Masthead 2012
Volume 2: Issue 5                                                                                          May 2012
In This Issue
BRSI/AIR Collaboration
Public Connects Severe Weather to Climate Change
Collaborations: A note from John G. Stevens
BRSI Profile: Russ Martin
BRSI Sponsor Profile: AIR
Update: No May Green Mondays
Please take our Green Mondays Survey
Green Mondays Appreciation
April 23 Green Mondays Review

Newsletter Team

Editor
Katie Cavert

Copy Editor:

Carolyn Keefe

 

Design/Production 

Katie Cavert 


Contributors:

Russ Martin

Lenny Bernstein

Katie Cavert

 

 

BRSI logo

Mission Statement:

 

The Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute drives knowledge into action, solving societal problems today and for generations to come by harnessing world-class environmental, economic, and energy research to support collaborations among researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, government officials, and community activists.

 

BRSI's

Definition of Sustainability


The Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute is an advocate and catalyst for actions that make the earth more sustainable.  Sustainability means creating and maintaining conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling social, economic and environmental requirements of present and future generations. 

 

BRSI logo 

Board of Directors

 

Paul Bellows
Chair
Retired Chief Operating Officer, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

Patricia S. Smith
Treasurer
Retired President, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina

W. Louis Bissette, Jr.
Secretary
Partner, McGuire, Wood & Bissette

Becky Anderson
Consultant; Founder and Former Director, Hand Made in America

Jack Haiden Britt
Blackwell Britt & Associates; Retired Executive Vice President of The University of Tennessee

Susan Fox
Assistant Director of Research, Southern Research Station, US Forest Service

Holly Jones
Buncombe County Commissioner; Director, YWCA of Asheville


Green Monday logo

 

 Sponsors:

 

Funder_Logos_ProgressEnergy

 

 

purple cat 

 

BRSI Profile

 

We have an amazing collection of talented professionals who contribute their time and resources to the management and development of BRSI projects and programs. 

 

This month's featured member is:

 

Russ Martin

 

Chair of BRSI Advisory Council

 

Thank you, Teresa, for your contributions!

BRSI Sponsor Profile

 

We owe much appreciation to our sponsors who are instrumental to our existence and development. 

 

This month's featured sponsor is:

 

AIR

 

Thank you, Asheville Independent Restaurants,

for your support!

 

Partnerships and/or Collaborations

 

AdvantageGreen

AdvantageWest

Asheville Buncombe Sustainability Community Initiative

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College

Asheville Chamber of Commerce

Asheville Design Center

Asheville Green Drinks

Asheville Green Opportunities

Asheville HUB

Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR)

Biltmore Farms

Blue Ridge Biofuels
Build It Naturally 

Buncombe County

City of Asheville

Conrad Industries

FIRC Group

Global Institute for Sustainability Technologies at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Green Jobs, ABCCM

Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Land-of-Sky Regional Council

Lenior Rhyne University 

North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Progress Energy

PurpleCat Networks

Push Designs

Self-Help Ventures Fund / Self-Help Credit Union

Southern Energy & Environment Expo

Sundance Power Systems

Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina

The Nauhaus Institute (NHI)

U.S. Forestry Service's Southern Research Station

University of North Carolina - Asheville

Warren Wilson College

Waste Reduction Partners

Western Carolina University

Western North Carolina Clean Energy Leadership Group

Western North Carolina Green Building Coalition

 


