Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Renewables (EECR) Campaign Update 

Chris Fargo-Masuda is a BRSI Researcher.  His primary focus has been to examine the feasibility of wind energy in the Western North Carolina region.  This topic covers a wide spectrum of issues ranging from technical and economic feasibility to policy limitations.  Last fall (August 2010), Chris organized and moderated a panel of regional experts for a BRSI Green Monday titled: The Feasibility of Wind Energy Generation in Western North Carolina.

Chris is currently a senior at UNC Asheville.  He is pursuing an interdisciplinary major with a concentration in Ethics and Social Institutions.  This program choice has allowed Chris to focus on courses that support his two major areas of interest: sustainability and law. 

As a non-traditional transfer student, Chris is a few years older than many college students.  He believes that his pre-college experience has allowed him to take advantage of a much wider range of educational opportunities.  For example, after taking a course titled Interdisciplinary Research; Focus on Sustainability, Chris was hired by the University to work as a peer mentor for this course over the next two semesters.  In addition to being a teacher's aide, this position involved assisting student research groups manage semester-long projects that culminate in a bi-annual symposium held at UNC-Asheville. 

After completing the peer mentor program, Chris now serves as a community mentor for student research groups that focus on the topic of wind energy.  These groups allow students to apply the ideas and theories taught in academia to a real world situation, exposing them to the challenges and issues that arise and helps them to develop the skills they need to achieve their desired outcomes.  Chris allows each student in the group (which can include up to five students) an equal opportunity to voice their opinion on the direction the group should take.  This practice has proven to cultivate frequent 'aha moments' and result in some exciting initiatives.  For example, one group initiated a survey of public perceptions on wind energy in WNC.  This project is scheduled to be competed fall 2011.

Another research group in the spring of 2011developed a proposal for an anemometer program. Anemometers are instruments used to collect data on available wind resources for a given location.  The group developed the idea while while they were attempting to do a wind energy feasibility study for a Buncombe landowner. The group found that a major barrier was the lack of reliable resource data. BRSI has approved the development of a program that would provide this valuable resource for property and business owners in the region. 

Chris will finish his undergraduate degree in spring 2012. At this time Chris will also complete a new masters-level course series offered through UNC- Asheville; Climate Change and Society.  This program is "designed to bridge the gap between climate scientists and government, business and community organizations whose decisions and work may be impacted by climate change." http://www2.unca.edu/mla/cc.htm When he finishes at UNC- Asheville, he plans to apply to graduate schools.  

BRSI Leadership Teams Formed

 

  Sustainable Agriculture  

The term "sustainable agriculture" is making its way into conversations in the rural landscape, urban environment and governmental policy, but how is this different from the conventional agricultural system? 

A sustainable agricultural system requires not only the input of researchers from various disciplines, but also farmers, farm workers, consumers, policy makers and others. It ensures that we are not only growing food in a sustainable manner with regards to natural resources but that we are ensuring social and economic equality as well.

The four panelists at BRSI's May 16th Green Monday will address the questions:

·      What is sustainable agriculture?

·      How can we ensure that it is sustainable for all?

Chase Hubbard is Warren Wilson's Farm Manager and serves on the Buncombe County's Soil and Water Conservation Board. Peter Marks is the Program Coordinator for Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP).  Joe Dofflemyer is Co-founder of Grass2Greens, a Food Sovereignty Activist and a Gardener.  Jodi Rhoden is a mother, board member of Bountiful Cities, owner of Short Street Cakes & social entrepreneur.

After their presentations, the panelists and audience will be asked to discuss what can be done to promote sustainable agriculture to all members in our community.

 Building More Sustainable Communities   

Moderator Steve Cochran, BRSI Principle, started by saying that the discussion would use a broad definition of communities, including not only the physical community but also communities of interest, and would discuss sustainability at the regional level as well as at the individual enterprise level.

Ron Townley and Carrie Runser-Turner of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council provided an overview of Western North Carolina Livable Communities Initiative, a $3-4 million, three year effort to develop a regional vision and plan for sustainable development for Buncombe, Henderson, Madison and Transylvania Counties, the four counties in the Land-of-Sky region, as well as Haywood County. $1.6 million of the project's funding will come from a grant from the DOT/EPA/HUD Partnership for Sustainable Communities; the reminder from local, in-kind contributions. The initiative will be formally launched this summer with a kick-off event. Two public input sessions are planned. They will be designed to get more people involved: government, business, non-profits and citizens, especially from traditionally under-represented communities. The initiative will build on existing plans and its twenty-year sustainability plan will includes benchmarks at 5, 10,and 15 years.

The audience was very interested in the plans for this initiative, particularly how duplication of effort would be avoided and how learning from similar initiatives would be incorporated. Ms. Runser-Turner said that an inventory of existing plans was included in the grant proposal and that this inventory would be reviewed at the public input sessions to ensure completeness. She said that two types of grants have been made: planning and implementation. Western North Carolina's grant is a planning grant, but that through a network the HUD has established for grant awardees, we would have information about parallel efforts around the country.

Four enterprises were represented on the panel:

Hobie Orton and Lee Thomason discussed efforts underway to have Biltmore Park Town Square certified under the US Green Building Council's LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development) program. Biltmore Park Town Square was part of the pilot program to develop this standard, which became available a year ago and is aimed at in-fill communities, such as theirs. They pointed out that it was easier and cheaper to make the decision to seek certification during the initial design of a facility than afterwards, as they did, but that the steps that have to be take to achieve certification provide sufficient economic benefit to make the decision attractive.

Clint Lasher of the Villages at Crest Mountain also discussed LEED-ND certification. His development responded to the 2008 housing crash by focusing on providing affordable, sustainable housing. Having certification makes the claim that you are a green development credible.

Randy Tally of Green Sage Café and the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR), said that at first he thought that installing solar at his restaurant was more important than seeking Green Restaurant Certification. He now recognizes the value of such certification, which is why AIR is partnering with BRSI in seeking a NC Green Business Fund grant to makes the changes necessary to achieve Green Certification for 17 Asheville restaurants. He believed that a cluster of green restaurant could be a tourist attraction for Asheville.

Eric Krause of BioWheels Bike Shop said that he has made sustainability part of his business plan since he first opened BioWheels eleven years ago, but that there were challenges. As a retailer, he depends on others to supply green products, which are not always available. The only way he could get a sustainable building for his business was to extensively renovate an old structure. His next effort is to provide a solar-powered electric car recharging station at his business.

When questioned about the benefits of being a sustainable business, the panelists agreed that a company's green status is not the primary reason customers are attracted to it. They come to a restaurant for the food and to a housing development to meet their housing needs. However, customers and employees feel good about green businesses, which builds their loyalty. It is also a source of positive publicity and helps draw attention to the business. As one panelist put it: "It's the icing on the cake."