News
JC Raulston Arboretum Arborfest Saturday
On Saturday, April 5 JC Raulston Arboretum is holding its annual Arborfest—a day of education and entertainment at the gardens. Activities include four keynotes speakers, tours in the gardens, informational booths, a master gardener plant clinic, youth activities, and plant and craft sales by local nurseries. This year, in response to the water shortages, the event is focusing on water management and conservation and sustainable design. It looks like it may rain on saturday, and if it does it will be the perfect way to highlight the lunchtime rain barrel demonstration. More info…
Disposals Get Dumped, Try Composting Instead
On Monday the Raleigh city council put an abrupt end to commercial and residential disposals. Because of the amount of sewage overflows and maintenance required to clean grease from sewage lines the council has mandated that no new food disposals can be installed. Existing disposals can still be used but they cannot be replaced or fixed if they break down. So what can the disposal-impaired do with those potato shavings and egg shells? Instead of throwing out food scraps like common trash, why not put them to use? Composting is an easy way to turn your cooking remains into a nutrient-rich soil additive for your garden, flower bed, or potted houseplants. More…
A Little Rain Goes a Long Way- Half the Lake Deficit Recovered
The City of Raleigh released a detailed update about our water shortage today. The recent rains rapidly recovered a third of the lakes capacity or 5 billion gallons and extended our usable water another 135 days.
Striving for Sustainability: The Green Square Complex
Is Raleigh going green? Faced with drought and booming growth, is the city finally looking at both our present and future situation to develop sustainable solutions? Evidence suggests that the motivation to cultivate environmental responsibility is indeed present, though not quite prevalent, in downtown Raleigh. Now a new project downtown is poised to further demonstrate Raleigh’s commitment to sustainable design. More…
Fred Fletcher Park Water Garden Approved
Fred Fletcher Park’s Water Garden was approved early last week to begin construction and is expected to be finished by the end of June. The Water Garden is a Storm Water Management Division project that is designed to achieve several environmental and aesthetic goals by managing runoff in an attractive way. More Below The Fold and Slideshow for RSS Readers
Tiered Water Pricing Coming; A Foot Added to Falls Lake Last Night
While last night’s storm added more than a foot of water to Falls lake, today’s council meeting decidedly pushed the city toward a tiered pricing structure for Raleigh water services. The program is expected to start next spring- following upgrading of the billing software. Additionally the council approved new water inspectors that would be visiting businesses and apartment complexes to insure low-flow faucets and shower-heads are being used. While the enforcement seems harsh it certainly seems necessary considering the current situation.
WakeUp’s Will the Water Run Out? February 23rd
10 billion gallons down and only 5 left.. that gets us to, well, July. WakeUp wants to help the populous get informed and they have put together a panel of experts to discuss how we got here and what we can do to help this very dry situation. When Will the Water Run Out? Information below the fold
City of Raleigh: Mandate Disablement of Automatic Flush Sensors
Automatic flush toilets are installed in many buildings throughout our city. These fixtures are typically equipped with two methods of flush control: a laser motion sensor triggered by movement within a certain range, and a secondary manual control, similar to all non-automatic toilets. There is an option to disable the automatic sensor such that the manual control is the only method of flushing. When active, these toilets waste an immeasurable amount of water. Why are they still activated in our city at this time of severe water deficit and restriction? Full post.
North Carolina Green Business Fund Grants
Last year, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation to create a grant program to help private companies and non-profit organizations, as well as local and state government groups to develop sustainable technology. More…
Plug It In: NCSU Plans Advanced Transportation Energy Center (ATEC) to Research Electric Automobiles
North Carolina State University is planning a facility on Centennial Campus that will be geared for research on Plug-In Electric Automobiles. The new building will be located next to the Semiconductor Power Electronics Center (SPEC), and like many facilities on NCSU’s cutting-edge technopolis, this one will be a public/private venture. Progress Energy and Duke Energy have already pledged support in funding for the project as well as the development and management of a system of charging stations. (Want fries with that battery?) Full article and location of the facility.
City Council Approves Stage 2 Water Restrictions
The Raleigh City Council approved stage 2 water restrictions on Tuesday amidst a widespread landscaping industry protest. The chambers were packed out into the hallway as the eight member council unanimously approved the ban on all outdoor water use.