BRSI logo

LEADERSHIP GROUP


Tim Ballard 
Energy Campaign Manager
 
Paul Bellows
Chair of Board of Directors

Lenny Bernstein 
Projects and Programs Director

Brandee Boggs 
Advisor on Collaborations

Sue Brown
Sustainable Tourism Advisor
 
Katie Cavert
Communications Coordinator

Steve Cochran
Principal

Rebecca Efroymson
Senior Advisor on Natural Environments  
 
Jordan Elaine
Special Assistant for Development

Carolyn Keefe
Copy Editor
 
Ed Mayer
 Sustainable Tourism Advisor

Bill Hargrove 
Senior Science Advisor

Tom Hatley 
Special Advisor on Rural Development

David Johnson 
Senior Advisor on Built and Natural Environment

Carolyn Keefe
Copy Editor
 
Drew Kitt 
Special Advisor on Renewable Energy
 
Russ Martin 
Chair of Advisory Board
 
Teresa Matthews 
Manager of BRSI's Contacts
 
Jonathan Robert
Advisor on Capacity Development
 
Jon Snover 
Senior Advisor on Sustainability
 
John Stevens 
Executive Director
 
Sherry Vaughan 
Administrative Assistant
 
Susan Weidmann
Sustainable Tourism Advisor
 
Kevin Locke Wilson 
Special Assistant to the Executive Director

Noah Wilson 
Manager of Information Technology 
 


green drinks logo

 

Asheville Green Drinks is a networking party and part of the self-organizing global grassroots movement that connects local communities with environmental ideas, media and action. 

 

Come out to Posana Cafe every Wednesday 

at 5:30 pm.  

Program begins at 6.

 

 

Click here for a 2012 schedule and topics

 

 

BRSI logo 

ADVISORY COUNCIL

 

Russ Martin 

(Co-Chair)

 

John Ager 

(Owner, Hickory Gap Nut Farms)

 

Jim Barton 

(Director of Smith Mill Creek Permaculture School)

 

George Briggs 

(Director of the North Carolina Arboretum)

 

Tom Byers 

(Western North Carolina Marketing Director, Self-Help Ventures Fund)

 

Robin Cape 

(RLCape Consulting, Inc)

 

Robert Deutsch 

(Robert J. Deutsch, PA)

 

Susan Garrett 

(Green Jobs Director, Asheville Buncombe Community Christian   Ministry)

 

Patti Glazer 

(Principal, Glazer Architecture)

 

Neil Gurney 

(Partner, Integritive)

 

Dave Hollister 

(Owner, Sundance Power Systems)

 

Betty Huskins 

(President, Ridgetop Associates)

 

Jessica Ingram 

(Director, FLS Solar Technologies) 

 

Janell Kapoor

(Spokesperson and Coordinator, Ashevillage)

 

Yuri Koslen 

(Transit Project Manager, City of Asheville)

 

Paul Knott 

(Director, Center of Graduate Studies of Asheville, 

Lenoir- Ryhne University)

 

Lourdes Lorenz 

(Director of Integrative Healthcare, Mission Hospitals)

 

Rob Moody 

(EcoBuilders Founder)

 

Matthew Raker 

(Vice President, Entrepreneurship & AdvantageGreen)

 

Jeff Schmitt 

(Research Director of the Bent Creek Institute)

 

Clarke Snell 

(Managing Director, The Nauhaus Institute)

 

Ron Townley 

(Director, LGS, Land of Sky Regional Council of Government)

Become a 

Friend of BRSI! 

 

We hope you consider investing in the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute as we continue to grow and expand!  

Your contribution is invaluable to the development and implementation of programs and projects that further our mission of Knowledge into Action. 

 

You can become a Friend of BRSI for $25/year. 

 

Your name will be displayed in recognition on our website. With your gift, you are investing in the future of sustainability in our region. 

 

Together, we can make a difference!

 

Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax deductible. 

 

Become a Friend of BRSI!

 

Make a tax deductible donation now!

          


Donate online or fill out this form and send it in.
 
Thank you!

Comments Welcome

 

We, at BRSI, strive to provide useful, accurate information to residents of Western North Carolina.   

 

If any errors exist in this publication we invite you to notify Newsletter Staff as a means of quality control. 

 

We appreciate your assistance.

 

Click here to submit feedback

 

BRSI's New Website 
Same old address,
Brand new look!

Check it out!

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BRSI/AIR Collaboration Receives National Press and Local Award   

 

BRSI, AIR, and the 17 AIR green (or almost green) restaurants received national press right before Earth Day. Huffington Post writer Jeff Biggers highlighted the collaboration of our community partnerships with a great video by Industrious Productions. Read the article and watch the video here. Thank you Industrious Productions for your time, talent and passion in telling our story and making the connection.

