sustainability

Dec 14, 2009

STEM Gets Greener

Can building model cars really help create the next generation of electric vehicle designers and engineers? Researchers at North Carolina State University think so. Through a recent grant, they will develop a curriculum that uses real-world applications of renewable energy technologies to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics – known as STEM concepts. The project,… 

Nov 23, 2009

Lose the Fat: Targeting Grease to Curtail Sewer Overflows

Sewer overflows are a nasty business, posing dangers to human health and the environment. North Carolina State University is launching a new project with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that targets the fat and grease that contribute to millions of overflows every year, and will give urban planners new tools to further… 

Nov 12, 2009

New Water Management Tool May Help Ease Effects of Drought

Continued improvement of  climate forecasts  is resulting in better information about what rainfall and streamflow may look like months in advance.  A researcher from North Carolina State University has developed  an innovative water management framework that would take advantage of these forecasts to plan for droughts or excess rain in order to make the most… 

Oct 22, 2009

Malecha to Serve on Committee

Marvin Malecha, dean of the College of Design and president of the American Institute of Architects, has been selected to serve on the honorary committee for the United Nations World Habitat Day. 

Oct 20, 2009

NC State Develops Material That Could Boost Data Storage, Save Energy

North Carolina State University engineers have created a new material that would allow a fingernail-size computer chip to store the equivalent of 20 high-definition DVDs or 250 million pages of text, far exceeding the storage capacities of today’s computer memory systems. 

Oct 8, 2009

The Bottle Freeze

The bottle freeze focused campus attention on new environmental regulations, which allow landfills to fine waste haulers like NC State if trash is contaminated with recyclable items. 

Oct 7, 2009

Fill ’er Up – With Algae

Imagine filling up your car with fuel that comes from inexpensive algae that grow quickly, don’t use up freshwater supplies and can be cultivated in areas where they won’t compete with traditional food crops, such as corn or soybeans. Researchers at North Carolina State University are working to make that a reality, with a $2… 

Sep 24, 2009

Forestry Team Honored

Team members with Extension Forestry and Forestry and Environmental Outreach received an award of excellence (silver) from the Southern Extension Forest Resource Specialists for their work with the Woody Biomass Program. 

Sep 24, 2009

Paving the Way

Dr. Bill Hunt has studied a number of innovative solutions to reduce stormwater runoff, including permeable pavement and bioretention areas. 

Aug 27, 2009

Pomeroy Wins Green Award

Stephanie Pomeroy, pharmacy technician in Student Health Services, received a GreenTree Initiative Award from the University Sustainability Office. 

Jul 16, 2009

Sustainability Wins Commuter Award

NC State’s Office of Sustainability won a GoTriangle Commute Challenge Award for its outreach during the six-week Smart Commute Challenge. 

Apr 21, 2009

NC State Experts Can Discuss Greenhouse Gas Risks

North Carolina State University experts can shed light on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement April 17 that carbon dioxide and five other “greenhouse gases” are contributing to global climate change and therefore pose a threat to human health and welfare. While utilities, factory farms and other industry sectors are key contributors to overall… 

Apr 7, 2009

Tiny Super-Plant Can Clean Up Hog Farms and Be Used For Ethanol Production

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found that a tiny aquatic plant can be used to clean up animal waste at industrial hog farms and potentially be part of the answer for the global energy crisis. Their research shows that growing duckweed on hog wastewater can produce five to six times more starch per… 

Mar 12, 2009

Sustainability Effort Launched

NC State is kicking off a series of spring events that highlight the university's commitment to sustainability. 

Mar 3, 2009

New Design May Mean Less Expensive, More Sustainable Structures

People are always looking for ways to make something less expensive and more environmentally friendly – and a team of researchers from North Carolina State University has figured out how to do both of those things at once when building the parking garages of the future.