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Craig McNeal (left), a student in Central Carolina Community College’s Weatherization and Energy Efficiency class, and instructor Doug Dixon install a blower door fan to check for air leaks in the Pittsboro building used by the administrative offices of the Family Violence/Rape Crisis Center. Dixon is also the weatherization director for the Joint Orange Chatham Community Action Agency. The weatherization class is part of the college’s Green Building/Renewable Energy program at the Chatham County Campus. The weatherization class introduces students to the energy auditing process and simple upgrades to save energy. For more information about the Green Building/Renewable Energy program, contact Laura Lauffer, program coordinator, at (919) 542-6495, ext. 228. For more information on other sustainable programs, call the Chatham Campus, (919) 542-6495 or go online to www.cccc.edu/green.

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The Land Lab for Central Carolina Community College’s Sustainable Agriculture program, at the Chatham County Campus, now has a drain-back solar water heating system. The system was installed by members of the Solar Hot Water Systems class, part of the Continuing Education Department’s Green Building/Renewable Energy program. Some of the class members are already professionals in the field of renewable energy. The solar panel on the roof heats the water, which is then stored in a tank until needed. Among those working on the system are Eric Davis (on ladder), Paul Sacca (front) and John Cummins. The trio runs Cooperative Energy Solutions, a renewable energy company, in Pittsboro. Class instructor Fred Stewart (not pictured), owner of Solar Consultants, Inc., of Carrboro, donated the solar panel for the project. SolarHot, based in Cary, donated pumps and a heat exchanger to complete the system. For more information about the Green Building/Renewable Energy program, contact Laura Lauffer, program coordinator, at (919) 542-6495, ext. 228. For more information on other sustainable programs, call the Chatham Campus, (919) 542-6495 or go online to www.cccc.edu/green.