Press Release for Tuesday event

Tuesday night the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners spoke favorably about the possibility of hiring a consultant to come in and do an energy audit to help the city increase energy efficiency in its public buildings.

This effort is part of the town’s effort to meet the goals it committed to in March when it signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which involves working toward a 7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions levels from what they were in 1990 by 2012.

Hillsborough is just one of four local governments that has made this commitment in Orange County, along with the county itself and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. UNC-Chapel Hill has signed onto a similar agreement designed for universities, called the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

“Orange County is leading the way in fighting global warming in North Carolina at the local level,” said North Carolina Sierra Club Cool Cities Coordinator Tom Jensen. “There is no other place in our state that has the same level of commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.”

The five entities will be honored by the North Carolina Sierra Club at an event in Hillsborough on Tuesday, June 5th at 10 AM. It will be held on the King Street side of the Old Courthouse.

The Sierra Club will formally present Mayors Mark Chilton of Carrboro and Tom Stevens of Hillsborough with plaques designating their communities as ‘Cool Cities.’ Chapel Hill was previously so honored at an event in 2005.

Additionally Chairman Moses Carey of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners will accept the ‘Cool County’ designation, while a representative of the Chancellor will be on hand for UNC to be recognized as a ‘Cool College.’

Representatives from each of the entities, as well as local Sierra Club leaders, will be on hand to discuss what initiatives they have undertaken to help in reaching their goals as well as what plans they have for the future.

The public is welcome. For more information contact Tom Jensen at 919-833-8467 (work) or 919-260-2990 (cell).