September 2011 Posts (24)

As part of a project tracking more than 400 pieces of state legislation, the USGBC recently released the 2011 Advancing Green Building Policy in the States report highlighting 30 wins for green building across 22 states. The report is designed as a tool to fuel ideas for future legislative sessions for policymakers, advocacy groups and others.The 2011 NC green…

Come to the Triad's largest sustainability exposition and learn how going green can help you save money and make money! The Triad’s free sustainability exposition being held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 1.

The GO Expo offers learning areas in several areas including gardening, school work and home energy use, and electric vehicles. Experts will be available to ask questions about specific topics including weatherization, solar energy, recycling, rain gardens, and…

From the Asheville Citizen-Times:

NEWLAND — Luke Henderson wasn’t too sure about selling off a piece of his Avery County Christmas tree farm to make way for a new kind of farm, one planted with row upon row of solar panels. But with a slack economy weighing on his business, as well as depressed wholesale prices for his evergreens, Henderson decided selling 6 acres of his 33-acre farm made good economic sense.…

Great review of Appalachian State's Performance so far at the Solar Decathlon! A third place in Architecture was received today!

..."But the People's Choice Award votes were going to the joint across the street, Appalachian State's Solar Homestead, a rambling collection of boxes with a great big shady porch, an outdoor kitchen, and a tiny in-law apartment. Maybe it was their eager outreach (team members were handing out mirrorized…

ThinkProgress is reporting that the farm ministry of Japan has "found the first case of rice with radioactive materials far exceeding a government-set level for a preliminary test of pre-harvested crop". This discovery triggers follow up testing for rice harvested from Nihonmatsu city.

This marks the first case of rice tested…

Western North Carolina is already home to more clean energy companies per capita than any other region of the state.  For over a year, leaders connected to WNC's clean energy economy have been studying this sector and developing a plan to build on the region's exiting success to cultivate a leading clean energy…

After a stormy day, Appalachian State shines brightly at night at West Potomac Park in DC. Vote here: http://bit.ly/sdpoll

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Yesterday, High Country Press reported that The Solar Homestead arrived in Washington DC on September 12th, and is working around the clock to get the home competition ready. This entry into the Department of Energy's Solar Decathalon is a point of…

The BBC has confirmed that Siemens, a huge engineering and industrial firm, will be withdrawing from the nuclear energy industry. CEO Peter Loescher is on record as saying "the clear positioning of German society and politics [is] for a pullout from nuclear energy" and "the chapter for us is closed". Siemens will continue to work in the energy sector and produce parts for conventional power plants. To…

Zimride is a company that lets drivers sell the empty seats in their car to passengers who need a ride along popular routs, such as between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Zimride not only puts cash in your pocket, it connects people with new friends.

This is, essentially, the tagline from Venture Beat's article on the  San Francisco based company which has just raised $6…

Deadline: 11/15/11

Agency: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE)

Program: On-Farm Research Grants

Description: On-Farm Research Grants are intended for Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Services, university personnel, government, and non-governmental organizations that work with farmers/ranchers and are interested in conducting on-farm research or marketing projects related to sustainable…

Progress Energy has launched their Plugged In Program to install 240-volt residential charging stations at the homes of customers who have purchased plug-in electric vehicles.  The program will cover the station purchase and installation costs up to $1,500.  Progress Energy will own, service and maintain the charging station until the program ends in April 2013.  During the program, Progress Energy will remotely access data from the charging station to better…

Western North Carolina already boasts the most clean energy companies per capita in the state — and just added another job in that growing field.

 Sara Day Evans, a sustainability expert formerly with the N.C. Department of Commerce, starts work Monday as the western community outreach and education cordinator for the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, a nonprofit promoting clean energy policy in Raleigh and supporting companies…

Do you have clients or students who are interested in farming medicinal herbs, wild-harvesting herbs from their property for extra income, adding woodland botanicals to their forest management plan, or making medicinal herb products (tinctures, soaps, lotions, etc.)?  If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should attend this "train-the-trainer" program we are offering on November 3rd near Asheville, NC.  This training is designed with extension agents, NRCS personnel, marketing…

Intent to apply letter due October 14. Full applications due December 16.

The Rural Center is pleased to announce the 2011-2012 solicitation for the Economic Innovation Grants Program. This program spurs business activity, job creation and public/private investment by supporting innovative economic development projects across rural North Carolina. Funds are provided by the North Carolina General Assembly and are available for local and regional projects in rural communities. Proposals…

The EPA has released an official Guide to Sustainable Transportation Performance Measures. This guide comes from the Office of Sustainable Communities and presents opportunities for transportation agencies to incorporate environmental, economic, and social sustainability into decision-making through the use of performance measures.

From EPA's news release: "Performance measures allow decision-makers to quickly observe the effects of a proposed transportation plan or project, or to…

In a recent news release from the North Carolina Biotech Center a dozen undergraduate projects have received $60,500!

From the news release:

The Undergraduate Research Fellowships match faculty mentors with science and engineering majors. Students across the state gain real-world research experience through these collaborative projects. For some awardees, these projects are first glimpses at biotechnology careers.

“These grants encourage talented students around the…