Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog: Blue Ridge Parkway- Asheville- The LEED Parkway Destination Center -

Eco-Stewards' GREEN LEARNING TOUR

Have you ever had a chance to experience- first-hand - a Gold Rated LEED certified building ?

If you haven't maybe you will guess how much I was looking forward to our visit to the Asheville's new Leed Certified Destination Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I could hardly wait to talk with the Park Rangers about their experience of and in the building. 

Like me, you may have been over-flowing with questions:

How does it  feel  each day?

What is the human experience where walls stand in saw-tooth formation, (see photo)

where interior light respects the movement of the sun ,and the temperature is always comfortable ?

What is the daily experience  when a green roof shelters you?  How are the native plants doing atop it?  How much water from the roof is being used?  Are the rain chains and detention ponds working as hoped?  

I wanted to know all about the  experience of living with cutting edge of energy technology.

What is the response to the integrated energy optimization strategies designed into their workplace?

And what can this mean for future stakeholders?

Finally, here we were face-to-face with a very impressive building, possibly even a work of art. Lord. Aeck. Sargent Architectural Firm  the design firm, describes the impression this way:

" Nestled into a hill,  the building evokes a ‘tree house' atmosphere that allows visitors to experience the majestic vistas..."  

 Features: Radiant heated flooring could have something to do with that.  The building also uses an energy recovery unit to transfer heat from air exhausted out of the building to air entering the building in the winter. Indeed, the integrated energy optimization strategies designed into Asheville's Parkway Destination Center are appreciated, it seems. 

Focus: Energy efficiency-the design on Asheville's parkway Destination Center can reduce energy use by up to 75%.  Even on a quick detour to wash hands that focus was evident where lights are controlled with occupancy sensors. Daylight harvesting coupled with efficient lighting can reduce lighting loads by 78 percent with orientation and external overhangs and shading devices coming into play.  And, even though the skies were stormy the day of our visit,  daylight brightened the interior. (This summer, the same overhands block the sun to prevent overheating of the walls.) 

But how do the daily occupants respond to the not-so-obvious features? 

 "I was not a ‘believer' about this LEED building,"
   one Ranger told me.

"But it fooled me," he beamed. 

"Unlike in some of the other facilities, here I am never cold," confided another, also smiling. 

 YOUR Turn: If you haven't had a chance to experience a LEED Certified building, and you are coming to Beautiful Asheville, NC, here's your opportunity. 

  A few features you may not want to  miss: 

•-          the sun-facing Trombe walls .  These are constructed  from material that can act as a thermal mass combined with an air space, insulated glazing and they actually vent and help to circulate fresh air in the building.
•-           the obvious use of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials.
•-           the optimized passive solar design
•-          natural ventilation and windows that open if so desired
•-          your own interview with one of the Rangers. 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable  world you can create today and tomorrow!. .........................    .............with

OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL from Eco Certified ©Real Estate Consultants. Contact janeAnne@janeAnne.com or  give a call at 828-255-1082 . Design your dream. Give us your checklist .

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and LAND for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  Blue Ridge Parkway- Asheville- The LEED Parkway Destination Center - Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
_________________________________________________________________________________________________