Who we are:

This committee promotes energy conservation and renewable energy through public policy, planned events and organized actions.

What we do:

• Education – The need for renewables and conservation promoted through publications in local media, forums, alerts on local policy issues, and ECO’s web site and blog.

• Earth Day Energy Expo – On a Saturday, near the traditional Earth Day (April 22), ECO coordinates an Energy Expo at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock.  The event is intended to educate the public on current energy issues, both globally and locally.  The event includes commercial and organization exhibits, student projects and informative workshops related to energy and sustainability. 

• Green Home Tour – The Green Home Tour is a self-guided tour of the finest green homes in the region, held annually in August.  The tour features homes in Henderson and Buncombe counties that showcase the highest level of green technology working in concert with nature. Many of the homes feature solar installations, radiant heating, water conservation measures and native gardens.

• Project Green Light - ECO’s outreach to help homeowners achieve conservation.  Project Green Light works with local churches so their members can become better stewards of creation.  By participating in workshops and home energy inspections, congregations of faith can take substantial steps towards lowering their carbon footprint and demonstrating to other residents how to become better stewards of our natural heritage.

• Downtown Hendersonville Going Green – ECO’s in coordination with Downtown Hendersonville Inc. and Waste Reduction Partners (WRP) is working with downtown Hendersonville businesses to improve conservation and best environmental practices. Additionally, ECO’s Green Shopping program identifies these businesses and encourages residents to shop at stores displaying our Green Business sign.

You can make a difference!

The Energy & Sustainability Committee meets the second Thursday of every month at 4:00 pm at the ECO office.

1) What does being Green really mean?

• the focus of this discussion will be how a business community turns from brown to green
• being green includes both how the business is run, how it sources its products and services, the building envelope and what it does with its waste
• want to dispel the notion that being green means higher overhead, greater expense with little in return
• being green will not only have a dramatic effect on costs of operations, make an impact being a better steward of this precious place (which is presumably why the customer/tourist is here), but will also help market the business or downtown community

2)    Taking Some Big Green Steps

I – Making the business more energy efficient

• energy audit (George on WRP and possible savings)
• typical steps businesses can take (owner or lessee) and anticipated savings (windows, insulation, doorways, lighting, HVAC systems)
• larger Green possibilities using renewal energy

II – Sourcing products from local/regional community

• Buying local from local artisans, vendors

III – Minimizing packaging- talking with distributors about how packaging could be eliminated or reduced

IV – Limiting bags- Create Downtown shopping bag, ask everyone if they need a bag before offering one

V – Recycling: Establishing a Pooled arrangement on Mixed Paper and Cardboard

•  Audit paper/cardboard use and create a cooperative agreement to share the costs

VI – Encourage walking rather than driving

3) Resources To Take Action

• ECO is happy to be a resource to help the downtown community take steps in any of these areas
• Contact WRP to schedule energy audits
• Contact the Green Building Council on steps that can be taken and resource available toward greater energy efficiency
• Participate in the Green Workshops at BRCC

3) Certification and Awards for Excellence

ECO is launching a GREEN BUSINESS RECOGNITION program to highlight local businesses that have taken meaningful steps towards lowering their energy footprints and, so, contributing to a safe anad clean environment in Henderson County.

A point system will be established to help provide guidance on steps businesses can take towards making progress and Green Business decal will be posted at local businesses that are “going green.”

These firms need our encouragement and patronage for their efforts. Sign up at ECO or online to show your commitment to support local green businesses.  The more people who commit to shop green, the more businesses will go green!

Mintel has forecasted that green products will experience 19% growth through 2012. (Ask retailers to name other product categories they carry that are poised to experience 20% growth over the next few years.)

According to a recent poll conducted by the Global Strategy Group, 87 percent of consumers are more likely to buy products from a retailer that is committed to environmentally sound practices. (This is an old report, I think, and I can’t track it down from the source, Global Strategy Group. Just a bunch of sites that cite it. Use at your discretion.)

Roughly 34 percent of American consumers indicate they are more likely to buy environmentally responsible products today, and another 44 percent indicate their environmental shopping habits have not changed as a result of the economy.  Eight percent say they are less likely to buy.  This is according to the results of the 2009 Cone Consumer Environmental Survey. (you have to sign up online to see the study — I did and am attaching the .pdf here. Good stats about “green attitudes” of shoppers despite economy.)

And 4 out of 5 people say they are still buying green products and services today – which sometimes cost more – even in the midst of a U.S. recession, according to a study commissioned by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing.

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ENERGY CONSERVATION HELP FOR BUSINESS Prepared by ECO for Downtown Hendersonville, Inc.

