Sage. Emerald. Lime. Clover. Pine. Asparagus. These and thousands more verdant hues are beginning to creep along branches, hillsides and riverbanks, blanketing our mountains and bringing long-awaited spring to Western North Carolina. In conjunction with this lush transformation comes the Many Shades of Green Extravaganza, presented by the Western North Carolina Green Building Council.
Among other things, the Extravaganza will celebrate the release of the WNC Green Building Directory, produced by the council and Mountain Xpress. We've printed 25,000 copies of the 116-page resource guide to all things green-building-related in WNC. They'll be distributed to 150 locations in downtown Asheville and beyond.
For more information or to view the directory online, visit http://wncgreenbuilding.com.
The celebration
The Western North Carolina Green Building Council proudly presents the Many Shades of Green Extravaganza, running Wednesday, April 7, through Friday, April 10, in Asheville. All events are open to the public, and most are free.
The nonprofit works to promote environmentally sustainable and health-conscious building practices through community education. One of its primary outreach projects is the Green Building Directory, published biannually beginning in 2002 and annually since 2008.
A public celebration always accompanies its release, and this year, the council is expanding the festivities to include lectures and tours.
The Extravaganza kicks off Wednesday, April 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at UNCA's Reuters Center with a lecture by Thomas Peterson, chief scientist at the National Climatic Data Center, titled "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States." A discussiion of the environmental impacts of green building will follow, along with a brief reception co-hosted by the WNC Alliance and the UNCA Graduate Center. The lecture is free, and everyone is welcome.
The celebration continues with the 2010 WNC Green Building Directory release party Thursday, April 8, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Pack Place. The 2009 event drew about 300 people, and more are expected this year. Free and open to the public, the party's expolike atmosphere will showcase the businesses listed in the 2010 directory. Light refreshments will be served, with all food and drink provided by local companies.
Friday, April 9, at 6 p.m., the BoBo Gallery will host Asheville Green Drinks; Clarke Snell will talk about The Nauhaus project and the whole-systems approach to building design. These techniques will be highlighed in Saturday's guided tours.
The final event, the Many Shades of Green Guided Bus or Bike Tour, is slated for Saturday, April 10, from noon to 5 p.m. Both tours will visit green homes and commercial buildings in Asheville, offering opportunities to learn more about green-building guidelines and practices in WNC. The bus tour costs $25 per person; the bike tour is free. Preregistration, which starts online April 1, is required for both tours.
For more information about all the events, or to sign up for the tours, visit http://wncgbc.org, or call 254-1995.
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