This just in from Sustainable Greensboro....

Energy Efficiency in the Workplace, May 3.

Sustainable Greensboro and the Greensboro Partnership Present... Workshop: Reducing Your Company’s Energy Consumption Panelists: Dr. Harmohindar Singh, Professor Department of Civil, Architectural, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Center for Energy Research and Technology at NC A&T State Peter Rojeski, Jr., Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Architectural Engineering at NC A&T Wendy Cockerham, LEED AP and Director of Sustainable Construction for WeaverCooke Construction, LLC Tracy Valentine, CPA, for Davenport, Marvin, Joyce & Co., LLP When: May 3, 2010, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM Where: Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, 342 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC For more information and to register here or call 336.887.8316. (Note: if you attempt to register on-line and get a warning message, click on "Events.")

Interested in the Chevy Volt?

The Chevy Volt is an electric car with a "range extender" -- an on-board gasoline engine to charge the battery (if needed). Here's Plug In America testing a prototype: ZAP!

Rake leaves? No, Just pick up one

Nissan has a neat website. It's where the company describes its new electric car, the Leaf. Check it out -----> Nissan Leaf

Reminder! Two Upcoming Presentations

Tuesday, May 4, 4:00 PM

Our February 13 event was cancelled due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 4, so mark your calendars:

"Biofuels as a Business: The Prospect for Biofuels Production in the Piedmont." There will be three presenters. Dr. Ghasem Shahbazi, Director of Bioengineering at NC A&T State University, will discuss the types of biofuels that are practical from a real-world production perspective. Derek Blackburn, also at A&T, will then present an overview of the biorefineries currently operating in North Carolina. This will be followed by a talk by Gary Sink, President of Red Birch Energy. Red Birch operates a commercial-scale biodiesel refinery in Bassett, VA. The business model employed by Red Birch is impressive, so impressive in fact that the company has been invited twice to Washington to present its model. Among other things, Red Birch intends to offer a franchising option, for people who want to get into the biodiesel production business but who wish to take advantage of the expertise and experience already amassed by Red Birch personnel.

What: Biofuels as a Business: Prospects for Biofuels Production in the Piedmont
When: Tuesday, May 4, 2010; 4:00 - 6:30 PM
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library auditorium, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

Saturday, May 8, 10:00 AM

"The Net-Zero Energy Residence." Presenter: Michiel VanderSommen. From a housing perspective, the net-zero energy residence represents the ultimate in energy localization: local energy sources, local energy production (and conservation), local energy consumption. By definition, a net-zero energy residence produces at least as much energy as it consumes. The concept can be extended to provide energy support for personal transportation, by expanding the energy production capabilities of the residence (or residential community) to provide battery-charging for personal vehicles. Michiel will examine various techniques for meeting the net-zero energy objective, including passive solar design, the use of orientation, construction, and landscaping techniques for maximizing energy efficiency, and the application of energy production technologies that are appropriate for residences and residential communities.

What: The Net-Zero Energy Residence
When: Saturday, May 8, 2010; 10 AM - 12 Noon
Where: Kathleen Clay Edwards Library auditorium, 1420 Price Park Rd., Greensboro, NC

The Future of Biofuels?

Two promising feedstocks for biofuels production are cellulosic material and algae. To download a white paper that discusses the prospects of employing these feedstocks, entitled "Transitioning from 1st Generation to Avanced Biofuels," visit: http://www.myeflorida.com/mk/get/CE_BIOFUELS_WP

Earth Day Celebration, from Sustainable Greensboro

2nd Annual Earth Day at Center City Park

Sustainable Greensboro is pleased to announce that the Second Annual Earth Day at Center City Park will take place from 4:30- 7:30pm on April 22. The event, featuring music, art, kids' activities, local food and crafts, and a Green Drinks beer garden brings the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day to the heart of Downtown Greensboro.

The event is organized with help from the following organizations: center City Park, Urban Harvest, Green Hill Cultural Center/ArtQuest, Elsewhere Artist Collaborative, and Bicycling in Greensboro (BIG).

The Love Language, a Merge Records recording artist from Chapel Hill, has been confirmed as the music headliner for the event. Check their performances out on YouTube. Opening up the celebration will be the soaring voices of the NC A&T State University Choir!

Energy, Transportation, and Air Quality

On May 26, 2010, NC Mobile Care will sponsor a one-day conference on alternative fuel and transportation options entitled Mobilizing NC: Where Air Quality, Energy & Transportation Meet. Visit the organization's website for more information and/or to register for the event: http://www.ncmobilecare.org/