Welcome to the Climate Connection!

The Orange County Climate Connection is our NEW quarterly sustainability newsletter highlighting the ways we are “greening” Orange. Each issue will spotlight County and community-wide sustainability projects aimed at combating climate change and making a positive difference in our community. To learn more about sustainability in Orange County, please visit our webpage at: https://www.orangecountync.gov/Sustainability

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Orange County Leads in LEED Certification

What a great way to lead off sustainability news by announcing Orange County’s gold level LEED Certification for Cities and Communities!

It takes all of us working together to make progress on sustainability and that’s exactly what the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Orange County did to achieve LEED for Cities and Communities Gold Certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED Cities and Communities certification from the U.S. Green Building Council is the leading global rating system and certification program that evaluates the sustainability and quality of life in a city or community.

The 66 points earned reveals the combined actions our local jurisdictions have taken to steward our natural assets, improve energy efficiencies, provide innovative services and transportation options and very importantly, give residents a strong quality of life. Some examples of how we do this:

A variety of regional fixed route public transit and accessible on demand transportation options in addition to a commuter options program designed to facilitate alternatives to single occupancy commuting
Social justice and racial equity goals, high education and low unemployment rates, and a focus on inclusive community engagement
Regional resiliency planning
Energy efficiency upgrades such as geothermal well installations and energy efficient building practices
Innovative programs such as the Community Climate Action Tax Grant program, food policy programs, and inter-jurisdictional climate action collaborations
Abundant green spaces that allow the majority of County residents access within a ½ mile walk of their residence

Orange County began the LEED certification process in 2019 when it applied and received a technical and financial assistance grant supported by Bank of America. Despite the distractions and demands of responding simultaneously to a pandemic, County staff and invaluable supporters remained dedicated to the certification process which included gathering and verifying performance data.

This certification acknowledges the hard work of our amazing staff, community partnerships, Towns and advisory boards that collaborate together to advance sustainability, social equity, economic resilience and quality of life in Orange County. Our community’s support and prioritization of these pillars is the foundation from which we build our work upon and will continue to drive our progress and commitment to making Orange County a great place to live, work and play. LEED Gold certification for Cities and Communities is a celebration of our community and the impact we make when we all work together!

Orange County Embarks on Climate Action Planning

Orange County has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a climate action planning process that will identify and prioritize climate actions that meet the County’s climate goals of carbon neutrality by 2050. The planning process is expected to take between 6-12 months and will include opportunities for the community to engage and get involved.

The climate action plan will ultimately provide a road map that the county and community can work on together to drive forward equity centered sustainability measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions, preserving green spaces, improving air and water quality and making Orange County a great place to live. It will take all of us working together to make the impact we need to protect our resources now and for future generations from climate change. Look for more progress updates on our climate action planning process in future editions of this newsletter and the Orange County Sustainability website pages

Solarize the Triangle Campaign is Coming to Orange County

Interested in going solar or learning more about it? Orange County has recently signed on as a participant in the Solarize the Triangle program, joining other towns and cities across the Triangle area in this community-based public private partnership aimed at making solar accessible and affordable.

This two-year program seeks to expand residential, non-profit, and small business solar installations through group purchasing and installation that addresses market and policy barriers, approves contractors, and secures affordable group pricing. The Solarize campaign will provide education and answer questions about solar and provide free assessments to determine if solar is right for you.

A community-wide campaign launch event is scheduled for August 10, 2022 which will provide details on pricing and equipment options. Education and outreach opportunities will include town hall meetings, workshops, on-line informational webinars, solar tours and outreach through local community groups and events. Watch for more announcements and information to come about this exciting opportunity!

New EV Chargers Installed with the Help of Grant Funds

The new chargers were made possible by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University with federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funding provided from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The new “Level 2” Clipper Creek charging stations are available to the public 24/7, free of charge. Six stations are located at the Eno River Parking deck accessed from 131 W. Margaret Street or Nash and Kollack Street and six more stations can be found at the Durham Technical Community College Park and Ride lot located at 525 College Park Road in Hillsborough. These 12 stations are part of the same funding program that enabled Orange County to install two chargers last year at the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center at 2551 Homestead Rd and three chargers powered by solar energy at Orange County Public Transportation, 600 NC Highway 86. Electric vehicle drivers are asked to limit their use to a maximum of 4 hours a day as a courtesy to other users looking to plug in.

According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Orange County leads the way with the most registered electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid EVs of the counties in North Caroline with similar populations. Orange County is excited to offer these chargers to encourage the adoption of more electric vehicles that will help improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions. We look forward to expanding our burgeoning charging network to provide greater access to this service throughout our community.

The map below shows where the current County owned and operated EV chargers are located, however the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, along with public businesses offer additional EV charging locations. Visit Plugshare.com or the Alternative Fuels Data Center afdc.energy.gov to find more chargers in your area!

Community Climate Action Grants Now Open for FY 23

The Orange County Community Climate Action Tax Grant program for 2022-2023 is open through August 19, 2022! The program, established in 2020, is funded by 1/4 cent of property tax revenue each year. It was created to accelerate climate change mitigation and resilience projects building on the County’s long history of sustainable actions. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners has regularly emphasized the need to consider social justice and racial equity, so that those who benefit most directly from the county’s actions and investments are the people who most need assistance.

