Energy & Environmental Assistance Office

The EEAO conducts customer surveys at Mecklenburg Compost Central

UNCC students learn about the future of sustainability while taking home our future's favorite plant, bamboo!

Bamboo is the fastest growing wood resource on earth and it is a viable substitute for timber and tropical hardwoods. There is a great industrial demand for it and interest in bamboo production is increasing throughout Asia, Africa, and America.

Meet one of our students!

My name is Thomas Causey. I am a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degrees in Earth Sciences and Political Sciences. My interests and career plans include working with groundwater remediation, public environmental awareness and Energy Efficiency. Currently, I am working as a Research Assistant within the Energy and Environmental Assistance Office (EEAO) on the Livable Communities Project – A plan by local officials to increase the efficiency, vitality and livability of both Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Our work deals with investigating Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for future Public Capital Projects as well as alternative strategies to cope with a growing population. Since I began working with the EEAO in 2010, I have obtained first-hand experience in air/water quality research, urban planning, public-private partnerships and experience with conducting an efficient meeting. By simply educating others, I believe the future of our environment can be incredibly bright, focusing more on things each of us can improve on… and less on the things were not.

EEAO students (David Arcia and Dadhichee Gujjar) conducting Customer Satisfaction surveys for LUESA SW out at the Compost Central in Charlotte!

Meet one of our students!

My name is Dadhichee Gujjar. I am a freshman pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering here at UNC Charlotte. As a future engineer, the problem I wish to tackle is pollution control. Currently, I work at the Energy and Environmental Assistance Office in collaboration with the Energy Production & Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte. I am working on a research project provided by the Mecklenburg County Air Quality Division, in which we are researching the usability and reliability of new wearable and portable Air Quality Monitoring Sensors. We are using a laser particle counter named Dylos 1700 to measure PM2.5 and CairClip Sensors to measure NO2 and O3 pollution.
I am really happy to be working for the EEAO. Reducing pollution and making small changes to your lifestyle can have a huge effect on our mother earth.

Check out our February newsletter on Green Roofinghttp://eao.uncc.edu/sites/eao.uncc.edu/files/Green_Roofing_Newsletter%20Final.pdf

Green roofing utilizes a combination of insulated layers that can grow vegetation, withstand storms and in many cases, even store rain water. It is now used for a variety of purposes including recreation, energy reductions, temperature buffers and even as a water filtration system.

Regina Guyer's professional achievent was celebrated at the Girl Souts' 9th annual Women of Distinction Awards Luncheon. Her award honored her for 'leading others through Environmental Leadership". Regina is the Assistant Director of the Energy Prdcution and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) - EEAO. Great job Regina! Read more about it: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=ce63561e-d2d6-49bd-8376-d87fa206d95f&c=91bb1450-abf9-11e3-829e-d4ae529cddd3&ch=927b7e20-abf9-11e3-8327-d4ae529cddd3

EEAO Construction Waste Project Assessment Team Seon-Yi Han, Jake Leach and Dale Cobler meet wtih Darren Steinhilber, Michael Talbert and Isaac Nicholson, all of Mecklenburg County's LUESA Solid Waste Division.. The group met at the Foxhill Landfill of Charlotte NC to take a tour led by Terry McCarver, the Foxhill Landfill Director. The EEAO students are assessing residential construction waste to determine the feasibility of construction watste recycling in Charlotte. Also pictured below is Regina Guyer, EPIC Assistant Director--Energy & Environmental Assistance Office.

EEAO professional development student team members, Lindsay Matthy and Alex Burton (standing) presented their research on the ‘Short Haul’ project for Mecklenburg County Air Quality, Their findings may help the County determine how to go forward with efforts to reduce NOx emissions in the Charlotte Area and in turn ensure clean air for all of us! Pictured from Mecklenburg County Air Quality are Leslie Rhodes, Air Quality Director, Megan Green, Air Quality Program Manager, Jennifer Fickler, Air Quality Specialist and Jenna Hudak, Air Quality Specialist. Not pictured is Shelley Lanham, Sr. Air Qualilty Specialist. Way to go Lindsay and Alex!

Recycling and Waste

The purpose of the Residential Construction Waste project is to define types and amounts of waste that are generated from Residential Construction, so we can find opportunities to reduce/reuse/recycle the residential construction waste. Our interns create data sheets that categorizes different materials. They record estimated volumes of each material and transfer the data into weight data using volumetric calculations. Seon-yi's team partnered with private residential builders in the Charlotte area. Jake Leach and Dale Cobler, EEAO interns are shown in the picture recording waste data on a site visit.

Coal Ash forum held on Dec 4th co-hosted by the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) and Professional Engineers of North Carolina (PENC), at UNC Charlotte
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2014/12/n-c-legislators-say-coal-ash-law-likely-to-need.html?page=2

N.C. legislators say coal-ash law likely to need revisions in the long term - Charlotte Business... Two key N.C. House members told engineers and experts Thursday to expect the General Assembly to revisit the state’s law on coal ash as new issues arise.