When it's not leading the way, Asheville is quick to pick up on the value of incorporating green building and natural building techniques into its collective consciousness. Here's one of several eco-friendly articles by Asheville realtor Jane Kayton has written which points this out:
"... The Possibilities Are Endless With Green Real Estate in Asheville, NC In December of 2006 Asheville joined about fifty other municipalities across the country and passed a resolution stating that all new municipal buildings will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications. LEED is a nationally accepted green building rating system created by the U.S, Green Building Council, and sets the standard for the design, construction and maintenance of energy efficient homes and buildings. Asheville is also home to the Western North Carolina Green Building Council (WNCGBC), WNCGBC educates local contractors and builders about the latest green building techniques and practices. WNCGBC also works with city, state and county officials to make eco-friendly recommendations for local building standards. In Asheville, NC homebuyers searching for eco houses or green home building projects have a variety of options from downtown apartments to eco-friendly, real estate developments...." Jane Kayton, Jane Sells Asheville
Here are some of the groups and individuals who are leading the way in bringing the reality of green and natural building to the citizenry of Asheville:
"... promotes social transformation and ecological regeneration by leading hands-on trainings in natural building and whole-systems solutions that result in community-based sustainability centers...."
What we do
::Teach natural building and whole-systems solutions to community leaders, activists and organizations who will utilize and pass the techniques and skills on to others, as we:
::Collaborate in the construction of exemplary sustainable demonstration centers that serve local needs while providing long-lasting, replicable models
::Help facilitate and support regional networks of sustainability activists by working with local groups, dedicated sponsors and on-the-ground experts
::Document our process so that we are able to develop and share educational tools with our alumni, affiliates and the general public
Since 1998, Kleiwerks International and affiliates have provided more than 200 hands-on natural building programs; start-to-finish workshops; Permaculture certification courses; sustainability leadership trainings; public presentations; sponsorship of related events and affiliate support to people from over 30 countries. Our events vary from 1-day to 6-months.
Explore a Residency at Asheville Institute
The Ashevillage Institute (AVI) is an emerging urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions in action. AVI is located in a cluster of houses in a neighborhood a few blocks from downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
We want enthusiastic, super responsible, skilled people who are great at living collectively, have a skill-set and passion to help develop AVI, and support the season's programs (while participating in them for free). There will be about 7-10 residents. Each person will be responsible for paying their own living expenses (link), plus contributing about 10-15 hours/week in areas such as gardening, carpentry, administration, organization, workshop support, food coordination, etc. The ideal commitment is from March thru October, with the possibility of staying longer and/or becoming part of AVI's core team. AVI is both a private home, as well as an educational center...To keep things balanced, AVI's public events (link to event page) are concentrated into the last four days of every month.
ECO Consultants
"... The Eco Consultants Association is a division of the Asheville Board of
Realtors and is comprised of Realtors™ from various companies who are working together to advance the sustainability of real estate in Western North Carolina...."
NC HealthyBuilt Homes
"....is a voluntary, statewide green building certification program supported by the North Carolina Solar Center, the State Energy Office, Home Builder Associations, and other professional building organizations...."
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."
"Our main goal is to educate homeowners, builders and architects on the benefits of:"
* creating energy efficient buildings
* increased use of alternative energy sources
* sustainable development
* using green building materials
* decreasing use of natural resources
* preserving topsoil and trees
* reducing storm water runoff
Earthtone Builders
"... is a leading 'green building' company located near Asheville, NC. We specialize in building high quality, environmentally friendly homes that are both beautiful and innovative...."
The EcoBuilders
"..We are committed to customer service, quality construction, and the environment. We build affordable, aesthetically pleasing, efficient homes for our clients with honesty, integrity, and punctuality...."
ThinkGreenBuilding
"...we are simply passionate about conscious, artful building, something we've come to label "green building" for the lack of a better term. If you're thinking about, talking about, or doing something that seems to fit that phrase, we want to know about it. If we can't help, we may know someone who can...."
Green Building Products
Earthpaint
".... was founded by Tom Rioux, a seasoned expert in paints and plasters who fell severely ill from the toxins in the paints he was exposed to. After years of recovery, Tom decided it was imperative to see if non-toxic paint could be made that was as good, or better than conventionally made paints. It has been his passion ever since...." Interesting article on "How to Finish Concrete Countertops with Natural Resins"
Discover the Bliss of Alternative Building Methods: Cob
Click on each of the dozens of categories to the left to uncover what makes the Asheville area so vital, so intriguing and so, well, UTTERLY BLISSFUL!
Warren WIlson College... some prototypically-built 'Eco Buildings"
Inside Eco-Dorm "...Warren Wilson College's environmentally constructed student dormitory built with sustainable and environmentally friendly practices..."
Inside Orr Cottage "...Warren Wilson College's environmentally constructed LEED certified building built with sustainable and environmentally friendly practices..."
Green Houses for Sale
EcoHouse Realty
"... EcoHouse Inc. proudly introduces West Asheville's coolest new Green Community, the Cottages and Treehouses at Peace Lane. Located near bustling, eclectic downtown West Asheville and river parks, "Peace Lane" offers features you just can't find anywhere else in town (like the central organic community garden and walkways). Cottages, treehouses, and garden homes will all be certified Green with inspiring architecture by Allison-Ramsey Architects, Inc. Crafted by The EcoBuilders, Inc., Asheville's premier green builder in partnership with Deltec Homes, Inc. Prices starting in the low $300,000s...."
Asheville’s First Green Garden Community "...
Designed and crafted by EcoBuilders. Prices starting in the mid-$300s.
Introducing the EcoBuilders’ first Green Garden community! Located just above the French Broad River in hip West Asheville, these eight traditional homes exhibit the craftsmanship and care that define the EcoBuilders’ work. Features include solar hot water, rainwater harvesting, certified Healthy-Built and Energy Star construction, and cool designer finishes and fixtures. Enjoy the paths to the central garden and pagoda, where you can pick a tune or picnic with the neighbors...."
EcoConcepts Gaia Community
"a sustainable green building community in West Asheville" This looks like it's still in the planning stages... but worth checking back now and then for possible progress.
EarthBagBuilding.com
"... Building with earthbags (sometimes called sandbags) is both old and new. Sandbags have long been used, particularly by the military, for creating strong, protective barriers, or for flood control. The same reasons that make them useful for these applications carry over to creating housing. Since the walls are so substantial, they resist all kinds of severe weather (or even bullets) and also stand up to natural calamities such as earthquakes and floods. They can be erected simply and quickly with readily available components, for very little money. Earthbag building fills a unique niche in the quest for sustainable architecture. The bags can be filled with local, natural materials, which lowers the embodied energy commonly associated with the manufacture and transportation of building materials. The fill material is generally of mineral composition and is not subject to decomposition (even when damp), attractive to vermin, or burnable...in other word it is extremely durable. The fill material is generally completely non-toxic and will not offgas noxious fumes into the building...."
Endless Suppy Company
"... serves the construction industry, focusing on "green building" and LEED certified construction projects. Working with builders and architects, Endless Supply seeks out construction solutions using renewable resources, including a revolutionary new soy-based insulation product. Endless Supply distributes and installs the BioBased Systems soy-based foam insulation...."
GreenHomeBuilding.com
"... wide range of information related to sustainable architecture and natural building available at this site... an example of natural building... the earthbag house that served as our home in Southern Colorado for many years. A description of how we built it, with many pictures, can be found in the natural building section, under earthbag building..." Site includes a truly useful blog which covers such topics as:
