It’s not too late for that last minute holiday gift! NC GreenPower gift cards – Still available. Order online and the gift card will be emailed to you! CLICK HERE In this issue:
Featured Sponsor – Durham Bulls
Energy generated from The Durham Bulls’ participation in NC GreenPower will help to reduce the use of fossil fuel sources, such as coal, resulting in improvements to air and water quality across the state. We thank the Durham Bulls for helping to increase the amount of renewable energy generation in North Carolina. Look for more upcoming news next spring as baseball season starts! About Durham Bulls Baseball The Bulls are the Triple-A affiliate of the American League’s Tampa Bay Rays. They joined the Rays in 1998 when the team made the jump from Single-A to Triple-A’s International League. In 2008, The Tampa Bay Rays won their first American League pennant with a roster full of former Durham Bulls including Evan Longoria, David Price and B.J. Upton. The Bulls have an outstanding championship history of their own, most notably since making the jump to Triple-A in 1998. In the past 11 seasons, the Bulls have eight post-season appearances, seven division titles and two league championships. Since their inception, the Bulls have won 11 league titles, the last coming in 2003. Located in downtown Durham, the Bulls play at the modern Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) that opened in 1995. The ballpark features a 32-foot blue wall in left field with a snorting, wooden bull replicated after the one made famous in the 1987 movie Bull Durham. In 2009, the Bulls will play their 12th season in Triple-A and with the Tampa Bay Rays. Along with 72 games of Bulls Baseball, the DBAP will host four games between the USA Collegiate National Team and their international opponent to be determined along with the ACC Tournament in May. For more information, contact the Bulls at (919) 687-6500 or go online to www.durhambulls.com.
Featured Producer – Contributed by Andrew and Jennifer Angyal in Gibsonville, NC
We have installed a 3kW interconnected solar residential system along with a solar hot water system on our farm in northeast Guilford County. Both have operating well now for over two years, but it took several years of careful planning and consultation with several solar contractors before we decided what we needed and where to install it. We had always been intrigued by the potential of solar energy and had wanted to install a solar system in our home. We had been without power through several hurricanes and ice storms and did not want to be without the power to use our well, or have power and hot water for the house. We were put off by the economics of solar power until North Carolina passed its 35% solar tax rebate, the federal government offered a 10% tax rebate, and NC Green Power came into existence. There also were design and technical issues to be resolved, beginning with where to put the panels and whether to be on or off grid. We have a seventy-year old farm house with an original metal roof shaded by large trees to the southwest, so it did not make sense to install panels on the house roof. After ruling out a ground or pole installation, we decided to mount the panels on the south-facing roof of our garage, a separate building about one hundred feet from the house. First the garage had to be enclosed, since it was an open tractor shed, and finished with a separate utility room for the inverter. We started the project as an off-grid installation, but after going on the Guilford solar tour and meeting our contractor, Tom Honey, we decided on a grid-connected system. The failure of our electric water heater three years ago made the installation urgent, so we installed an 80 gallon REEM-Richmond solar water heater with electric backup until the solar hot water panels could be installed. Then we had to dig a 100’ trench from the garage to the house to accommodate the pipes and electrical conduits. Tom Honey installed a two-panel indirect glycol/antifreeze system using 4’ x 8’ Chromagen panels. Then our solar PV system was installed, consisting of fifteen GEPVp-200 watt panels mounted on UniRac solar mounts, two Outback PS2 power systems and MX60 charge controllers. We were hooked up to Duke Energy using the Small Customer Generator Rider (SCG) and connected with NC GreenPower. We use eight Deka 8L16 6 volt batteries for backup storage in case of a power outage. Our system produces on average about 11.5 KWH per day and has reduced our power bill by about two thirds, as well as generating over $300.00 per year in income. In the spring and fall we often net out with no power bill at all. So far we have been very satisfied with both of our systems, which have been trouble free. Our only maintenance is to top off the batteries every six months.
