Bill Dandridge 
In my household, Spring is more than only about cleaning. I also reevaluate ways that we use energy and water, and take steps to minimize our carbon footprint. One website that I came across recently that helped me operate our systems more efficiently is one that comes from eco architect Eric Corey Freed. His website offers great advice to help everyone to reduce the utility bills in their home.
Eric Freed’s advice for us addresses five areas: 1) Wrap Your Home in Insulation, 2) Install a Programmable Thermostat, 3) Conserve Water through Smart Technology, 4) Cool Your Roof, and 5) Upgrade Your Lighting. I am happy to report that the Neighborhood Energy Retrofit Program that is being offered in Durham also touches on many of these same energy-reducing techniques.
Eric Freed, LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional), is a Principal of orgaincArchtect. This is an architecture and consulting firm in California, and he has nearly 20 years of experience in green building.
Happy Spring everyone, and Happy Savings for you and yours!
Alright everyone, mark your calendars, if they are not already properly highlighted – March 19-26 is Durham’s Third Annual Creek Week 2011! This focus on our watersheds is extremely important because it is imperative that we keep the water in our creeks fresh and clean. Heck, Durham County’s own Falls Lake is the main water source for the capitol city of Raleigh. Also, our body is between 53 and 70 percent water, depending on whose research one believes.
In order to see the myriad possibilities that are available to anyone who is fortunate enough to take in one of the events during Creek Week, please visit the Keep Durham Beautiful website. There are over 30 activities that are scheduled during the week through which one may experience wildlife available to only those who spend an Evening of Canoe Paddling on the Lower Eno River, take a Wildflower Walk at Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve, or go on a Turtle Trek along the Pea Creek Trail.
For those whose taste tends to be more altruistic in nature, there are thirteen chances where you can clean up after the more selfish that have traveled before you. It seems that all the waterways of Durham are represented in these Creek Cleanups, so please choose the nearest creek to your neighborhood and come prepared to practice the mantra of backpackers – “Leave the scene cleaner that you found it.” Durham’s flora and fauna will thank you for your efforts.
Our own DPAC has vaulted to the national top-10 in sheer attendance levels for US Theaters for 2010. The high-quality shows that will continue though this year can be found on their website.
The coming attractions include: comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Wanda Sykes, Brian Regan, and Carol Burnette; musical performances by John Mellancamp, the Celtic Women, Diana Ross, and the multi-talented Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers; stage productions Avenue Q, Hair, and Monty Python’s Spamalot; and spoken-word artist Garrison Keillor.
With a lineup like this, I see the DPAC rising to an even more prominent position for 2011.
There are many reasons that Durham’s revitalization has been touted by impressed visitors, but it is really something to see us listed by The New York Times as one the “The 41 Places to Go in 2011.”
Here is the text from the Saturday, January 8th edition of this great newspaper:
“A decade ago, downtown Durham was a place best avoided after sundown. But as revitalization has transformed abandoned tobacco factories and former textile mills into bustling mixed-use properties, the city has been injected with much-needed life. In the heart of downtown, a crop of standout restaurants and cafes has recently sprouted around West Main Street, where low rents have allowed chefs and other entrepreneurs to pursue an ethos that skews local, seasonal and delicious.
The farmers’ market favorite Scratch Bakery has a brand-new storefront for its seasonal homemade pies that include chestnut cream pie and buttermilk sweet potato pie. At the cafe-cum-grocery Parker and Otis, the menu features sandwiches made with freshly baked bread from nearby Rue Cler and locally roasted java from Durham’s Counter Culture Coffee. And at the sophisticated Revolution, squash tamales, mascarpone gnocchi, and tuna with wasabi caviar rotate through the seasonal menu. ”
