We're city guys. We tend to think about green in terms of urban concerns, like the light rail system that may eventually whisk us from one hot spot to another. But lots of North Carolinians – and Americans in general – live away from metros. What's going on out there?

GreenCo just shared findings from a recent Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ survey. GreenCo http://www.greencosolutions.net/ provides energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to many of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives – which power places biggies like Duke and Progress don't. Many of the survey's results are interesting and inspiring:

• Overwhelmingly, members are taking action to reduce the amount of electricity they use at home. Most are implementing low-cost or no-cost solutions such as adjusting thermostats, turning off lights, installing weather-stripping, caulking.
• More than eight out of 10 members look for the Energy Star rating...

Ah, that new plaza smell! Better than a new car any day. Generators, paint ... and the scent of a creative culture.

The new City Plaza doesn't officially open until the massive Raleigh Wide Open street party on Oct 24 (www.raleighconvention.com), but now's a fun time to get a sneak peek. The frantic planting and polishing give the place vim and vigor. And there's art to ogle and argue about (see pics)!

Raleigh's long enjoyed a reputation for smarts -- and City Plaza will deliver on that rep with light-and-sound towers and crisply designed kiosks. The art installations are something new to downtown. We're split on what stands out and what should be put out -- but that's half the fun. The multi-colored whiskered cat is vaguely reminiscent of the Picasso that went up decades ago in front of Chicago's John Hancock tower, which in turn reminds us of Chicago's truly awesome Millennium Park (http://www.millenniumpark.org/artandarchitecture/ ). Could the plaza become our...

As everyone was trying to make sense of the machinations behind the Nobel Peace Prize, we bumped into the bumper sticker pictured. And it spoke to us. Not in a 'burning bush' way, but in an appeal to pay more attention to the sometimes average chores right in front of us.

Hey, a lot of us are still struggling with the right way to recycle pizza boxes (http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5807260/). And if you find politics irresistible, there's a little school board brouhaha that covers all the philosophical bases of the big time stuff, and will probably show up with more impact in your neck of the woods (http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/6157292/).

And then there are those turn signals. Very helpful, actually.

Does Ann Goodnight have billionaire hubby and SAS founder Jim on an allowance?

Does Bev Perdue lie awake pondering becoming Gov during the Great Recession and whisper, "What was I thinking?!?"

These were but a few of the zingers Phil Zachary put to the powers-that-be at the annual meeting of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night. Zachary runs Curtis Media, but he's a born entertainer. And he proved it by hosting a zippy, full-scale send-up of "The Tonight Show," complete with a spunky band, Chamber boss Harvey Schmitt as his chuckling sidekick and an A-list series of guests. Raleigh signature giant acorn, Jim Hunt, insurance companies, gamers – Zachary made good sport of them all while hitting the show out of the park.

Content-wise, in-coming Chamber Chair Sepi Asefnia promised to focus on jobs (medical devices got a shot out), education (diversity is a priority) and transportation. Sustainability also got a nod,...

The man is possessed.
The building is joy incarnate.
The future is ready to be ogled ... almost.

The man here is Larry Wheeler, head honcho at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The building is the museum's expansion space. The future arrives for everyone in April, but we got a sneak peek this week.

The epic encounter starts at lunch, with Wheeler describing the creation of a new kind of museum – a social hub that includes great works of art, and embraces recreation, entertainment, food – LIFE. His explanation reminds us of the new Beatles Rock Star. Everyone knows the Beatles. Rock Star lets you discover the Fab Four anew ... and leaves you hooked.

Soon, mere talk isn't cutting it. Wheeler – a bespectacled hurricane of a human being – sweeps us out of the existing museum and into the still-under-construction new building.

To sum up the experience: joy.

Sunlight soaks the 127,000-square foot building – a far...