Discover the Bliss of Asheville's Recycling and Sustainable Materials and Energy Efforts!

See also
Permaculture
Green Products
Alternative Housing
Green Building

The Asheville area is emerging as a leader in the search for viable alternative sustainable energy sources, including such innovations as recycling used restaurant oil as a replacement for diesel fuel (even for runing a microbrewery!) ... , and the use of landfill gases to power the needs of some small business.

BioDiesel: Recycling Restaurant Waste Vegetable Oil as Diesel Fuel

According to Blue Ridge Biofuels, "... Biodiesel is a cleaner burning renewable alternative to petroleum diesel fuel. Contrary to popular belief, no modification is necessary to use biodiesel in your diesel vehicle. Biodiesel can also replace the home heating oil (fuel oil) in your home furnace. This is known as BioHeat...."

Blue Ridge Biofuels Cooperative
"...is a community owned business with the objective of bringing education and locally produced clean burning biodiesel to Asheville and Western North Carolina. Our Biodiesel is produced from area restaurants' waste vegetable oil and burns cleanly in any diesel engine..." Blue Ridge Biofuels maintains an extensive links list of nationwide biofuel websites.

Near Bio
"... Complete, verified, daily updated biodiesel stations and directions from your cell phone!..."

Biodiesel Now
"... Biodiesel is a vegetable oil-based fuel that runs in unmodified diesel engines - cars, buses, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, and oil home heating units. Biodiesel is usually made from soy or canola oil, and can also be made from recycled fryer oil (yes, from McDonalds or your local Chinese restaurant) or an other vegetable oil or animal tallow...."

Alternative Fueling Station Locator

High Country Biofuels Cooperative, Inc.
".... is a cooperative association of community members in the High Country dedicated to making biodiesel fuel available to interested citizens in our region. In addition, the cooperative is engaged in educating the general public about the benefits, both economic and environmental, of this readily available technology. Meetings are held regularly, typically at the Agricultural Extension Center in Boone...."

Piedmont Biofuels
"... We make, market, and sell biodiesel at our Industrial location within 100 miles of Pittsboro, NC; We consult on setting up biodiesel businesses (plants and stations); We provide fuel maker and lab tech training; We run a teaching/learning biodiesel plant and farm at our Coop location in Moncure, NC where worker-members can make their own fuel from locally collected vegetable oil; Our farm is registered with the USDA for oilseed crop research and market gardening; We teach classes and workshops on biodiesel and straight vegetable oil; We lobby the NC legislature, as well as our national representatives on behalf of biodiesel and renewable energy; We have an intern program that allows people to live on site and learn about all facets of our operations...."

Use of Landfill Gas as Energy Source for Small Enterprises such as Crafts and Horticulture

Energy Exchange Renewable Energy Center
"... The mission of EnergyXchange is to demonstrate the responsible use of landfill gas as an energy source for small enterprise in craft and horticulture, and to meet local energy needs..." This is a fascinating place to visit, about an hour and a half north of Asheville (map), and well worth the trip! As of this writing, their hours are Monday-Friday 9-4 pm and Saturday 9-12 noon, but be sure to check your website before your embark on this journey. Might even want to give them a call. Email us of any updates, as well.

Alternative and Renewable Energy in Western North Carolina

Sundance Power Systems
"... Renewable energy is at the heart of the Sundance mission. We take pride in designing systems that are user-friendly, reliable and code compliant. Our technical expertise includes solar, wind and hydro electric, as well as solar hot water and radiant floor heating...." Located in Mars Hill, NC, 20 minutes north of Asheville.

Organizations

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
works on several fronts to push for clean air, clean water and cleaner, safer energy technologies.

Sustainable Technology in Action Around the World

Journey to Forever
"... a pioneering expedition by a small, mobile NGO (Non-Government Organization) involved in environment and rural development work, starting from Hong Kong and travelling 40,000 kilometres through 26 countries in Asia and Africa to Cape Town, South Africa. Our route will take us away from the cities and populated districts to remote and inaccessible areas (usually also the least developed and poorest areas), where we'll be studying and reporting on environmental conditions and working for local NGOs on rural development projects in local communities. The focus will be on trees, soil and water, sustainable farming, sustainable technology, and family nutrition. The aim is to help people fight poverty and hunger, and to help sustain the environment we all must share...."