Driving Clean

This spring, Clean Transportation, based at NC State University, will recognize individuals and groups for building better vehicles or advancing better fuel. They will present Mobile Clean Air Renewable Energy (CARE) awards in several categories.

Local pioneers are making a difference: reducing gasoline consumption and working to reduce air pollution. We've written about biodiesel fuel made from waste vegetable oils, and the conversion of gas-burners to electric cars. Golf carts, some with solar-powered batteries, are adapted to a variety of uses.

The City of Asheville was the 2008 Mobile CARE winner in the Public Fleet category. Their fleet includes eight compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. CNG is a clean burning, low carbon fuel. The City constructed the area's first public refueling station for CNG, in Mobile CARE's photo shown at left. A hospital nearby also uses the Asheville station to fuel its natural gas vehicles.

The 2009 Mobile CARE awards will be presented at the State Energy's Sixth Annual North Carolina Sustainable Energy Conference, April 14th to 15th at NC State. After that, drivers will be off on a Clean Transportation Technology Caravan, stopping at Greensboro and Charlotte on April 16th. So nominate someone by March 13, or register your own vehicle to drive in the Driving Clean and Green North Carolina Tour!

Run or Walk for Water Saturday

It's the 8K Run & 5K Family Fun Walk to Preserve and Improve Water Quality in the Charleston Area! Runners and walkers will head out from Folly Beach, SC, on Saturday, February 21st at 9 a.m.

The event is hosted annually by the Masters of Environmental Studies Student Association (MESSA) of the College of Charleston. All proceeds are donated to a local non-profit group working to improve water quality. Last year over 250 runners participated, raising $4,000 for the Friends of the Edisto (FRED).

This year's race will benefit LowCountry Earth Force. Fees are $25 for the Run and $20 for the Walk. Get more information and register at MESSA. More sponsors needed! To volunteer or to be a sponsor at this year's race, please contact the race director, Sarah Mooney.

Champions, Enter by March 13

Kids can make some green for being green! There is time for South Carolina kids to compete in the Champions of the Environment annual contest. Entries are due March 13, 2009 for the Environmental Awareness Middle School Competition. It is open to middle school-aged students: 6th, 7th and 8th graders in a public, private, or home school setting. Students can enter in the essay or poster division. Cash awards will be given in each division, up to $150 cash.

The theme for essays and posters is: “What Being Green Means To Me.” Entries must be submitted by a teacher, advisor or home school parent. Students can also contact the Champions’ coordinator to find out how to enter at (803) 898-4394 or lasallli@dhec.sc.gov. All entrants will receive a certificate of participation. This April, winners will be recognized at the Champions of the Environment Celebration at the South Carolina State Museum.

The poster shown at right is the 2008 Winner of First Place by Desmond S., of William J. Clark Middle School, in Orangeburg, SC. The web site of the SCDHEC also has grant awards for schools, and some great project ideas!

Juice for Cool Earth

Wait! Before you recycle that orange juice container, take a closer look at it. I almost missed the side that shows the promotion for Tropicana's Rescue the Rainforest. Their offer says that you can save 100 square feet of rainforest for every carton code you enter on a web site.

They ask for name, address, and e-mail, and you have the option to receive electronic announcements. That's something I'm willing to give for the effort to save acres of rainforest. This project with Cool Earth continues through the end of this year.

The company says, "We are committed to being respectful of mother nature and responsible in our use of natural resources... From turning our orange rinds into animal feed to utilizing renewable landfill gas to help power one of our plants, we continually look for new ways to reduce our impact on the environment."

Thanks, Tropicana. That makes the juice taste even sweeter.