March 2012 Posts (25)

The Land-of-Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition is excited to announce that the all-electric Mitsubishi iMiev is now available to test drive at Skyland Mitsubishi in Asheville.  Please contact Earl Wheless if you would like to schedule a test drive.  A full list of local auto dealers selling electric vehicles can be found at the bottom of this email.   More information on local EV resources, news and events can  be found on our…

"REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR"

The public is invited to a free screening of "Revenge of the Electric Car."  Chris Paine's new film picks up where his highly-acclaimed 2006 documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car?" left off.  Plug-in vehicle owners and dealers are encouraged to bring cars for display.  (If you're bringing a PEV, please RSVP to the number below, so that we can arrange preferred…

Please join us this Friday, March 30 at Land-of-Sky Regional Council for the annual Ozone Season Kickoff Event and Press Conference. This years feature speaker will be John Meyers, TVA's air quality program manager. He will discuss TVA's air pollution settlement with the US EPA and surrounding states and how the TVA will lower emissions.  These emission reductions should improve air quality in Western NC. Officials from the NC Division of Air Quality and WNC…

The News & Observer  has a front-page story about Asheville-based FLS Energy. 

Read more here.

"WASHINGTON (AP) — At least 3.1 million Americans are employed in green jobs, a sector that now accounts for about 2.4 percent of the nation's total employment, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Wings Over Wilson is an affordable hang gliding instruction service aimed at developing and supporting adventure enthusiasts by providing a safe, sustainable, and exciting experience. Utilizing a professionally trained instructor(s) we seek to bring a new outdoor adventure to locals and tourists of the Asheville region. We will be operating no more than 4 days a week for 3-4 hours at a time.



We are in search of an open piece of property within a 30 mile radius of…

We're proud to announce that the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance (NCEEA) won EPA's 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence. The Appalachian State University based organizations is a state-funded, nonprofit that aims to overcome market barriers to…

Please join the WNC Green Building Council on March 28 at Diana Wortham Theatre for the Green Building Directory Release Party and a presentation on Sustainable Urbanism from Living City Block. Living City Block works on community based financing strategies to address a spectrum of sustainability issues including energy efficiency, renewable energy, mobility, waste and water. On Wednesday, Chad Riley of Living City Block will be…

HICKORY, N.C., Mar 12, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- If an intelligent building can control temperature, security and other operational features, then it should also be able to turn on and off lights automatically.

As more people discover that LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are a more energy-efficient and longer-lasting option than standard fluorescent bulbs, their popularity continues to grow. That increased popularity is leading architects and facility managers to become more…

PITTSBURGH, Mar 08, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation has received a $1.84 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) for the development and demonstration of more efficient commercial electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The project will promote smart charging technology that better manages the efficiency, availability and reliability of power, especially during peak times and at popular charging locations.

Eaton's grant…

China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Limited, a wind turbine manufacturer in China, opened its North American research and development center on the Centennial Campus of NC State University in Raleigh. The new center will focus on state-of-the-art research on…

Application Due: April 3, 2012

GreenCo Solutions, Inc. is seeking proposals for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from qualified solar resources.  The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit and screen competitive proposals for potential REC purchase agreements to comply with solar requirements set forth in NC Session Law 2007-397 (Senate Bill 3).

GreenCo is seeking RECs from solar projects totaling up to 10 MW from one or more suppliers. The minimum…

SylvanSport founder Thomas Dempsey learned last summer that a product similar to one he'd patented was being made in China when a customer sent him a link to a Chinese company's website... continue…

The American Herbal Products Association in BioNetwork BioBusiness Center & Laboratory!

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is offering a course on the Microscopic Identification of Popular Botanical Materials in our lab space! AHPA is a recognized leader in representing the botanical trade and is the only national trade association that is focused primarily on botanicals and herbal products. 

Are your ready to add a new dimension to your ability…

The letter of intent deadline (optional) is April 2, 2012. Concept papers are due April 9, 2012 and full applications are due May 29, 2012.

The Sunshot Incubator Program provides support to assist small businesses in making the transition from a proof of concept or business plan to domestic commercialization or deployment of solar energy products through advanced research and development, strengthening domestic manufacturing and cutting-edge technology. Proposed activities should be…

From the Smoky Mountain News

The Town of Sylva, in a quiet way, is busy setting a green example for its Western North Carolina neighbors. First the fire department, and now the new police department, incorporate green, environmentally friendly components. Green strategies packaged with renovations to the old library include solar cells to augment the electrical system and a solar setup to heat water for showers. Solar tubes, a form of sky lights,…

From the Wilkes Journal-Patriot:

A 3,000-square-foot greenhouse, fueled with methane gas from the old county landfill off Germantown Road in Moravian Falls, will soon be ready to start growing food for people in need.

Wilkes County Planning Director Eddie Barnes said the greenhouse should be completed in mid-April.

Meanwhile, Wilkes County commissioners are expected to consider approval of a contract with The Giving…

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:

Public and Indian Housing

Region IV and Region V Networks,

in conjunction with

Enterprise and LISC

are hosting an

Energy Conference

May 7-9, 2012

For: Public Housing…

Perhaps an innovation like this could find traction in our region:

Turns out that mushrooms — great in soups and salads — also make decent packaging material.

Mushrooms are a key ingredient in the pale, soft blocks produced by the thousands in an upstate New York plant that are used to cushion products ranging from Dell Inc. servers to furniture for Crate and Barrel.

More precisely, the packaging blocks are made with mycelium — the hidden "roots" of the…