Sandhills Programs
AWARENESS & EDUCATION
- bringing information about sustainability and sustainable practices to the region
ECO-TOURISM
- supporting local agriculture and creating cultural connections
GREEN BUSINESS
- gaining commitment from local businesses to take steps to become more sustainable
GREEN DESIGN
- promoting sustainable construction and building operations
LAND PLANNING
- creating resources and tools and improving communication across the region
RECYCLING
- ecouraging not only the recycling of waste but also the use of recycled materials
Green Design Program
promoting sustainable construction and building operations
GREEN DESIGN TOURS
2009 Moore COunty Green BUilding & SOlar Tour
Do you know of a Green Home in or near Moore County? Are you interested in volunteering to help on the tour? Please contact us!
This tour is made possible through a partnership of the following organizations:
Moore COunty Homebuilders Association Tour of Homes (February 2009)
More Information to Come
Organic & Urban Garden TOur (April 2009)
More Information to Come
PROJECTS
Alternative Transportation Fuel Workshop
Alternative Transportation Fuel Workshops – In September 2005, we hosted two workshops in Cumberland and Moore counties for fuel distributors and fleet managers to promote the use of biodiesel and ethanol in our region. These workshops continued in 2006.
Reducing Energy Expenses
at your Business Facility
Reducing Energy Expenses at Your Business Facility: Sustainable Sandhills co-sponsored a free program to help local businesses reduce their energy costs on January 17, 2007, at M.J. Soffe. Approximately 30 local business owners attended to learn no-and low-cost ways to save on energy bills. The event was also sponsored by the State Energy Office of the N.C. Department of Administration, along with the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Extension Service at N.C. State University, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, M.J. Soffe, and the Cumberland County Business Council.
Compact Fluorescent Light promotion
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Promotion with Local Wal-Marts: Since November 2006, nearly 600 Sandhills citizens have pledged to change-out over 2,800 incandescent bulbs to CFLs! Sustainable Sandhills volunteers and staff continue to promote the benefits of CFLs at Wal-Mart Super Centers throughout the Sandhills region.
High performance school building symposium
High Performance School Building Symposium: Over 100 community leaders attended the High Performance School Building Symposium at the Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in Southern Pines on October 23, 2006. The Symposium, hosted by Sustainable Sandhills, brought elected officials, architects, school board members, and citizens together to discuss the merits of High Performance Schools. With a nearly $1 billion combined construction budget for school districts in the Sandhills region over the next five years, North Carolina schools have the opportunity – and now the knowledge – to make educated decisions about the types of schools they will build.
Green Building & Solar Tour: Southern Pines
Southern Pines Green Building & Solar Tour: On October 7, 2006, Sustainable Sandhills hosted the first Southern Pines Green Building & Solar Tour as part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Tour. Twenty-two people attended the tour which included two green homes in Southern Pines and the nationally renowned Blanchie Carter Discovery Park at Southern Pines Primary School designed by Robin Moore from NC State University.
Change a Light, Change the world
Change a Light, Change the World: On October 4, 2006, as part of the EnergyStar “Change a Light, Change the World” program, Sustainable Sandhills and Sustainable Fort Bragg celebrated the distribution of 6,200 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs in the Sandhills Region. Sandhills citizens will save nearly $200,000 in electricity costs and bulb replacement costs over the life of these 6,200 CFLs.
RESOURCES
- NCDENR Division of Air Quality
- NC Green Power
- It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air
- The Air Pollution Scorecard Site
- US Environmental Protection Agency
High Performance Schools & Green Buildings:
- American Institute of Architects (AIA): Professional organization of architects with a Committee on the Environment. AIA publishes a guide for Writing the Green RFP to aid building owners in using sustainable design language. The guide includes frequently asked questions and stories from experience.
- BetterBricks: Based in the Pacific Northwest, BetterBricks provides services and information to designers and owners on energy efficiency in buildings.
- Build It Green: Build It Green is a professional nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient buildings in California. Supported by a solid foundation of outreach and education, Build It Green connects consumers and building professionals with the tools and technical expertise they need to build quality green buildings.
- The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS): A California- based organization providing information on benefits, criteria for defining High Performance Schools, how to plan and design a High Performance School, and case studies of schools in California. The website includes links to their Best Practices Manual for High Performance Schools.
