This post will outline how we can continue to advance sustainability in our local built environment even as we pause business as usual. Please review the resources outlined below, and don’t hesitate to reach out if there are other ways we can support you. It remains our top priority to serve as a resource to members of our organization and our community. We’ll get through this together, even as we are apart.
Like other local businesses and nonprofits, Green Built Alliance has adjusted our operations to stay responsible and do everything we can to help flatten the curve: shifting our full staff to working remotely, postponing our 2020 events, and temporarily suspending the work days of our Energy Savers Network program for several months in the spring.
We look forward to resuming our projects at low-income homes and our calendar of regular events like member meetups and lunch and learns as soon as it is safe to do so based on the guidance of our county health officials. In the meantime, we continue to serve our members and the broader community with the following resources and support.
Online Resources Available to Make the Most of this Down Time: Free Class Videos + Full Directory Archive
Advance your education during this interruption in normal business schedule by enjoying a full library of free classes streaming on our YouTube channel.
Stay Connected in Our WNC Green Building Facebook Group
We have often heard from our business members and local residents seeking a way to throw out ideas to the whole green-building community, so we started a Facebook group as a forum for these casual types of conversations.
We envision this as a digital gathering place, not only for our nonprofit’s business members who help us advance sustainability in the built environment, but also for the like-minded residents who share passion for this work.
Please join and invite any friends who you think would be interested in sharing ideas, collaborating on projects and crowd-sourcing feedback on green-building related ideas. We look forward to staying in closer touch as a community!
The Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) has provided a detailed plan to outline the steps that every employer and employee can take to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
The plan describes how to prevent worker exposure to coronavirus, protective measures to be taken on the jobsite, personal protective equipment and work practice controls to be used, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, and OSHA guidance on what to do if a worker becomes sick, including recordkeeping requirements.
Call for N95 Masks Poses Opportunity for Our Members
There is an anticipated shortage of N95 masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers who will be on the front lines of fighting spread of COVID-19.
Since many building professionals use these masks, we are sharing a call for donations. If you can donate, please email cari@greenbuilt.org.
New Financial Incentives and Rebates Available for Building Green
As everyone is watching their finances even more closely than usual, now is a great time to reacquaint yourself with the variety of incentives and rebates available for building green, including new local and renewed federal offerings.
The City of Asheville Sustainability Office recently rolled out residential building permit fee rebates for single-family homes to support sustainability, as outlined in the chart above. More information on sustainability fee rebates can be found under “Supplemental Forms” on the city’s residential permit application page.
Additionally, the federal 45L tax credit was recently extended retroactively from the beginning of 2018 and forward through the end of 2020. It provides builders a $2,000 tax credit for building and selling energy-efficient homes. More information on that tax credit is available on the ENERGY STAR® website.
Visit our website for a full list of additional financial incentives currently available from other local municipalities and counties, as well as Duke Energy.
Position Your Business for Continued Success in 2020 Green Building Directory
This year’s edition of the Green Building Directory is underway. With 25,000 copies distributed at 100 spots throughout Western North Carolina, this directory is a great way to share your company’s unique offerings in the broader community as well as position your brand for high visibility in a targeted demographic.
Each year, our directory is enriched with article features and case studies written by our members and about their projects. The theme of this year’s directory is affordable housing. With the potential of having extra time at home in the coming weeks, this may be the perfect opportunity to brainstorm an article idea that could help share your unique expertise and good work with our community.
Email your article ideas to Green Built Alliance Community Engagement Director Cari Barcas at cari@greenbuilt.org, and stay tuned to our newsletter for information on advertising opportunities.
Again, please always consider us a resource and don’t hesitate to reach out at any time with questions or ways we can support you through this unusual time.
Best wishes for continued prosperity from your friends at Green Built Alliance!
We are starting the process of planning our 2023 Green Building Directory. With 25,000 copies distributed at 100 spots throughout Western North Carolina, our directory is a great way to share your company's unique offerings in the broader community as well as market your brand for high visibility in a...
We are starting the process of planning our 2022 Green Building Directory. With 25,000 copies distributed at 100 spots throughout Western North Carolina, our directory is a great way to share your company's unique offerings in the broader community as well as market your brand for high visibility in a...
