Renewable Energy Sources in North Carolina
The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association seeks to educate about and encourage the use of renewable energy sources in North Carolina.

Solar Energy: refers to the conversion of solar radiation into useful forms of energy, such as electricity or heat. A major advantage of solar energy is that the fuel – solar radiation – is free, abundant and inexhaustible and is most abundant during peak demand periods of mid-day and summer. Additionally, the use of solar energy provides environmental and health benefits by reducing pollution emissions. Technologies relying on solar radiation include photovoltaic cells; passive solar heating; concentrating solar power; and solar heat collectors.

Wind: North Carolina’s primary wind resources are located in mountain and coastal counties. The American Wind Energy Association has identified NC as one of the Southeastern states that could contribute significantly to the industry by manufacturing wind turbine components

Geothermal: Geothermal energy is the heat trapped the rocks and fluid in the Earth’s crust.  This renewable resource can be used to generate electricity or to heat and cool buildings.  The major benefits of geothermal energy are that the energy can be extracted without burning a fossil fuel and the resource is continuously available – night or day.  Applications of geothermal energy include electric power generation, direct use applications, and ground source heat pumps.

Biomass refers to non-fossil, organic materials which can be burned to produce energy or converted into fuels or other products.  In general, two approaches to biomass exist – growing plants specifically for energy or using the residue from plants used for other things.  Biomass can be used to create biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel), biopower and bioproducts.

Climate Change and the Effects of Global Warming

1. Greenhouse gases are substances occurring naturally and from human activities that trap heat in the atmosphere. Some examples are:  Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O). According to the Fourth US Climate Action Report in 2007, greenhouse gas trends show an increase in CO2, but decrease in CH4 and N2O due to technological, policy and agricultural changes.  These increases are harmful to the balance of the earth's environment.

2. Global warming, climate change, ozone depletion, sea level rise, and biodiversity are all affected directly or indirectly by harmful greenhouse gases. A number of human activities and industrial processes produce greenhouse gases that are harmful to the environment.

3. What is global warming? Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising. The impact of the changing global environment include:

• The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.
• Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.
• The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.
• At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.

4. Households can save 10 – 50 percent each year on their energy bills by making smart energy choices and improving the efficiency of homes by installing:

• compact fluorescent lighting;
• EnergyStar appliances;
• high-efficiency air conditioners, furnaces and hot water heaters;
• low-emissivity, double or triple pane windows;
• solar water heater;
• electric heat pump;
• thicker insulation;
• insulation of hot water pipes;
• low-flow showerheads;
• faucet aerators;
• occupancy sensors; and
• sealing duct leaks. Simple actions can help conserve energy and reduce energy bills such as:
• turning the hot water heater down to 120 degrees;
• regularly replacing air filters;
• setting the thermostat to no lower than 68 degrees in the summer and no higher than 62 degrees in the winter;
• setting computers to sleep or hibernate when not in use; and
• turning off lights in rooms when not in use.

5. Federal and state tax incentives are available for using renewable energy and for improving energy efficiency in homes and businesses. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) (at www.dsireusa.org), which is administered by the
   NC Solar Center, is recognized nationally as the comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.  It is the premier resource for incentives research.

6. Eco-friendly tips:

• Instead of sending old rugs, towels and blankets to the landfill, donate them to your local animal shelters.
• Buy shade grown coffee. It's grown under the rainforest canopy, preserving our forests which absorb CO2.
• Buy in bulk and share with friends and family! Everyone will save money, package waste, and gas costs.
• If every U.S. home replaced just one bulb with a CFL, we'd save enough energy to light 3 million homes yearly.
• Unplug devices you are not using, or use a power strip. Most devices still continue to draw electricity even after being powered off.
• Wash your car at a commercial carwash. They reuse their water and prevent oil and grime from entering the sewer system.

Churches and Global Warming
Prompted by their faith and their commitment to God’s creation, churches and individuals are taking the following actions to help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to better care for the earth.

Worship Life

• Incorporate creation stewardship as a theme in the preaching, teaching, and community life of the congregation.
• Involve Sunday School classes and youth groups in eco-justice projects, such as weatherizing homes or constructing a compost pile.
• Educate members of the church about the small but important steps they can take to reduce our harmful impact on creation.

Alternative Power

• Purchase some power from green sources (see www.ncgreenpower.org).
• Consider alternative power in the church’s long range planning efforts.

Cleaning Products

• Use at least some cleaning products that are non-toxic.

Energy Conservation

• Perform an accredited energy use audit on water, electricity, and fossil fuel use.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents.
• Install a timer on the hot water heater, so that it will use energy only when needed.
• Install a programmable thermostat for the building, so that it will only use energy when needed during the week.

Transportation

• Install adequate bike racks that are user friendly.
• Strongly encourage carpooling and the use of alternative transportation.

Landscaping

• Do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides on the grounds.
• Encourage wildlife with birdhouses, birdfeeders, and/or edible berry bushes.
• Grow only hardy native species of perennials and shrubs.
• Perform grounds maintenance with hand tools, and rake (not blow) leaves.

Recycling

• Compost kitchen waste.
• Provide containers throughout the building for various types of recyclables.
• Minimize paper use by always printing on both sides and using blank sides of office paper.
• Use 100% post-consumer recycled office paper.
• Use bathroom paper products that are not chlorine bleached and are at least partially postconsumer recycled.

Water Conservation

• Install aerators on the taps and prevent all leaking and dripping.
• Install low-flow toilets.
• Maximize rooftop runoff for watering the grounds.

Outreach and Inreach

• Form a Sustainability or Ecology Committee or Working Group.
• Encourage communication with other local faith groups who may be addressing these issues and participate in local conferences and workshops that promote stewardship and ecojustice.
• Publicize the success of the church’s efforts in local news media, and/or in church publications and websites.

SOURCES

Renewable Energy Sources in North Carolina – Adapted from the The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association section to describe the various renewable energy sources in North Carolina, www.ncsustainableenergy.org/resources/renewable. See the website for more specific and detailed information about each resource.

1. NC GreenPower, “About NC GreenPower , FAQs” www.ncgreenpower.org/about/faqs.html
2. Ibid.
3. An Inconvenient Truth, “The Science,” www.climatecrisis.net/thescience; see also Pew Center on Global Climate Change, “Global Warming Basics,” www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/about; Environmental Defense Fund, “Global Warming: The Facts are Clear,” www.undoit.org/pdfs/factsheet_factsclear.pdf
4. The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, “Energy Efficiency, Residential,” www.ncsustainableenergy.org/resources/efficiency/residential
5. Ibid.
6. The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, “Tax Credits and Incentives,” www.ncsustainableenergy.org/resources/taxcredits
7. NC GreenPower, “Conservation Corner,” www.ncgreenpower.org/conservation

Churches and Global Warming – Adapted from the North Carolina Council of Churches’ “House of Worship Quiz,”
www.nccouncilofchurches.org/areasofwork/issues/environmental_justice/house
_of_worship_quiz.pdf and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) “Electric Stewardship: Plug Into Conservation” brochure, available at www.pcusa.org/energy.