UNION COUNTY (Union County Public Schools) - The Union County Public Schools system is taking “green” to the next level by attempting to LEED certify existing schools with little or no capital investment.

When the system gets money to do capital projects, thinking green will be part of the plan. “We’ll be looking at what we can do with projects we have to do anyway, but we can make them a bit better by making them green and sustainable,” said UCPS Facilities Director Don Hughes.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation ofhigh performance green buildings. The certification UCPS is looking at is called LEED EBO&M (Existing Building Operations and Maintenance).

Duke Energy has launched an initiative to encourage customers to sign up for the company’s Paperless Billing program and help others in the process.

Dubbed the “Go, Get, Give” initiative, Duke Energy’s goal is to sign up 140,000 new paperless billing customers, while, at the same time, contributing $3 per enrollment to various assistance funds that help customers pay their heating bills each winter.

CHARLOTTE, NC (AP) - North Carolina health officials say the air around Charlotte will be especially unhealthy on Thursday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a code orange ozone warning, saying the pollutant is getting trapped in the hot, stagnant air.

The orange alert covers Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Lincoln, Gaston, Rowan, Union and southern Iredell counties.

Health officials recommended people with asthma or other sensitivity to air pollution limit their time outside.

Health officials say air quality across the rest of the state will good or moderate.

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