Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute

BRSI: major focus on Energy since early 2011

Multitude of drivers: Climate change Air quality Job creation etc.

Stats you’ve heard before:

WNC spends ~$2 billion/year importing energy (LOSRC) .

Buildings account for 40% of U.S. primary energy consumption (USGBC).

ABCCM Green Jobs Training Programs – need for market development and job creation.

Too numerous to name

From WNCGBC’s NeighborSaves Program

To the WNC Clean Energy Economy Project

From Progress Energy’s incentive

programs To ABCCM Green Jobs Training

WNC a clean energy leader (NCSEA): Second largest clean energy industry

population in North Carolina. Second largest population of energy

efficient home builders. Third largest industry cluster in North

Carolina is located in Buncombe County.

Underutilized programs: For several of Progress Energy’s efficiency

and conservation program, WNC has the lowest participation rate in their entire 3-state territory

Convene, Catalyze and Create

Connect residents, businesses and industry to existing resources.

Increase accessibility to existing resources.

Catalyze and create new programs and resources where needed.

Energy Action Council

First convening: need for a regional focus on Marketing/public outreach Financing

Finance Summit

Green Restaurant Initiative Partnership with Asheville Independent Restaurants

to build Asheville into a Green Dining Destination. N.C. Green Business Fund ARRA grant to support

upfits on 17 AIR member restaurants. CO2 reduction of 140 tons/year. Nearly 13 billion BTU saved/year Solar thermal, lighting retrofits, HVAC

improvements, etc.

Residential Energy Efficiency Initial steps to create a program building

regional market demand for residential efficiency.

Partnership with UNCA Student Energy Internship Program through Energy Office ARRA funding.

Focus on public outreach/education and developing financing mechanisms.

Outreach through business/industry organizations and partnerships

Tie-ins with BRSI’s forthcoming Eco-Tourism initiative: hospitality, lodging and tourism.

……………………..