"Dine Green, Asheville!" Video

More "Good News!" from the Buncombe County Commissioner Meeting on May 1.  The Buncombe County Environmental Advisory Board awarded the Buncombe Environmental Leadership Award (BELA) to the partnership between BRSI, AIR, and the 17 restaurants that participated in the Green Restaurant Initiative. 

 

Tim Ballard commended the restaurants for their dedication to going green.
  

"The Board was impressed with your commitment to the environment, energy conservation, and your focus on helping create the idea of Asheville as America's Greenest Dining Destination," wrote Michelle Pugliese, Chairwoman of the Environmental Advisory Board.   As was noted in the nomination, "The leadership shown by AIR, BRSI, and the 17 pioneering restaurants has provided a program model and associated knowledge that will allow additional restaurants throughout Buncombe County and WNC to more easily and more effectively reduce their environmental impact." 

 

David Gantt, Chair of the Count Commissioners, commended the independent restauranteurs in coming together to create a model that could be replicable to other communities.  Tim Ballard and Peter Pollay accepted the award and all celebrated at Bouchon afterward.  Now, the question is, "Who gets to display the award first?"

 

Restauranteurs, BRSI, and Sundance celebrated outside with the BELA award

Thank you to Erika Schneider of Sundance Power Systems for the nomination and to the Environmental Advisory Board for recognizing this dedication and passion for creating a more sustainable community!  If you would like to read the nomination with details on restaurant energy improvements and project accomplishments (like BTUs and carbon dioxide emissions saved), click here.

The Public Connects Severe Weather to Climate Change 

 

Climate Change Column provided by Lenny Bernstein

Director of Projects and Programs

 

The conventional wisdom is that human-induced climate change is a mature political issue. It has been around for more than twenty years, and both politicians and the public-at-large have made up their minds not to treat it as a serious threat. However, a recently published poll gives some hope that the public may be changing its collective mind. If public sentiment changes, politicians may follow--they certainly aren't going to lead.

 

A little scientific background: the first tangible indication of climate change is likely to be an increase in weather extremes. This is easiest to understand in terms of "heat waves." The definition of a heat wave is location dependent. A temperature of 100oF is extremely unusual in Western North Carolina, but an every summer occurrence in the desert Southwest. If we look at daily high temperatures for summer days for a given location, we are likely to find that they fit a normal distribution (bell curve) around an average. Shifting that average by a small amount will result in a significantly higher number of days that meet the local criterion for heat wave. This is shown graphically in Figure 1.    

 

              Figure 1 - Effect of Climate Change on Weather Extremes

 

Conversely, climate change will decrease the number of "cold waves." Because higher temperature increases the rate of evaporation of water, climate change will lead to more precipitation, both rain and snow, and more of it falling in intense events. Climate change can also increase the severity of storms.

 

While no individual weather event can be attributed to climate change, there should be an overall increase in what both scientists and the average person think of as severe weather. That has, in fact, happened. Weather data show unusually high temperatures and more tornadoes over the past few years. Scientists have been cautious about connecting these events to climate change because climate is the average of 20 years or more of weather, and in most cases they have not seen data for a long enough time to make unequivocal statements.

 

However, the public has been willing to make a connection between the unusual weather of the past few years and climate change. A recently published survey (http://environment.yale.edu/climate/files/Extreme-Weather-Climate-Preparedness.pdf) conducted by the Yale Project of Climate Change Communications and the George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication found that

 

A majority of Americans say that unusual weather events have occurred in the last 12 months in both their local area (56%) and elsewhere in the U.S. (62%) . . . A large majority of Americans believe that global warming made several high profile extreme weather events worse, including the unusually warm winter of December 2011 and January 2012 (72%), record high summer temperatures in the U.S. in 2011 (70%), the drought in Texas and Oklahoma in 2011 (69%), record snowfall in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011 (61%), the Mississippi River floods in the spring of 2011 (63%), and Hurricane Irene (59%).       

