Vision and Voices on Environmental Issues
- The Chapel Hill News
- GUEST COLUMN
- Author: BERNADETTE PELISSIER
On a recent Tuesday in Hillsborough, the Sierra Club honored all five of our major local government entities for their work to reduce the effects of global warming.
Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough were recognized as part of the Cool Cities program, while UNC and Orange County received the Cool College and Cool County labels, respectively.
These designations were earned as result of the governments making formal commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These words and goals are important, but more important are the actual actions that are taken to reach these targets.
That's why the event that Tuesday, on a beautiful late spring morning at the Old Courthouse, was so heartening. Each and every one of those entities is stepping up to the plate.
Hillsborough showed off the hybrid vehicle it has purchased for its fire marshal. Mayor Tom Stevens commended Town Manager Eric Peterson for going the extra mile to find a fuel-efficient car to put in the town's fleet. Town activist Holly Reid spoke about an energy audit that will ensure that public buildings are as efficient as possible.
Carrboro Alderman Dan Coleman emphasized the importance of land-use planning in tackling the problem of global warming. Mixed-use development and locating more folks downtown minimize vehicle trips and maintain open space, which are integral to stopping the tide of climate change.
Chapel Hill Mayor Pro Tem Bill Strom spoke of the new 20 percent energy-efficiency requirement in development proposals that hope to secure a special-use permit in his town, as well as a laundry list of other initiatives the town has pursued. These notably include an emphasis on the greenway system and green-building techniques within town buildings.
Moses Carey, chair of the Orange County commissioners, said that he checks periodically with county staff to find out how many fuel-efficient vehicles the county has purchased, and that every single time he asks it has increased: It is up to more than a dozen.
UNC is the leader among peer institutions in promoting sustainability. Its energy-efficient purchasing policy, which requires all energy-consuming equipment purchased by UNC departments to be certified with the Energy Star label, is to be lauded.
Particularly inspiring is the way students have taken the lead. In 2005, 85 percent of the voting student body said yes to a $4 per semester energy fee that supports renewable energy projects. Projects funded to date include:
n The solar hot water system on top of the renovated Morrison Residence Hall;
n The first year of biodiesel fuel use in the Point to Point bus system;
n The geothermal wells at the N.C. Botanical Garden Visitor Education Center.
It's easy to take all of this good work of our local governments for granted in Orange County, but the reality is that there is nowhere else in the state undertaking this volume of environmental initiatives.
The reason for this is that our citizens demand it. We elect folks to public office who understand the importance of making environmental issues a priority in every single decision they make.
It is imperative for citizens to continue to make their voices heard. While our local governments are doing many creative and forward-thinking things, they could always do better. We have an informed population that should never hesitate to bring new ways of doing things to the attention of our elected officials. The fresh ideas of individual residents are vital to making sure that local government stays on the cutting edge of environmental sustainability.
We are lucky to have such progressive leaders in Orange County and can only hope that their vision will extend to other places across North Carolina.
Bernadette Pelissier is chair of the Orange Chatham Sierra Club.
