Duncan Cavanaugh's Blog (47)

The Biofuels Center of North Carolina recently awarded $684,058 for six projects to accelerate the renewable fuels industry in western North Carolina...$65,722 (Appalachian State University) ∙ Investigating the Economic Viability of a Municipal Solid Waste-to-Biofuels Facility in Western North Carolina; This project will assess the economic viability of using municipal solid waste generated in the 32 counties of western North…

From ASU University News:

William Kamkwamba, co-author of the New York Times bestseller “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope,” will be the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Global Opportunities Conference to be held Friday, April 12 in Boone.  This year’s conference theme is “Africa: Creative Solutions for Development,” and will be held from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Participants may sign in beginning at 9:30 a.m. …

From the Watauga Democrat:

Local businesses are invited to a workshop April 3 to learn more about the Watauga Green Business Plan..."[t]he purpose of the program is to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to adopt practices that reduce their environmental impact, improve their operational efficiency and enhance their business reputation," Economic Development Commission Director Joe Furman said...[p]lease call Lisa Doty…

From Wired:

If you hire a plane, you can fly over the massive data center Apple operates in the woodlands of North Carolina, snapping some distant photos of the 500,000-square-foot facility that drives the company’s…

Monday, 03/04/2013 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm @ Appalachian State University in Boone, NC:

Changing our foodscapes raises a host of questions. How far away is local? How do you decide the size and geography of a regional foodshed? How do you tackle tough issues that plague food systems large and…

From High Country Press:

Appalachian State University is one of only three U.S. universities selected to participate in the prestigious Solar Decathlon Europe 2014, an international competition inspired by the U.S. Solar Decathlon that challenges student teams to design and…

From the High Country Press:

“To my knowledge, this may be a first – students providing funding for faculty research,” said Dr. Edelma Huntley, the university’s chief research officer and dean of the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School.

Full article…

From the Jefferson Post, an article about the rising popularity of geothermal heating systems in Ashe County.

Link: http://www.jeffersonpost.com/view/full_story/20899790/article-Geothermal-sytems-provide-natural--efficient-heating-and-cooling?

From the Watauga Democrat:

Asheville-based homebuilder Deltec Homes this week began offering Appalachian State University’s Solar Homestead — a solar-powered, net-zero energy home designed by ASU students — to the national market...

“This is a great example of our department working with local industry to bring sustainable solutions to the people of North Carolina and beyond. It is a great step forward, bringing energy-efficient housing to…

From the Hickory Daily Record:

CONOVER, NC — California-based technology giant Apple has spent nearly $3 million to buy more than 200 acres of property in Catawba County for another solar farm.

It’s another step in Apple’s pledge to have its Maiden data center running on 100 percent renewable energy by the end of the year.

Full article…

From the Avery Journal:

The ordinance describes definitions of solar and wind forms of alternate energy, as well as terms related to the field, and lists application and collection system requirements for each form. The ordinance also details a timetable for completion or decommission of alternative energy conversion projects.

Full article…

From Wired:

Apple is building something new at its Maiden, North Carolina data center, and thanks to our 1949 Piper PA-11 (Cub Special) iSpy Plane, we can give you an exclusive first look.

In our photos, taken Monday, you can see construction crews laying the foundations for a new approximately 20,0000-square-foot…

From WTOE/WKYK:

The Yancey County Health Department is looking for local farmers to help build the local food supply and thus help with the increasing problem of obesity in the area. The Department recently received a $35,000 Eat Smart Move More Community Grant. The grant will help support the supply and demand for locally grown fresh food available to Yancey County Schools and the local community through a project…

From the Wilkes Journal-Patriot:

The Wilkes County Landfill Gas Project is expected to start putting electricity on the grid through Duke Energy next week, said County Planning Director Eddie Barnes.

Under an agreement between Duke Energy and Wilkes County government, Duke will buy all electricity generated by the methane gas project at the old county landfill off Germantown Road in Moravian Falls. County commissioners unanimously approved…

From the Watauga Democrat:

..."I took it from there,” she said, “and began growing just a few varieties and selling them at the farmer's market. 



Soon, they developed a fan base at the Watauga County Farmer's Market. “I got better at growing them, and then we contacted Vidalia downtown and they were interested in buying from us for the restaurant,” Jill said.  



“People always think Blowing Rock and Banner Elk for fine dining,”…

From the Watauga Democrat:

State officials honored Grandfather Mountain Tuesday for being the first North Carolina attraction to become certified through the state's new NC GreenTravel Initiative...Grandfather Mountain's green practices and features include generating seven kilowatts of electricity per month through an array of photovoltaic cells; using solar thermal panels to heat water and supply radiant heat in the Fudge Shop; renewable bamboo…

Via the Guardian:

Apple plans to power its main data centre entirely with renewable energy by the end of this year, taking steps to address longstanding environmental concerns about the rapid expansion of high-consuming computer server…

From the Winston-Salem Journal:

[Swinson and her team] won an additional $90,000 from the EPA's P3 competition to continue the research and develop a system to recycle the rinse water at Haircut 101 for a two-year project. The team also received an additional $1,000 from the Chemical Engineers Society and will give a presentation at the group's annual conference.

Wastewater from bathing, shampooing, dishwashing, mopping or other household…

From the Watauga Democrat:

On Monday, Makoto's owners Ronald and Gwen Dhing continued the trend by installing Boone's first electric vehicle charging station. After the apparatus passed the town of Boone's inspection, Dr. Peck Garner, three-week owner of a Chevy Volt, was the first to juice up at the station, located near the right side of the restaurant building.



Makoto's installed a mid-level charging station that can…

From the Avery Journal:

Solar power plants are becoming big business, and one Avery County company is riding the wave, bringing the jobs and benefits of tapping into a new industry to Avery County.

Eagle Electron Power Partners in Banner Elk specializes in “power-plant design, procurement and installation,” said consultant Chris Quinn, who manages EEPP’s solar projects. According to Quinn, EEPP is succeeding where many…