Identify Major Energy Users – typical percentages

 Retail                Restaurant          Office

HVAC               51%                  23%                  40%

Lighting             31%                  15%                  29%

Hot Water          7%                    11%                  9%

Food Pep           3%                    45%                  5%

Other                 8%                    6%                    15%

Benchmark Energy Use – typical energy per square foot

Retail                Restaurant          Office

Electricity and fuel           78,000               248,000             95,000     BTUs per Sq. ft.

No Cost

1.         Turn it off if it not being used

$1 reduction in utility cost is $1 increase in profit

Reducing 100 watts for 4 hours/day saves about $1 per month

2.         Only heat and cool enough for comfort and turn back during closed hours

(Do women bring a sweater to your business in the summer?)

 Typical  % savings for winter nighttime settings

60 F                  55 F                  50 F

10%                  20%                  30%

3.         Use a fan instead of AC when outside air is cool (but not too humid).

Low Cost

• Seal air leaks around windows and doors
• If heating ducts are in unheated attic or crawl space, then old duct tape or gaps can waste as much as 20% of heat. (Seal with metal tape or mastic – not duct tape.)
• Change lighting fixtures to more efficient or add light/motion sensors.

Use Local Resources

Environmental and Conservation Organization, ECO

121 Third Avenue West, Hendersonville NC 28791

Phone 828-692-0385  Web:   www.eco-wng.org

Promotes and recognizes conservation efforts, network of conservation experts

Waste Reduction Partners, Land-of-Sky Regional Council
339 New Leicester Hwy, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828) 251-6622    Fax: (828) 251-6353

Email: wrp@landofsky.org Web: http://www.landofsky.org/wrp

• Self assessment energy audit checklist can be downloaded at :

http://landofsky.org/wrp/PDFs/Assessments/33454%20Energy%20Guide%201208.pdf

• For a no cost energy reduction assessments contact Russ Jordan, Energy Program Manager
  828-251-7477 Asheville (Monday, Wednesday), 828-863-2917 Tryon
  russjordan.wrp@windstream.net

Western North Carolina Green Building Council

PO Box 17026, Asheville, NC 28816

Phone 828-254-1995        E mail: info@wncgbc.org Web: www.wncgbc.org

Business directory and short courses.

Blue Ridge Community College

Small Business Center, Gary Heisey, Director (828) 694-1779

http://www.blueridge.edu/business_person/sbc/index.php

WORKSHOPS:

Duke Energy

http://www.duke-energy.com/north-carolina-business.asp

Smart $aver™ Incentive program rewards businesses for installing energy efficient equipment. Web site has application forms with rebate incentives for:

• Lighting
• Heating & Cooling Equipment
• Chillers & Thermal Storage
• Process Equipment
• Foodservice Equipment
• Motor/Pump/Variable Frequency Drives

Tax Credits

DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. http://www.dsireusa.org/

ENERGY USE INDEX

How to calculate

1.  Determine total energy use for each utility

2.  Determine total energy use for each utility

Certificate
Welcome Letter
Documents
Brochure
Do It Now
Enrollment Form
Unitarian Universalist
New Creation Church

First Congregational Church
Immaculate Conception
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Record Your Utility Bills
Inspectors
House Energy Inspections
Enrollment Information
Wasting Energy
Project Green Light Trinity PowerPoint
Project Green Light UUGathering PowerPoint

ECO hosts Earth Stewardship Day on Saturday, April 28, in honor of Earth Day. This year’s event includes a day of ecological projects across Henderson County. The projects focus on engaging community members— families, church and school groups, civic organizations, businesses, and local government departments— in meaningful stewardship projects that positively impact the environment while helping unite our community.
Projects include stream bank restoration at Sullivan Park; trail maintenance in Holmes Education Forest; building community gardens at the Girl Scout Hut, the 7th Avenue Community Organic Garden, and Jackson Park; removing a beaver dam on Lewis Creek in Edneyville; and planting pollinator patches and native grasses to enhance the stream riparian buffer on Boylston Creek.
Making these projects come to life are ECO’s local and regional partners, including Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, Transition Hendersonville, The Mud Creek Restoration Project with NC Cooperative Extension, Girl and Boy Scouts of Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville Engineering Department and Public Works, as well as Hi-Lo Mountain Nursery, Boys and Girls Club of Hendersonville and Upward School.
The projects will take place from 9 am until 2 pm, when all participants can reconvene at Blue Ridge Community College until 4 pm for music and a community picnic. Come join ECO and all its partners for a promising day of hands-on, environmental activities with results that will be enjoyed throughout the county for years to come.
Rain date is Saturday, May 5th. For more information about the planned events, contact ECO at (828) 692-0385.

SEE HIGHLIGHTS OF ECO’s FESTIVAL on 40th ANNIVERSARY of EARTH DAY

Earth Day Festival 2010 was a great success!

Over 600 attendees, more than a dozen community partners, 60 plus volunteers and 150 enjoyed a day of hands-on educational opportunitites and the incredible concert music of Shannon Whitworth and Balsam Range!