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 incorporated...
Article Category: Sustainable Site Planning
Sam Ruark-Eastes: Permaculture
Permaculture Green Building meets its revolutionary cousin By Sam Ruark-Eastes By now you might have heard of Permaculture. The ecological design system has reached the mainstream consciousness with articles in the NY times and many other publications. It is estimated that over 50,000 people in the US have taken a...
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...
Tim Ormond: Green Infrastructure
Green Infrastructure: The Great Shift in Stormwater Management By Tim Ormond There was a time when stormwater was primarily considered a problem to be tackled. Get it off site as quickly as possible through constructed systems of gutters, pipes, ditches and concrete-lined channels. Out of sight and out of...
Raymond Thompson: Runoff – a sod swale
Runoff - a Sod Swale Raymond Thompson Welcome to Western North Carolina, home of ancient mountains and rainforest conditions. If you build here, be ready for tight building schedules, limited budgets, and small steep lots. Builders need to be ready to get creative, stay clean, and keep from going...
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...
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 Built...
Garret K. Woodward: Downsizing your home, upgrading your life
Downsizing your home, upgrading your life By Garret K. Woodward It wasn’t the initial idea Josh Scala had in mind. “This is the smallest certified green built house in North Carolina,” he said. “Which was not the original plan, but as the thing started to progress, it just turned out...
Garret K. Woodward: Eco-Friendly Education
Education, Economics and Eco-Friendly By Garret K. Woodward The smile on Will Yeiser’s face is ear-to-ear. “We believe the time is now,” he said. “Everything we’ve pursued in this project is aligned with my personal philosophy, and with the core mission of the school.” Director/co-founder of the French Broad...
David Tuch: New Belgium
New Belgium: A behind the scene look at making a sustainable site for the brewery David Tuch When it’s all is said and done, New Belgium Brewing will be making a 150 million dollar investment in western North Carolina. The account of how New Belgium made the decision to...