Tar Heels Love Green: Sustainable Initiatives in Chapel Hill
Sustainability and conservation are core tenants to the redevelopment of Glen Lennox. All around us we see inspirational examples of climate-conscious work being done in Chapel Hill every day. This Earth Day, we’re highlighting green initiatives happening under our Carolina blue skies.
Composting at Local Schools
Students of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) are taking part in a composting program that saves waste otherwise headed to a landfill. After lunch, students pour liquids into a bucket, recycle items and put food waste into a compost bin. Leading the way on this initiative is the CHCCS sustainability coordinator, who is also in charge of energy efficiency and water usage. The process of composting is already a subject in many science classes. With composting happening at each school, now students can observe it occurring and appreciate its importance.
Solar Panels at Carrboro High
Carrboro High School (CHS) takes their commitment to the environment one step further. In 2015, two CHS students took it upon themselves to identify a way to make the school more energy efficient. The CHCCS sustainability coordinator helped them conduct an energy audit of the school. Disappointed in how much energy the school used unnecessarily, the students contacted NextClimate, a nonprofit solar panel organization, who then worked with the school to install solar panels. Not only have the panels saved CHS money and conserved fossil fuels, but students can track and study the amount of energy the panels generate in real time.
UNC Sustainable Carolina Initiative, UNC Three Zeroes
Sustainable Carolina is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) initiative to continuously improve all sustainable activities on campus and reduce UNC’s impact on the environment. The goals guiding this initiative are the Three Zeroes: net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions – all set to be achieved by 2050. Strategies to achieve these goals include eliminating coal use, finding climate-friendly refrigerants, transitioning to electric buses and more. Since the start of Sustainable Carolina, there is 1 percent less waste each year, greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 40 percent and the university’s water use has fallen by 67 percent.
Town of Chapel Hill Climate Action Response Plan
The Town of Chapel Hill created a Climate Action and Response Plan that outlines how the town government, and we as citizens, will address the impacts of climate change. The goal of the plan is to make Chapel Hill more sustainable, more equitable and more resilient as a community. Because of this plan, the town has made the switch to efficient and longer lasting LED lighting at government buildings, reduced the release of pollutants into water systems and built clean energy-generating rooftop solar photovoltaics as well as hot water systems at various sites across town. See everything the Town of Chapel Hill is doing on the Town’s sustainability web site.
Environmental Educators of NC
Based in Chapel Hill, Environmental Educators of NC (EENC) is a network of environmental educators and organizations who promote environmental education across the state. Since 1987, EENC has increased people’s environmental awareness and helped North Carolinians develop the necessary skills and expertise to address related challenges and act proactively. EENC raises funds, provides resources, and organizes volunteers for environmental education programs at grade schools, state universities and extracurricular programs.
Protecting the planet is a global issue, and the solution starts here in our communities. Happy Earth Day!