Featured Individual Signup – Contributed by Thomas Weikel in Hillsborough, NC After my fine-woodworking training in the mountains of NC, I moved to the piedmont and started my own shop. I have spent the last seven years working my trade while also becoming involved in many aspects of sustainable living. I have worked with alternative and natural building techniques including earthships, strawbale, cobb, slipstraw, and earth plaster. I have been involved in a range of projects, from the construction of energy efficient passive solar buildings to bio diesel production. These projects gave me a hands-on understanding of wind, solar, and micro-hydroelectric power generation. My passion, however, has always been fine-woodworking. Now I am striving to incorporate my dedication to renewable energy, recycling, sustainability, environmental responsibility, and indoor air quality into my woodwork. Over the years I have collected sources for reclaimed, salvaged and industrial waste wood. This waste is my favorite medium to work in. It is inspiring to rescue a pile of wood from the burn barrel and turn it into a beautiful, functional one of a kind, piece. Many smaller pieces of furniture, and all of the gifts that come out of the shop, are made entirely with waste wood. Lager projects are made from a mix of salvaged material and sustainably forested FSC certified lumber and sheet goods. Projects can also be made from any of the modern engineered Green products such as bamboo board, and formaldehyde free MDF, a product made from compressed wheat chaff. By taking advantage of, and pride in, sustainably farmed hardwoods that grow in our region we can keep the money and accountability close by. Find out more by visiting: http://www.thomasweikel.com/
NC GreenPower is now offering carbon offsets! NC GreenPower contributors now have a simple way to offset, or balance, the impacts their personal carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have on the environment. This new program, which allows customers to purchase carbon offsets with tax-deductible contributions on their monthly electric bills, is one more way we are helping customers to manage energy costs and protect the environment. Everyone’s daily activities, whether it’s driving, flying or watching television, produce some CO2 emissions. The carbon offset program will take the monthly contributions and use them to fund projects that will prevent or capture CO2 emissions. Examples of carbon offset projects that will be considered include: Methane Collection and Combustion – from farm animals, landfills or other industrial waste; Tree Planting – reforestation and avoiding deforestation. NC GreenPower will select projects that meet nine strict criteria, thus ensuring customer contributions are actually making a difference. Each tax-deductible contribution of $4 offsets, or mitigates, 500 pounds of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This is approximately the same as not driving for two weeks. Donate just two carbon offset blocks to your monthly power bill for a year, and you could negate the CO2 generated by driving a mid-sized car 12,000 miles! For more information on the program, or to offset your driving, visit our website Offset Calculator to calculate your footprint. Carbon offsets are currently offered by Duke Energy and Progress Energy in North Carolina on a monthly basis for a premium. Each block of carbon offset subsidized by a consumer or business will allow the NC GreenPower carbon offset program administrator to buy an equivalent block of carbon dioxide equivalents mitigated by an emission reduction project and sourced directly from the project or from the voluntary carbon offset market. The proposed price for the carbon offset product is $4 per 500 pounds of carbon in accordance with proposed tariffs filed by the participating utilities. Carbon offsets may be purchased through individuals’ electric utility provider or directly from NC GreenPower’s website.
Recent Speakers Bureau activities We boasted more than 90 events in 2008, and we expect an increase in 2009! NC State Fair – This was our first year at the NC State Fair, and as you can imagine, we had a ton of foot traffic. The State Fair launched their “Green NC” tent and plan to continue this for the next 2 fairs as well. We gave away hundreds of recycled newspaper pencils, “I green-ed up my footprint” stickers and talked with visitors about everything from “Where do I recycle my CFLs?” to “What’s a carbon offset?” We were able to educate a large crowd on our program. Community Events – We have found that community events are a great way to get the name out, and offer NCGP a one-on-one opportunity with receptive visitors. Over the last few months, we attended Energy Fairs with the Town of Wake Forest and the City of Durham, gave presentations to students at Elon University and NC State, and also were invited to Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. We were one of a small number of exhibitors at T.S. Designs solar tour kickoff, where they showcased a new solar array at their facilities. One very successful event was Festifall in Chapel Hill. This was very well attended and provided a high amount of traffic to our booth. The first annual Carolina Living Green Expo in Concord was well attended. We partnered with Duke Energy at a display table and enjoyed being a part of such a wonderful effort. Lenovo Holiday event – We were invited to participate in Lenovo’s local green vendor fair along with a handful of other companies. They invited us to share about the environmental and social sustainability benefits of NC Greenpower to the 1800+ employees who plan on attending their holiday event. Raleigh Chamber Young Professionals Network - This event was held at SAS and offered a speakers panel titled “Sustainability Works: Learn Today What You Can Do For Tomorrow” From a marketing and awareness standpoint, we were able to get right in front of hundreds of young professionals, eager to learn about our program and show them how being a part of it really does benefit them on a personal level, as well as a social and environmental level. Tree Drop, Downtown Charlotte – In the early morning hours of Monday, October 20th, 250 Leyland Cypress trees were placed at Trade and Tryon Streets near the Disc in uptown Charlotte in the Bank of America Plaza. Capstrat and Duke Energy joined forces with NC GreenPower to make this one of the most successful events this year! The Tree Drop was designed to promote the carbon offset program. Customers interested in neutralizing the carbon produced from today’s energy-intensive lifestyle are able to purchase a carbon offset from NC GreenPower to offset our activities, such as driving and flying.
JOIN US! – About the NC GreenPower Speakers Bureau NC GreenPower would like to take the opportunity to give special thanks to volunteers who helped with recent events across the state, especially during Earth Month. The Speakers Bureau would not be possible without your valued support and dedication to North Carolina’s environmental future! Click here for a list of upcoming NC GreenPower events. The NC GreenPower Speakers Bureau was created to help meet the demands for presentations to various groups throughout North Carolina. The purpose of the Speakers Bureau is to educate North Carolinians about renewable energy, carbon offsets and their availability through NC GreenPower. It also generates participation in NC GreenPower through corporate and residential contributions. NC GreenPower recently held a speaker training in Raleigh, and we hope to expand to Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro and Wilmington in early 2009. We really need the help of volunteers to continue to spread the news about our program. If you are interested in being trained and becoming a member of the Speakers Bureau, please contact Lane Smith at lsmith@ncgreenpower.org.
Holiday waste-reduction tips from the City of Raleigh PARTIES
HOLIDAY CARDS
AFTER THE HOLIDAY
Special thanks to Environmental Protection Agency, NC Dept. of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, SC Dept. Health and Environmental Control, New American Dream, and Earth911 for many of these excellent tips to help us enjoy a more sustainable holiday!
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