10,000,000,000 Gallons
10 billion gallons, thats how big Falls Lake’s current deficit is, almost 70 percent down from its healthy levels, seen as recently as early 2007. The council has asked that we limit our use to 35 gallons a day- but has been unable to generate support for a water rate hike. Many are conserving more and we are all familiar with traditional water conservation techniques- but the shortage hasn’t really affected any of us directly. Sure, some small businesses have had to find alternative sources for water, and many of us have gloved our green thumb, but 10,000,000,000 gallons? Start saving. One wonders how far it will have to go for folks to drastically change their behavior. Mr Lane has some deeper analysis of the science of it all here. Today at 4 o’clock there is a forum to address Raleigh Drought issues and I encourage our interested readership to attend it. How has the shortage affected you? What are you doing to save water?
Forum to Address Raleigh Drought Solutions
This current drought has been linked to many causes, man-made and perhaps natural. On Wednesday, January 23rd, experts in the field of conservation and sustainable design will present ways in which you can help reduce your water use so we can all enjoy this precious resource.
Meeker Cracks Down on Water Use: How You Can Help
Today the City Council will be debating a proposal from Mayor Meeker to raise the fees for water usage in the city by 50 per cent. The purpose of this what-some-would-call radical proposal is meant to encourage conservation from both residential, institutional, and business water consumers. Hopefully, a reduction of 25% by individuals will stave off any harsher restrictions later in the year. What follows are some ideas to help cut your water usage at home.
A Deal That Stings: Local Burt’s Bees Bought by Clorox
Triangle based company Burt’s Bees might have been my favorite billion-dollar corporation… almost. Granted, the only product I’ve used is the underarm spray. It was one of those products that I actually felt good about purchasing because I knew my money was supporting what was, at one time, a locally established company. Having sold a stake in 2003 for $177 million to AEA Investors, Burt’s Bees maintained their air of locality. It is produced 20 minutes away and they seemed to understand my needs. It’s an underarm deodorant and not an anti-persperant. I knew as a human I was meant to sweat and they knew that too. It also helped me smell like lavender instead of ‘Dioxyuberclogo-Roygbiv-69’. The buy-out company that bought Burt’s in 2003 just sold it to Clorox for (what!?) $925 million. Clorox has got faith.
Trees Across Raleigh Plant More
The City of Oaks is always in need of more trees, especially considering how many will be taken down by the North Blount Street Development project in the coming years. You can show your support for Trees Across Raleigh at a workday on Saturday in Biltmore Hills Park, just South of the Beltline. Trees Across Raleigh has planted over 7,100 trees in 10 years from Glenwood Avenue to Chavis Park and looks to continue “making Raleigh, NC a little greener one tree at a time.” Mayor Meeker will be on hand to present the project and speak about the cities plans for water conservation. More Information and Map Below the Fold
Governor’s Mansion Complying with Drought Recommendations
On October 24th, in a letter to the editor, Gertrude Kappel sought to take a swing at Governor Easley. This came only days after he asked the state to cut its water use down by half. Today, the Governor’s office released its water bill to the public.
Raleigh City Recycling Falls Short of New Law
On January 1st, all bars and restaurants in North Carolina will be required by state law to have recycling programs. Are Raleigh businesses ready to meet the new standards?
Duke Energy Plans to Emit Six Million More Tons of CO2 per Year in NC
Duke Energy has applied to build a massive new 800-megawatt coal-fired unit at its Cliffside power plant west of Charlotte using conventional technology that does not allow for capture of carbon dioxide, and emits a variety of other dangerous pollutants. If built, this power plant can be expected to operate for more than 50 years. It will contribute to global warming, ozone and particulate matter pollution, and mercury pollution in our rivers and lakes. Read more on this issue…
Charlie Rose In Raleigh
with Dean Malecha, Thom Mayne, Dick Jackson on Sustainable Design Tuesday night on NC State’s campus, Rose and 3 other heavy hitters gathered to deliver a panel on sustainable architecture. The conversation was engrossing, the crowd was ecstatic and politically charged and Rose was every bit the brilliant journalist, weaving three disparate and impassioned points of view into the future of what architecture can do for this world. The panelist’s views below the fold.
