Raleigh’s Sustainability Efforts Receive Community Leadership Award

Jayne Kirkpatrick, Director, Public Affairs

Prepared by: Donna-maria Harris, Sustainability Public Information Manager

For more information: Donna-maria Harris, Office of Sustainability, 919-996-4259.

November 14, 2013

Raleigh’s Sustainability Efforts

Receive Community Leadership Award

The City of Raleigh’s concerted efforts on the sustainable energy front have not gone unnoticed. The Office of Sustainability is the winner of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association’s (NCSEA) 2013 Community Leadership award. The honor recognizes nonprofit and government organizations in North Carolina for advancing sustainable energy through notable accomplishments, innovative programs or exemplary leadership. The award was presented at the NCSEA “Making Energy Work” conference held at the Raleigh Convention Center on November 5.

The City won for six major sustainability projects:

- The BigBelly Solar for Waste and Recycling project placed 45 trash compactors in very high pedestrian areas. The compactors use solar photovoltaic panels to compact waste and send a wireless signal when a pickup is required. This technology saves money, time and fuel;

- The City of Raleigh Police Vehicle Propane Hybrid Conversion project changed 20 patrol cars to propane hybrids that reduce carbon emissions and make the cars more efficient. During the initial 12-month period the City realized $80,400 in savings;

- The City of Raleigh Electric Vehicle Infrastructure project brought local businesses, government and innovative technology together to install 29 electric vehicle charging stations, including a solar-powered charging station;

- The Downtown Raleigh Sustainability Walking Tour, a two-mile self-guided walking tour of Downtown Raleigh spotlights aspects of the three spheres of sustainability;

- The City of Raleigh Police Anti-Idling Technology project installed anti-idling technology in 29 of the City’s police fleet vehicles. During the first quarter of usage, these 29 units saved 962 gallons of fossil fuel as well as a reduction in carbon emissions; and,

- The Solar Photo Voltaic and Sustainability Kiosk for the Raleigh Convention Center project is interactive technology that shows the various solar-array sites around the city and the aggregate data of total renewable power generation in real time. Renewable electrical power generated in a typical year is estimated to be more than 5,740,000 kW/hours, or the equivalent of the electricity needed to power approximately 450 average-size homes for a year.

The award was accepted by Office of Sustainability Manager Paula Thomas, who credited Raleigh’s past and present leadership for its visionary governance that supports innovative and clean energy projects.  

For more information, contact Kathleen Fleming, director of business development and human resources, North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, Kathleen@energync.org or 919-832-7601.

###