Winston-Salem plans focus on 'going green'

Displays and demonstrations will highlight week

Mayor Allen Joines is working on ways to reduce carbon emissions in Winston-Salem by 7 percent from 1990 levels.

By: By Michael Hewlett | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: September 04, 2008

The city of Winston-Salem will hold a series of activities this month highlighting ways that the city could be more environmentally conscious.

"Go Green Winston-Salem" will be held from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19. It is sponsored by the city, the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce and local business and environmental groups, according to a news release from the city.

Mayor Allen Joines signed the U.S. Conference on Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement last year, said Erin Baker, an administrative assistant in the mayor's office.

Joines is also working to reduce carbon emissions in the city by 7 percent from 1990 levels.

"That may not sound like much," Joines said in a news release, "but to meet this mark by our goal of 2012, the entire community must be involved and committed."

The activities during "Go Green Winston-Salem" will be open to the public. There will be forums on such topics as green business practices and green transportation.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will have presentations at certain schools, and the city plans to have booths set up at the Rock the Block, the annual downtown street festival that will be held Sept. 19.

Displays and demonstrations will be up that week in the lobby of the Stuart Municipal Building, 100 E. First St.

■ Michael Hewlett can be reached at 727-7326 or at mhewlett@wsjournal.com.

■ For more information, go to www.cityofws.org.