On February 22, 2010, 3135 Polk County Line Road
built by Baran Construction was awarded LEED
certification by the US Green Building Council
(USGBC) for achievement in green homebuilding and
design. The project is one of several local homes
that is currently registered using LEED for Homes,
but the first to be certified through the WNC Green
Building Council and only the second certified LEED
for Homes in all of WNC. .
Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of
WNC and the hard work of volunteers, the first
Green Bus Stop was completed at the Clingman bridge
in the River Arts District. Covered shelters
encourage people to ride public transit by
protecting them from the elements while waiting for
the bus. We would like to thank the following for
their contributions in making this project a
success:
Team Includes:
Samsel Architects
Cady Guyton Construction
Northern Crescent Iron - donated metal work
Blue Ridge Energy Systems - donated local pine
materials
Build it Naturally - discounted paints and
coatings
Painting - Tall Girl Painting - donated painting
labor
The WNCGBC is pleased to announce that a new,
updated version of the NC HealthyBuilt Homes
Program Checklist is now available. The
HealthyBuilt Homes staff at the NC Solar Center
spent the last year reviewing and updating the
HealthyBuilt Homes (HBH) Checklist Ver. 3, and a
full revision cycle is now complete. Some Checklist
items have been added, some have been removed, and
in many cases the items have been clarified or
updated. Some of the existing items have been
changed to reflect changes in the NC Building Code
and to be consistent with other green building
standards
After two years of dedication and hard work, the
WNC Green Building Council's Sustainable
Communities Program is open for Pilot Projects. The
checklist is still a preliminary draft version and
a reference manual is a work in progress.
Participation in the program will help us refine
the program requirements as well as determine the
documentation and resources necessary to
successfully administer the program. In exchange
for participation, you will receive promotion by
the WNC Green Building Council, marketing
privileges and a reduced administration fee.
View the most Current Version of the Checklist and
an Application for Submittal as a pilot project
online at
http://www.wncgbc.org/community-certification.php.
Please review the checklist and fill out the
application and submit it to us if you are
interested in participating. The WNC Sustainable
Communities Committee of the WNCGBC will meet and
review each application in detail on a first come
first serve basis with a goal of accepting at least
5 diverse projects.
With over 300 attendees, this year's Release was
the most successful WNCGBC event ever. Hope to see
you at next year's Release.
See the news coverage of the event
here.
As of February 2009 the WNCGBC will be an active
LEED for Homes Provider through the US Green
Building Council. For more information about the
LEED for Homes Program visit
http://www.greenhomeguide.org/
WNCGBC to Offer LEED for Homes
certification Janruary 15, 2009 Asheville
Citizen-Times
Read it in The Franklin Press--November 28,
2008
November 2008. WNCGBC is excited to work with the
Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and see
affordable green housing become a reality. After
months of hardwork, the first of many certifed
homes has been achieved by Habitat for Humanity.
There are 17 other homes in progress.
March 2008. The new Green Building Directory,
published by Mountain Xpress, is now available. The
directory offers information about local green
businesses and suppliers as well as articles and case
studies. The number of businesses offering green
products and services in WNC has grown considerably
since our last publication, pick up a directory today
or find it online at: www.wncgreenbuilding.com Along
with the new online directory, there is now a Green
Building Forum. This is your chance to communicate
with others interested in sustainability on topics
ranging from water conservation to energy efficiency.
November 2007. After nine months of helping to
promote energy efficiency and green building in Black
Mountain, we have something to show for it. Home Town
Green: One Town's Journey Toward a Sustainable Future
was produced by American Green. The movie was funded
by the NC State Energy Office and was created as part
of a toolkit for municipalities to help them "green"
their community. Our hope is that this will serve as
a model for communities, small and large, throughout
North Carolina to start down their own path in
decreasing their environmental impact. To encourage
energy efficient, high performance and sustainable
building practices, the Town of Black Mountain will
provide a $500 dollar rebate for construction
projects certified Bronze Level by the NC
HealthyBuilt Homes Program or a Certified Level in
any of the LEED rating systems.
October 2007. WNC Green Building Council received
grant funding from the Community Foundation of
Western North Carolina to construct two green bus
stop shelters in Asheville. Green Bus Stops is a new
program that provides bus stop shelters that
demonstrate green building techniques. The program
organizes local architects, contractors, and artists
to donate their skills to design and build unique bus
stop shelters throughout the City of Ashevilles
transit system. June 2008. The plans for the first
two green bus stops have been designed and submitted
to the City for review. The bus stops will feature
green, durable materials as well as solar panels that
will power LED lights for safety lighting and
possibly a radio to make using public transit that
much more enjoyable.
On September 11th, 2007, over 400 UNCA freshmen
students replaced 5,500 incandescent light bulbs with
the more energy efficient CFLs at the Asheville
Housing Authoritys low-income rental developments.
This project, funded by Appalachian Offsets, will
offset over 1,600 tons of carbon dioxide! Appalachian
Offsets is a nonprofit, voluntary carbon offset
program to combat global warming through local
renewable energy and efficiency projects in Western
North Carolina. The program is a three step process.
First, visit www.AppalachianOffsets.org and calculate
your carbon footprint. Second, reduce as much energy
as you can and third, offset the rest.
