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May 2009 - Volume 1, Issue 2
Green Briefs

Welcome to the second issue of “Green Briefs” from NC GreenPower!

We would like to continue to update you throughout the year with a monthly Green Brief eblast to inform you of our current subscriber benefits, updated events calendar, and also tips and news about NC GreenPower. If you would NOT like to be included on this additional eblast, you may unsubscribe at any time. You will still remain on the quarterly e-newsletter list.

For our new subscribers, we invite you to review our April Newsletter.
You may access all newsletter archives by visiting our website.

UPCOMING MAY/JUNE EVENTS:

5/30 - Practically Natural Conference, Prestonwood Cary
6/1 - Durham Bulls - Education day
6/2 - Boone Master Gardening Club
6/9, 10, 11 - Skyline Exhibits & Events Seminars
6/19 - Holistic Moms of the Triangle, Raleigh
6/25 - Cartaret Green Drinks

UPCOMING JULY EVENT - Volunteers needed!
It’s getting close to our biggest event of the year – The Festival for the Eno!  Presented by the Eno River Association, this annual festival features a variety of activities, all with an environmental or cultural connection to the river. The Eno River Association is committed to the preservation of the nature, culture, and history of the Eno River basin.  This year’s festival will be held Friday, July 3rd; Saturday, July 4th; and Sunday, July 5th.  We need help staffing our booth for all three days of the festival. Volunteers will receive a free single-day pass for any shift they choose to sign up for. Some spots fill up quickly, so if you know you want to volunteer, please let us know as soon as possible. Everyone who volunteers will receive a FREE NC GreenPower staff t-shirt to wear during their shift at the festival!  (Reply quickly - sizes will be limited.) The festival is located at West Point on the Eno at Durham City Park. For more information on the festival visit: http://www.enoriver.org/Festival/

For you or your friends that might be interested in volunteering for this or any future event, contact the NC GreenPower team at 866-533-NCGP (6247)
or email: speaker@ncgreenpower.org

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FEATURED SPONSOR - Optima Engineering honored with Green Award
Congratulations to NC GreenPower's newest Supporter Level Corporate Sponsor! – Optima Engineering, P.A. has been recognized for their environmentally sustainable practices at the second annual Charlotte Business Journal Green Awards. The company’s own office space, 1927 South Tryon, was named the Green Commercial Project of 2009.

President of Optima Engineering, Keith Pehl, hopes the building is the first in the Charlotte region to earn a Platinum-Level LEED-CI certificate. Optima purchased NC GreenPower Renewable Energy for one of their LEED points. In addition to meeting and exceeding LEED standards, 1927 South Tryon also displays the firm’s commitment to renewable energy. The building features a solar photovoltaic system, producing electricity which can be sold back to Duke Energy, as well as a solar thermal system.

About Optima Engineering, P.A.:
Optima Engineering is a multi-disciplined, professional engineering firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, lighting, and sustainable design; offering both basic and full commissioning services. Project types include data center facilities and other mission critical sites, health care facilities, educational facilities, commercial/retail buildings, high-rise buildings, fire stations, hotels, restaurants, and churches. For more information, visit www.optimapa.com.

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GREEN TIP - Earth Fare
Choose or Reuse™ ? Every time a customer CHOOSES to take a new plastic or paper bag, they are asked to donate 5¢ to one of two organizations who are actively improving the local environment in their community. This program will support NC GreenPower in the Asheville and Greensboro Earth Fare locations.

When a customer REUSES a bag or box, they are supporting the award winning Friend of Earth Fare program. For each reused bag, Earth Fare donates 5¢ to a local charity. Those nickels and dimes add up. In 2008, Earth Fare customers reused more than 1.5 million bags!

With an estimated 500 billion bags used worldwide each year, you can feel good about your decision at the checkout. Whether through a donation or bringing their own bags, they are supporting those making a difference in their communities. The choice is yours – choose or reuse?

DURHAM BULLS TREE GIVEAWAY WAS A SUCCESS!

A huge thanks to our volunteers who helped with our tree giveaway on Saturday, May 2nd. The trees were gone in less than 30 minutes, so we gave away seeds and flower paper for the rest of the evening! We also appreciate all the efforts of the Durham Bulls staff and Bulls fans who took home a tree. The combined benefit of all 125 trees will yield a carbon offset of 48,750 lbs in 30 years!

Click here for more photos.

APRIL UPDATE:
27,697 block(s) of NC GreenPower Renewable Energy purchased per month will support an annual 33,236,400 kWh of cleaner, renewable energy. This provides an annual benefit of:

  • 26,921,484 lbs of coal not used.
  • 69,161,292 lbs of emissions prevented
  • 5,320,099 trees planted (environmental equivalent from reduction of emissions)
  • 830910 days (equivalent traditional electricity usage)

461 block(s) of NC GreenPower Carbon Offset purchased will offset a combined 230,500 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2) for each month subscribed. This is the monthly equivalent to:

  • 17730 trees planted
  • 83896 miles not driven
  • 14208 days not driven

Total generators as of April 30th: 244

  • Solar: 229 (including 5 large solar)
  • Wind: 7
  • Small hydroelectric: 4
  • Landfill methane gas: 3
  • Biomass – clean wood waste: 1
 

 
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