 

The survey had 1,008 participants and a sampling error of + 3%. Unfortunately, the survey stopped short of asking whether participants thought that the global warming causing the extreme weather events was natural or man-made, and if it was man-made, would they be willing to take action to limit it.

 

It's a long way from survey results such as these to effective political action against human-induced climate change, but at least the first step has been taken: recognition that climate change does impact on daily life. Let's hope the next steps follow quickly.


john headshotCollaborations
A Note from John G. Stevens
Executive Director, BRSI
 

 

"Collaboration" is one of the core values of the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute.  Clearly, the Green Restaurant Initiative (GRI) would not have been such a success if it were not for the multi-level collaborations that came into play.  The GRI collaboration began when Matt Raker of Advantage Green connected BRSI and AIR (Asheville Independent Restaurants) to consider submitting a proposal to the NC Green Business Fund program, marking the beginning of a strong collaboration between the two organizations.  When the GRI received funding in June of last year it was in large part because of the collaboration that existed between the State of North Carolina and the Federal government.  At the local level, a unique collaboration developed among the 17 restaurants, which, by the nature of the business, are typically competitive with each other. Instead the restaurateurs are helping each other in their mission to make Asheville a better place to live, visit, and dine.  To implement the GRI, interesting and productive collaborations developed amongst the owners, the management and the staff at the restaurants as well as within the BRSI Leadership Group.  The list is endless regarding the collaborations that were developed and now exist as a result of implementing the vision of the Green Restaurant Initiative.  In the bigger picture of Sustainability, collaboration is essential to successfully address society's challenges.  It is very encouraging to me that so much of what is currently happening in our community is as the result of these types of collaborations. 


Meet Russ Martin: 
Chair of BRSI Advisory Council  

 

Originally from Western Pennsylvania, Russ moved with his family to South Florida when he was a teenager. He graduated from Palm Beach Junior College and then from Florida State University with a degree in Business with a major in Finance and Management. While at Palm Beach Junior College he was President of the Student Government and the statewide Junior College Student Government Organization.


In 1971, Russ and his family moved to Asheville. The first thing he did was join the Kiwanis Club of Asheville, serving on the Board of Directors as President in 1989, and as Lt. Governor for Division I of the Carolinas District. Russ was elected to a term on City Council from 1987-1989 and served two terms as Mayor from 1993-1997. His last year in office, he led our city to win the coveted "All America City" award.


Russ is currently serving as a member of the Board of the Grove Arcade Foundation and was the first Chair of that board. He has served in the past as the chair of UNC at Asheville Foundation Board, on the AB Tech Foundation Board, and on the Chamber of Commerce Board.


Russ started his career in finance with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in 1964 and retired after 38 years as a Financial Consultant in 2002. While at Merrill Lynch he was honored as a member of the President's Recognition Club, the Chairman's Club, and the Circle of Excellence Club. In 2002, he was honored as the first recipient of the National Lifetime Community Achievement Award. Russ was one of the first members of the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute and is currently serving as a Senior Staff member and the Chair of the Advisory Council.


Russ is married to Karon Korp, the love of his life, and has two children and four grandchildren. He lives in a mountain forest overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway. In support of sustainability, Russ and Karon built the first hemp house in the United States and incorporated many green features.

 

 Read the article published in the Asheville Citizen Times about Russ and Karon's hemp house here!


