Laboratory for Innovative Housing

One of the projects we are working on is the upcoming NSF Integrated Network for Social Sustainability (INSS) conference - April 4-6, Charlotte, NC>
http://clas-pages.uncc.edu/inss/

In terms of the three aspect of the triple bottom line (TBL / 3 Ps / 3 Es) for sustainable development, the social aspect is the least understood. Next week UNCC is hosting an international conference to advance the understanding of the social aspect, http://inside.uncc.edu/news/item/conference-explore-social-sustainability.

UNC Charlotte is competing in the U.S. Department of Energy 2013 Solar Decathlon. One of the innovative features of the house is the exterior wall construction - a continuously insulated, precast geopolymer concrete panel with capillary tubes for hydronic heating and cooling. Earlier in the week students worked with tradesmen at the Metromont Corporation precast concrete plant in Charlotte to form and pour two panels.

Here is more interesting reading on the American food system.

http://www.utne.com/environment/foodopoly-agricultural-policy-ze0z1304zgar.aspx

Let’s Topple the Foodopoly - Environment - Utne Reader Lobbyists have purchased agricultural policy. Changing our food system is a political act—one that will require a massive grassroots mobilization to challenge multi-national corporations—and one we must support.

Thomas Gentry will lead a colloquium on his current research.
Date & Time: Janurary 25, 2013, 12:30 to 1:30
Place: UNC Charlotte, Storrs Building, Hight Library

Check out the new web page for the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm. The LIH is working with the farm to research the role of local food production in developing socially and environmentally sustainable housing / communities.

http://lomaxfarm.org/lomax/

Elma C Lomax Incubator Farm A collective effort of Cabarrus County and the North Carolina State Extension program to help new and aspiring farmers develop their business and skills.

The SWIFT Project was featured in this month's Inside UNC Charlotte!

Inside UNC Charlotte -- August 2012 -- SWIFT The Streamlined Weatherization Improvements For Tomorrow project... or SWIFT for short. Let's take a look inside this Department of Energy funded, 8 million ...

Here is some more interesting reading about urban farming.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/us-farms-urban-idUSBRE86I0U120120719

Can urban farming go corporate? Farms have sprouted in cities across the country over the past several years as activists and idealists pour their sweat into gritty soil. Now Paul Lightfoot wants to take urban agriculture beyond the

The New York Times reports on the "growth" of the local food movement.

Small-Scale Farmers Creating a New Profit Model With an aging farm population and a looming shortage of migrant workers, local growers band together for collective organic clout.

The local food movement is a key area of interest for the LIH in researching sustainable communities.

Join a White House Hangout on Local Foods | The White House In a live Google+ Hangout, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and White House Director of Public Engagement Jon Carson will join women leaders across the country to discuss local food and agriculture, answer questions submitted by the public, and launch the latest version of Compass, the intera...

The first rule of Salad Club is: You do not talk about Salad Club. (Unless it includes Thomas's delicious veggies from the Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm.)

SWIFT Volunteers Needed for Friday, July 13th!!

-3 Full Day Volunteers! (9am-5pm)

-3 Morning Shift Only Volunteers! (9am-1pm)

Please contact Gina DeMatteo via email or telephone for more information!

[email protected]
(704)280 1065