A thinking man’s approach to green building: Robin Woodward

A few months ago, a conversation with longtime downtown Asheville advocate Karen Tessier led to talk about one of her marketing client — Robin Woodward of Blue Ridge Energy Systems. A profile on Woodward languished in the Xpress inbox, until we stirred the pot for ideas about sustainability — what it means and where we’re going. Asheville has been at the heart of green-building initiatives in the past few decades. Here’s a close look at one of its self-starters.

Asheville City Council gives New Belgium the go-ahead


During a meeting that lasted almost to midnight, Asheville City Council approved New Belgium’s brewery in the River District. Council also approved funding for sidewalk improvements and a study of alternate truck routes to address concerns of some residents about the traffic the business will bring. (Pictured: City Clerk Maggie Burleson swears in all those who wanted to speak at the public hearing. Photo by Max Cooper)

A Christian environmen­talist: How faith and environmen­tal stewardshi­p work together

Mallory McDuff, professor of environmental education at Warren Wilson College, is a proud Episcopalian and environmental activist. In her newest book, Sacred Acts:  How Churches are Working to Protect Earth’s Climate, McDuff solicited essays by Christian environmentalists across the country to explore what faith-based communities are doing to address climate change.

Warren Wilson College hosts herb symposium in memory of Frank Cook


Who was Frank Cook? That’s like asking who first swam the entire Amazon (Martin Strel, of course.) Quite likely, many of the 150 who attended the April 7 Herb Symposium at Warren Wilson College in memory of Cook didn’t know him. In ethnobotany and herbalist circles, Cook was legendary for his global knowledge of plants and their uses. (photo by Jonathan Poston)

Asheville hosts forum on Growing the Appalachia­n Food Economy

With local-food sales predicted to reach $7 billion this year, it makes sense for cities, counties, states and regions to focus on the local food company. To that end, the Appalachian Regional Commission is hosting a forum on the issue today and tomorrow, April 4, at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. As one participant noted via Twitter, “Sustainable farming only occurs when social responsibility, environmental stewardship and economic viability work together.”

PHOTOS: UNC Asheville dumpster dives into waste reducing competitio­n

Coming down the stairs of Ramsey Library, students and faculty faced the unmistakable smell of UNC Asheville’s trash.  Despite the cold, grounds workers and the recycling coordinator, Zig, searched for recyclable and compostable items discarded in trashcans and sorted them on a large blue tarp on the quad.  The demonstration was part of Recyclemania, an international competition to increase recycling and reduce waste.

Get ready for the Global Transforma­tion: Bill McKibben to provide event keynote Oct. 15 **UPDATED*­*

If recent environmental news has gotten you down — if you can’t believe the Obama Administration backed away from the chance to establish stronger smog regulations, or if you watch with a sense of helplessness as the N.C. legislature moves to weaken the permitting process for polluting industries — here comes an event that might help you recover your inner enviro-warrior. Bill McKibben will deliver a keynote address via Skype at the Global Transformation Festival in Gerton, Saturday, Oct. 15.

A decade of green: The Western North Carolina Green Building Council turns 10

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” anthropologist Margaret Mead said. The Western North Carolina Green Building Council — its founders and its members — demonstrates the truth in those words. The council started as a conversation between two people, a decade ago. It then grew into a group of several people, but the goal remained the same: how to increase green building in the region. This Thursday, April 28, the council celebrates with its annual party (see below).