This year, an estimated $275,075 will be available to support climate action projects in the community with an additional $275,075 set aside to fund applications submitted from either of Orange County’s two public school districts.

The process for soliciting and selecting projects to receive funding is conducted through a formal grant program. Details on grant eligibility, scoring and application materials are available at the grant program website: www.orangecountync.gov/CCAGP.

Spotlight on Eno River Farmers' Market

Each quarter we will feature one of our grant award recipients to highlight the exciting climate action projects taking place in our community as a result of this program.

The Eno River Farmers’ Market received a $4,000 grant in 2022 to promote composting in our community. The Eno River Farmers’ Market proposal included hiring compost monitors to oversee the collection of compost each weekend at the market. The monitors play a vital role in ensuring that the compost dropped off is properly sorted. They also provide invaluable education by answering questions and promoting the benefits of composting which include reducing greenhouse gasses, creating nutrient rich soil, and saving space in our landfills.

According to Corly Jones, Eno River Farmers’ Market Manager, “The community compost collection at the Eno River Farmers Market has become a vital service in the Town of Hillsborough. Each week, market customers and Orange County residents come to drop off their food scraps and compostables – saving our landfills and turning their food waste into rich compost. Our wonderful compost monitors have seen huge growth in participants and volume this year and enjoy visiting with customers each week and educating the community about composting.”

The community compost collection is a free service, available every Saturday during market hours. For more information about compost drop off locations throughout the County plus a list of acceptable items, please visit: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2693/Food-Waste-Drop-Off-Sites

The 2021-2022 Grant Award Recipients Are:

Eno River Farmers’ Market
Project: Food Waste Monitor
Award: $4,000

Town of Carrboro
Project: Food Waste Monitor
Award: $3,765

Carrboro Arts Center
Bike Rack and E-bike and EV Charging Station
Award: $17,000

Rebuilding Together of the Triangle
Project: Low Income HVAC Replacement
Award: $113,000

North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA)
Project: Neighborhood Energy Resiliency Project
Award: $90,000

Town of Carrboro
Project: Solar PV Array and Green Roof
Award: $40,567.50

Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools
Project: Solar for Schools
Award: $250,000

Solar Power Bus Stops Are Here

The Orange County Transit Plan, updated in April 2017, included bus stop improvements for Orange County Public Transportation (OCPT) thorough the ½ cent public transit sales tax. During FY 2018-19, $124,971 was made available to design, engineer, and install up to five bus shelters on OCPT routes.

An Orange County staff team, with assistance from GoTriangle considered the highest ridership stops for improvements. Sites considered included Faucette Mill Rd/US 70; Rainey St./US 70; Hampton Point/New NC 86 (2-shelters, one on each side of New NC 86); and at two stops on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Chapel Hill. Through an approved grant with GoTriangle.

Orange County was able to install five bus stop shelters. These stops are located on either the Hillsborough Circulator or the Orange-Chapel Hill Connector OCPT routes. The new shelters are installed at Faucette Mill Rd/US 70, Hampton Point (1 shelter), River Park (Hillsborough), by the Hillsborough Police Department, and Martin Luther King Blvd in Chapel Hill (1 shelter).

The transit shelters include a bench and shelter, and are equipped with solar lighting and USB port charging stations for users. Four of the five shelters are installed and in use by the public, the final shelter is currently being installed and will be ready for use by mid-Summer 2022.

Energy Saving Tips for Summer

Rising temperatures mean rising energy bills. Try these energy saving tips to help keep you, and your budget, from overheating this summer.

Make sure your HVAC unit is regularly serviced. Proper maintenance will not only extend the life of the unit, but also make it run as efficiently as possible.
Replacing air filters is one of the easiest and simplest ways to reduce your energy bill. Dirty air filters block air flow and make HVAC units work harder.
Switch to LED bulbs! LED bulbs last 25 times longer than incandescent and use 75% energy. The upfront cost is a little bit more, but the energy savings over the long run make them a really smart investment.
Close blinds and curtains during the day to keep the sun’s powerful rays at bay.
Try switching to no cook meals to reduce the need to turn on the oven. Ovens and other appliances, like washers and dryers add extra heat, making air conditioning units work harder. Adding a clothes line outdoors could eliminate the need to run a dryer. Washing clothes in cold water saves energy too.
Programmable or smart thermostats are great for adjusting temperatures in the home for optimum energy efficiency. Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher during the summer will save more energy. Each degree of cooling increases energy use 6-8%. A ceiling fan, used in combination with air conditioning, can allow you to raise the temperature by 4 degrees without any loss in comfort.

For more energy savings tips and a downloadable energy savings guide in English and Spanish, visit energy.gov:https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/spring-and-summer-energy-saving-tips

Contact Us:

Questions about our Sustainability Programs? Want to Volunteer? Contact us at:

Amy Eckberg
Orange County
Sustainability Programs Manager
aeckberg@orangecountync.gov
919-245-2626