made convenient and accessible for students, faculty, and staff by placing bins for metal, plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, and electronics throughout the library to reduce operational waste, extending the life of our prized natural resources!

For bicycle and Wolfline commuters, accessing the Hunt Library will be as convenient as ever! Public transportation and bicycle commuting are encouraged through the buildings setup through bus stops and bike racks surrounding the building. Showers and changing areas are also provided in the building to promote physical activity. Light-colored paths and trees around the building also contribute to reducing the heat island effect, keeping the surrounding environment cool and comfortable for commuters!

Are you interested in learning more about the Hunt Library’s sustainable design? Click here to request a tour, or here to learn more! Get your smart phones ready because an application is being designed for visitors who would like a self-guided tour! Digital displays in the building and the NCSU Libraries website provide facts about green building strategies and the Hunt Library’s achievements. Education about green building is part of the design and function of the building. It is essential to educate the community about the Hunt Library’s sustainable technology and design and to recognize it for its influential green building design as a successful example of balancing social, economic, and ecological aspects. By allowing visitors, students, staff and faculty to become aware about the benefits of green building, the vision of living and working in a healthier, safer, more efficient building comes closer to reality.

(All photos courtesy of the Hunt Library's webpage.) 

Green Gadgets = Green Technology

Every time you turn on the TV or browse the internet you see the release for the newest and latest cell phone or digital camera. (Seriously, how much slimmer can they really get now?). They cause you to cringe at your outdated 4.5 inch screen, making you a little cynical every time you see someone with the new shiny 4.6 inch screen. Which let’s admit, the additional .1 inch really is as magical as they say right? …Or at least that’s what we convince ourselves of.  

With technology constantly evolving and upgrading, who can keep up? Here are a few innovative new gadgets that not only look chic but also help you save money while keeping you energy efficient.

One of the latest craze comes in thermostats with the Nest. With its auto-away feature, the Nest can sense when the house is empty and will automatically adjust the temperature accordingly. It stores your households’ energy information allowing you to look through the patterns of the temperature. Within a week, the Nest tracks your energy usage and auto-adjusts to a personalized schedule based on your individual needs. Always staying connected through laptops, phones and tablets, it allows you to adjust the temperature even away from home.

Now your outdated incandescent light bulb finally blew out and you’re looking for a change. Take a try at the new Philips L Prize bulb, which is energy efficient and designed to promote LED lighting. It consumes only 10W making it brighter than the average 60W bulb and can last for 27.4 years if it is used for three hours a day. Although a little pricey at sixty dollars, its specifications make it a cheaper option in the long run.

 

Looking to do a little more than just be energy efficient? Lucky for you, energy efficient technology has spilled over into the social realm, one example being the LittleSun Solar-Powered Lantern. The lantern only needs five hours of sunlight to provide light for the entire night and can run up to three years before needing a battery replacement. The charitable aspect comes with the price; by purchasing the lantern at the regular price, it allows the product to be sold a discounted price to those worldwide who have no access to an electrical grid. When compared to kerosene, the lantern saves users 90% and can attach almost anywhere (or even be worn around the neck!).

There are even simple swaps we can make when deciding how to update our technology. When upgrading your phone or buying that new flat screen you’ve had your eye on for the past year, look into the specifications and do some research ahead of time. According to Energy Star, the 42-inch Panasonic TC-L42D30 is one of the most efficient and will only cost about $10 a year to operate in energy costs at five hours of use per day.

Next time, before you jump at those newly advertised toys make sure to do a little research; there are energy efficient options at almost every corner. With all these new green technologies out there’s no way to go wrong!

NCGP January featured generator!

Brian Gastle is one of NC GreenPower’s solar PV generators, and one of only a handful in Jackson County on our program.  His system is a 5.4 kW array, and the solar panels put just under 8,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean, green, renewable energy back on the grid for Haywood EMC.

Gastle’s was the first grid-tied system connected to Western Carolina University Electric, which provides service to the area surrounding the university. He is a faculty member at the university and personally interested in being ecologically responsible for the environment, one of the reasons he installed his solar PV array. He is also committed to and in support of the university’s green initiatives. Gastle hopes that he will serve as a pioneer for others who are looking into sustainable alternatives for their energy needs.

“Many of my neighbors assumed it would be cost prohibitive, but with tax credits and NC GreenPower I expect 100% payback of expenses in about 10 years, during which time roughly half the power I use is being generated from a renewable resource.  The cost benefits of a sell-all system and contracting with  NC GreenPower clearly suggested a more fiscally beneficial option and allowed me to install a larger (and therefore more significantly “green”) system.”

He also made some other small changes at home to increase energy efficiency.  All light bulbs are compact fluorescents.  His windows were replaced with double pane energy efficient units.  Faucets and shower heads are all low-flow.  They are sure to set their AC and heat to reasonable levels and have seen a huge savings on their electric bill from their efforts.

His advice if you are thinking about an installation? “Do it. It is affordable and cost effective. Do the research on an installer up front – that’s the key.  Sundance Power helped us with everything and maintain a follow-up relationship that is truly exceptional.   The more systems we can get online, the less we rely upon foreign oil and fossil fuels.  Donations to NC GreenPower allow a broader base of the population affordable access renewable energy production.”

Changing Lives, One Light at a Time

The children of Rizal, Philippines, gather around their solar lantern. Photo credit: One Million Lights website

Did you know that over 1.6 billion people around the world depend on burning kerosene to light their homes at night? This is responsible for 1.5 million deaths from burns and respiratory illnesses each YEAR, 62% of which are children. If you know this, you are most likely not one of those 1.6 billion people. This highly toxic and flammable substance is the only source of lighting for many areas around the world, and a very expensive one at that, contributing to the extreme poverty that these areas are facing. Well, what if YOU could help offer an alternative to put an end to this vicious cycle?

One Million Lights is a non-profit with a mission of improving lives all over the world by providing emissions-free and efficient lighting to homes. Their goal is to distribute one million solar lights to replace the burning of kerosene, and their partnerships, ambassadors, and international distribution programs are helping to make this goal happen. Not only are these lights sustainable, but they give those who are less fortunate the ability to utilize the sun even after it goes down. Lighting can allow children to continue their studies throughout the evening, and parents to continue their household chores and even relax after a long day of work. They offer a healthy and safe living environment, improving the all-around household experience. These lights utilize the sun's gift to brighten peoples' futures all over the world!

One Million Lights has had a tremendous amount of support in helping reach their goal! They have teamed up with World of Color's public charity, whose mission is very similar to their own. In addition, Energizer became a partner and started sponsoring night races around the world to raise awareness of the importance of safe and healthy lighting. Through the money raised at the races, Energizer pledged to donate 11 million hours of solar light to communities without electricity! EBay has also shown support through their donation of 15,000 solar lights to school children in India and Africa. College students around the world are even showing support by volunteering as ambassadors! They are working towards raising enough solar lights to deliver them to a selected location with the help of international distributors. Through the help of partnerships, ambassadors, and international distribution programs, One Million Lights has been able to brighten peoples’ futures all around the world, and has gotten many steps closer towards reaching their goal!

Brighten someone's night by giving the gift of light this holiday season!  Click here to buy or donate a solar light! Everyone deserves an opportunity for a bright future. 

Restituta Glino, a light recipient in Borongan Village, checks on his dinner. Photo credit: One Million Lights website

Distribution to Kenya, April 2012. Photo credit: Michael Goode