- The National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF): Created by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) provides information on planning, designing, funding, building, improving, and maintaining safe, and healthy schools. Information includes a list of resources for high performance schools. Also included is a video recently shown on PBS that defines and illustrates the characteristics of a High Performance School. Click here to go straight to the video.
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA): Offers online training in High Performance Building design for architects and engineers.
- Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA): The NESEA is a regional organization that promotes development and adoption of energy conservation and renewable energy technologies. The NESEA website maintains a resource list for Building Green Schools.
- Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC): A nonprofit organization that provides resources for designers and decision-makers on sustainable buildings. They produce a High Performance Schools Resource and Strategy Guide that is useful throughout the building process. Cick here to view the source and Strategy Guide.
- US Department of Energy – EnergySmart Schools: Through the Rebuild America program, the US DOE provides resources and technical support for making energy efficient building choices for schools. Wake County Schools are highlighted by the US DOE for their energy smart school designs and programs.
- US Department of Energy – High Performance Buildings: Database of strategies and technologies for High Performance buildings, including research reports on costs and benefits, and case studies.
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA's Indoor Air Quality department promotes high performance school designs because of their superior air quality and health benefits. The website includes more FAQ's and resources for high performance schools, including sources of additional funding for high performance schools.
- US Green Building Council (GBC): The Green Building Council is a coalition of leaders in the building industry. They have developed a system for classifying green buildings called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The website provides information on LEED certification and general green building benefits. Click here for case studies of green buildings that save money in construction and maintenance.
Reports & Studies on High Performance Schools
- Daylighting in Schools – Reanalysis Report: Another report by the California Energy Commission investigating daylighting in classrooms and the effect on student performance. Published: October 2003.
- High-Performance Schools - Affordable Green Design for K-12 Schools: Reports case studies of affordable energy saving strategies tailored to each climate zone within the US. The strategies are based on the US Department of Energy’s Energy Design Guidelines for High Performance Schools. Published: August 2004.
- National Review of Green Schools – Costs, Benefits, and Implications for Massachusetts: Documents the financial costs and benefits of green schools compared to traditional schools. The national review of 30 green schools reveals greater benefits than costs. Published: December 2005.
- Windows and Classrooms – A Study of Student Performance and the Indoor Environment: A report by the California Energy Commission investigating the effect of window design, and other classroom features, on different aspects of student performance. The report includes a summary of previous research into daylighting and student performance. Published: October 2003.
Solar
State Organizations
- Advanced Energy Corporation
- EV Challenge
- NC Cooperative Extension Service
- NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR)
- NCDENR, Office of Environmental Education
- NC Green Building Technology Database
- NC Green Power
- NC Home Builders Association
- North Carolina Incentives for Renewable Energy (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficicency)
- NC Industrial Extension Service
- NC State Energy Office
- NC Sustainable Energy Association
- Western NC Green Building Council
US Government Agencis & Programs
- EPA Green Power Partnership
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- Rebuild America (DOE)
- US Department of Energy (DOE)
- US DOE, Energy Information Agency (EIA)
- US DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- USEPA
Utility Companies
- Central EMC
- Lumbee River EMC
- Pee Dee EMC
- Progress Energy-Carolinas
- Public Works Commission (PWC), Fayetteville
- South River EMC
Wind
- American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)- AWEA is a national trade association that represents wind power plant developers, wind turbine manufacturers, utilities, consultants, insurers, financiers, researchers, and others involved in the wind industry.
- NC State Solar Center Wind Program
- NC Wind Energy at Appalachian State University
- Small Wind In North Carolina-American Wind Energy Association website for small wind information specific to N.C.
- US Department of Energy Wind Power Program -The DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program.
- Wind Energy Technology- Extensive listing of new releases and publications of the DOE's Information Bridge.
- Wind Powering America- The US Department of Energy's Wind Power Program to increase the use of wind energy in the United States, with emphasis on establishing new sources of income for American farmers, Native Americans, and other rural landowners, and meet the growing demand for wind power.
Other
Books
- The Economics of Waste: Porter, Richard C.
- McGraw-Hill Recycling Handbook, 2nd Edition: Lund, Herbert F.
- Why Do We Recycle?: Markets, Values, and Public Policy: Ackerman, Frank