Article Category: Natural Building

Garret K. Woodward: Breaking Through

Breaking Through: Green Built Homes Certification Program Hits 1,500 Milestone Garret K. Woodward   What once was considered a fringe industry has now become a force in the housing market of Asheville and greater Western North Carolina. “It does seem like a green-certified house in our market has become less...

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Phil Long: Hardwood Harvesters

Hardwood Harvesters: Local Sawmills Play Integral Role in Tree-Cycle Movement Phil Long   Green building refers to the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the building life-cycle. While there are many components of sustainable building, the purpose of this article is to...

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Brian Knight: Smart Practices in Water Conservation

Smart Practices in Water Conservation   Brian Knight Water and energy use are connected. Saving energy reduces water pollution. Conserving water, reduces energy use. Coal-fired power plants consume extreme amounts of water to produce electricity. Mining and burning coal pollutes our soil, streams, lakes and oceans. Natural Gas NG extraction...

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Leigha Dickens: Being a Better Corporation

The Journey to Being a Better Corporation   By Leigha Dickens “We envision a global community that uses business as a force for good.”  That is the opening line of the B Corporation declaration, a document that business leaders sign as part of a final step to transfer their company’s...

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Lang Hornthal: Support Your Local Forests

  Support Your Local Forests: Root Cause to Connect Sustainable Forestry to Local Builders   By Lang Hornthal In April 2016, the U.S. Green Building Council announced the Alternative Compliance Path (ACP), a pilot program designed to advance environmentally responsible forest management practices while promoting the use of responsible wood sourcing....

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Ryan Miller: Following Asheville’s Lead

Following Asheville’s Lead: Growing Green Building Across the State By Ryan Miller   Alright, Asheville. As the North Carolina city with the deepest market penetration and strongest consumer demand for green building, the rest of our state looks to you for inspiration and leadership in green building.  Many of the new...

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Maggie Leslie: Indoor Air Quality Checklist

Indoor Air Quality Checklist Maggie Leslie   Ensuring healthy indoor air quality in a home starts with the very foundation. Many simple building techniques, from radon-resistant construction to drainage planes, can prevent unwanted air-quality problems in the future. To prevent unwanted moisture and contaminants from entering, it is very important...

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Margaret Chandler: Tree Preservation

Tree Preservation Margaret Chandler   A beautiful old tree is an asset to any home.  Providing shade, wildlife habitat, and immense charm, it is worth the effort to retain these valuable natural resources on a construction site.  Building around these trees is a collaborative process and requires cooperation of the...

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Ron Czecholinski: Echo Hills Cottages

Echo Hills Cottages: Building an Intentional, Green Neighborhood from the Inside-Out Ron Czecholinski   Echo Hills Cottages is an intentional neighborhood in West Asheville, NC that will consist of 11 homes with a small footprint starting at 800 square feet.  The homes are being certified to the Gold Level of Green...

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