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Green Building

	ABTech Construction Science Our local technical college has an excellent hands-on program for those who wish to get formal training in green building construction science. Previous classes built the Healthy Built Home #1 project which is our featured Model Project in the next section below, and the next class will be working on a small footprint green homebuilding project. The department's state-of-the-art building methodologies, innovative use of new green building materials, and creative solutions to building problems makes this a first-class learning environment. see: www.abtechconstructionscience.com
	Western North Carolina Green Building Council A 501C3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote environmentally sustainable and health conscious building practices through community education. see: http://www.wncgbc.org/
	The Natural Home Building Source Sustainable housing design, passive solar, zero-energy, high thermal mass (HTM™) do-it-yourself solar house plans are featured along with septic system parts and consultation; Infiltrator® chamber leach fields; graywater reuse, greywater recycling systems; Clivus Multrum® and Sun-Mar® waterless composting toilets; Servel® non-electric gas refrigerators; drywell kits for storm water, sewage, washer drainage or erosion sediment control; Kobe® stainless steel hoods; and energy saving products like shade cloth, heat storage tubes, and battery operated flood alarms. see: http://www.thenaturalhome.com/index.html
	GreenHomeBuilding: you can find a wide range of information about sustainable architecture and natural building systems at this excellent website. "How we build our homes, both in design and choice of materials, is one of the most significant ways that we can affect our future. We need to live more lightly on the earth, because the degradation of our environment is compromising not only our survival, but the survival of most other living beings on the planet. We can no longer ignore the impact we have on the earth's ecosystems. The way we live, the choices we make in providing for our needs, will have an enormous influence on the quality of life of those who will follow us." It's about choices... see: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com
	Green Building: Builders, Consumers and Realtor' Primer Green Buildings are really resource efficient buildings and are very energy efficient, utilize construction materials wisely -- including recycled, renewable, and reused resources to the maximum extent practical -- are designed, constructed and commissioned to ensure they are healthy for their occupants, are typically more comfortable and easier to live with due to lower operating and owning costs, and are good for the planet. If you are a builder unfamiliar with the simple approach to green building, this material should give you a starting point for further exploration of the topic, and a better ability to ask the right questions. see: http://www.energybuilder.com/greenbld.htm

Model Projects

	ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HEALTHY BUILT HOME #1 AB TECH Construction Management Program is now showing a 25’ x 50’, student built 1250 square feet single story sustainable modular home. The construction principals used received an acknowledgement by the Asheville Meteorological Society for environmental stewardship in 2007. Not yet located on a lot, the home features natural day lighting, regional recycled materials, non-toxic materials, low voltage illumination, flexible rooms and furnishings to reduce costs over the life-cycle of the home. The home will be sold 90% complete with electrical wiring/illumination and plumbing fixtures. Click HERE for more information. Green Renovation Blog at http://renovatetogreen.blogspot.com
	LaShell Family Deltec Home: The House That Community Built Here in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, community spirit is alive & well and still helping neighbors to build a house they can afford to live in. Relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and church community volunteers all combined with the family & a paid construction advisor to gradually assemble and finish a two story Deltec Home Kit. Like a modern day version of a traditional Amish barn raising, even inexperienced folks lent a hand by doing whatever they could, and many of us stretched a little to learn new, valuable construction skills. Because of Deltec's factory built, panelized construction system, the pre-cut building components arrive by truck stacked neatly on pallets and ready for fast, efficient assembly. A dried-in structure can be achieved relatively quickly, and inside work like plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall, etc can be accomplished as time & money permit. Just one example of the "Green Equity Building System" at work. see: http://www.outdoorfun.com/helpbuildadeltec.htm
	Lebensold Earthship This passive solar home has hybrid photovoltaic and microhydro power system, grey-water and black-water treatment systems, energy and water efficient appliances, and a tire and earth berm structure. The American Solar Energy Society has featured the home in the national Solar Home Tour 3 years running. Based on the pioneering work of Michael Reynolds, this is a good place to start your learning process. see: here

Solar Design

A Sourcebook for Green and Sustainable Building - Passive Solar Guidelines
Solar energy is a radiant heat source that causes natural processes upon which all life depends. Some of the natural processes can be managed through building design in a manner that helps heat and cool the building. The basic natural processes that are used in passive solar energy are the thermal energy flows associated with radiation, conduction, and natural convection.
see: http://www.greenbuilder.com/sourcebook/PassSolGuide1-2.html

A Proper Understanding of Convection Improves Passive Solar Design
Radiant sunshine comes into the passive solar home, with the home itself being the solar collector.

Make the heat move itself to where you want it, when you need it.
Power a fresh air system to keep you comfortable.
Make that fresh air warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

see: http://www.earthshelters.com/passive_solar_design.html

Solar Energy Systems

Solar Leasing Program
National solar power installer and distributor groSolar launched a new residential solar leasing program for homeowners in Pennsylvania, offered in partnership with AFC-First Financial and Middle Atlantic Solar Leasing, LP. The solar leasing program allows a homeowner to lease a rooftop solar electric system for little or no money down, and pay a monthly fee for the solar electricity the panels produce. For example, a qualified homeowner can lease an 8 kilowatt solar system for about $120 per month. The monthly lease payment would be about the same as the monthly utility bills no longer being paid. Homeowners also have the option to buy the solar system outright at a later date. More at www.grosolar.com/solar-lease

Sustainable Community

Community Sustainability Assessment
The Global Ecovillage Network is developing the concept of sustainability auditing to provide measuring rods for individuals and for existing villages and communities to compare their current status with ideal goals for ecological, social, and spiritual sustainability. In addition, these tools are learning instruments - pointing out actions aspiring individuals and communities can take to become more sustainable. "How sustainable is your present community?"

see: http://gen.ecovillage.org/activities/csa/English/index.php

E. F. Schumacher Society
Named after the author of Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered, this educational non-profit organization is a good place to start your research on practical ways to organize, incorporate, finance and grow your sustainable community. Look here for info on community land trusts, legal local currencies, microcredit loans, and other tested models.

see: http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/index.html