BRSI Sponsor Profile: 

Asheville Independent Restaurants 

 

BRSI has many community partners, and we are thrilled to spotlight the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) this month. AIR has grown to eighty member restaurants, doubling its membership in the past year. The restaurants are diverse in what they serve but unified in AIR's mission to "strive to provide superior fare and authentic Asheville hospitality." AIR is committed to the local economy, local businesses, local philanthropies, and, of course, local food! Each year, AIR hosts A Taste of Asheville, which provides "Chefs of Tomorrow" Scholarships through AB Tech's Culinary School. In addition, restaurants support many charitable organizations with donations of food for fundraising events, which demonstrates a dedication and passion for creating a thriving community. Highlighted at BRSI's previous Green Mondays, AIR partnered with Green Opportunities to create the GO Kitchen Ready Program. Former owner and chef of The MarketPlace, Mark Rosenstein, has launched the training initiative to reach low-income, unemployed individuals in the community to teach skills in food preparation as well as assist in finding employment in local area restaurants. These are just a few ways that AIR is an integral part of a sustainable Asheville community.

 

Recently, our unique partnership with AIR was posted along with a video on The Huffington Post in recognition of our collaboration in greening the Asheville restaurant scene. We appreciate the support that AIR provided with funding the video project and in helping us reach out to restaurants and educate the public about the benefits of going green. AIR just hosted the WNC Culinary Expo where hospitality businesses came to connect with new ideas, vendors, food, products, and classes. AIR's Green Team and BRSI had the opportunity to reach interested green restaurateurs who are now committed to green certification. "Sustainability and best practices for our environment have been a long standing mission value of AIR," said Christine Sykes Lowe, Executive Director of AIR and Principal of T3 Creative Group. "Our collaboration with BRSI has been a true partnership in achieving our goals as an organization, and we look forward to the continued greening efforts in the years ahead."

 

Thank you, AIR, and AIR members for your energy, time, and dedication to the Asheville community! Read more on AIR's website here: www.airasheville.org. BRSI appreciates your support! 

 UPDATE: 

NO MAY GREEN MONDAYS 

However, there is a Green Energy Tips forum at the Chamber of Commerce on May 30 from 3:30-5:30pm.
"Come learn from our panel of experts on how to make your business more efficient and green."  
 
Presented by Crescent Health Solutions. 
 
More info here

  

GREEN MONDAYS SURVEY: Your Feedback Please! 

BRSI would like your feedback about our Green Mondays program, including a proposed time change and hearing your suggestions for topics in the future. Please complete our Green Mondays survey. It will take you about 5 minutes and will provide us with valuable program evaluation information. Thank you in advance!   

Green Monday logo  

Thanks to all who made our 
2011-2012 Green Mondays program 
a HUGE success!
 
Especially Green Mondays Sponsors:
Progress 
   purple cat
and... 
Lenny Bernstein, Director of Projects and Programs
 
Katie Cavert, Communications Coordinator
 
Sherry Vaughan, Administrative Assistant
 
And of course, all our panelists and attendees! 
Green Monday logo 
Asheville Indpendent Restaurants Lead the Way in Sustainable Practices
 
April 23, 2012 Review

 

This Green Monday was part of BRSI's Earth Day celebration and a report on progress toward meeting AIR's goal of making Asheville "America's Greenest Dining Destination," which will be achieved when Asheville has the highest per capita concentration of restaurants meeting Green Restaurant Association (GRA) standards for two-, three-, or four-star certification. BRSI contributed to meeting this goal with the recently completed BRSI/AIR Green Restaurant Initiative. The Initiative was funded by a $258,000 grant from the NC Green Business Fund. Its goal was to improve the energy efficiency and use of renewable energy at 17 Asheville restaurants through equipment changes and staff education.

 

Four current restaurant owners or managers spoke about their experience in greening their restaurants. The discussion was moderated by Tim Ballard, BRSI's Energy Upfit Campaign Manager, who began the session by showing a video about the Initiative. The Initiative and video were featured in a recent Huffington Post article.

 

To read the entire review, please visit our website or read it here.

 

 

 

Missed it?  Watch it here.  
Greem Mondays video April 23, 2012
Green Mondays video April 23, 2012
   
The video can also be found on our website: 

 www.blueridgesustainability.org/green-mondays-32

 

 

BRSI's monthly newsletter Knowledge Into Action  is made possible by a generous donation from the 

James McClure Clarke Fund

 

Thank you for your dedication to sustainability in Western North Carolina!  

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