Did you know that in the US nearly 40% of food is wasted, clogging our landfills and costing us over $408 billion annually?! The City of Asheville is working hard to think of solutions to reduce our waste and save our food. The City of Asheville’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Sanitation and Buncombe County, [...]
At the June 8 City Council meeting, City Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract with environmental strategy firm AECOM to update the City’s Sustainability Management Plan into a Municipal Climate Action Plan [MCAP]. The purpose of the Municipal Climate Action Plan is to update the [...]
Here are some ways our Asheville community can celebrate Earth Month locally — leading up to Earth Day on April 22! Participate in Food Waste Reduction Month — Asheville City Council proclaimed April as Food Waste Reduction Month. More than 57,000 tons of food waste is generated in Buncombe County [...]
This week, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer signed a proclamation declaring April “Food Waste Reduction Month.” The City’s Office of Sustainability is working with our local Food Waste Solutions group alongside other innovative cities in the Southeast to develop and implement food waste initiatives. This “Food Matters” project is facilitated through [...]
The City and the community have demonstrated leadership in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change locally but we recognize that climate change is a global issue. Due to this complexity the City continues to advocate for clean energy and climate mitigation policy at all levels of government and we are excited to [...]
On Jan. 28, 2020, Asheville City Council passed a Resolution Endorsing Declaration of a Climate Emergency and Emergency Mobilization Effort to Restore a Safe Climate. You can read a copy of the resolution at this link. The City’s Office of Sustainability would like to provide a community update on work related to [...]
Asheville residents can look upon the new year with optimism. Together, we’ve weathered a pandemic and a vaccine will be available this year. Even so, the City of Asheville’s response to COVID-19 will continue in the new year, in coordination with the state of North Carolina and Buncombe County. Residents can look forward to advances in [...]
Dec. 12 marks the five-year anniversary of the world coming together to sign on to the Paris Agreement and the City of Asheville is marking the moment by committing to a national mobilization for a clean energy economy and centering their own operations in pursuit of climate action. In doing so, Asheville joins over 1,000 [...]
The City of Asheville recently “flipped the switch” on its first solar energy production site at the newly renovated ART Transit Station, 49 Coxe Ave. After several weeks of being online, the City is pleased to share energy production data with the community. The real-time information shows power [...]
The Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment (SACEE) will hold a virtual public meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 28. The City of Asheville declared a climate emergency when City Council approved and adopted Resolution 20-25 on Jan. 29, as endorsed by SACEE. In declaring this emergency, the City has [...]
On Oct. 1, the City of Asheville “flipped the switch” on the photovoltaic array, commonly known as solar panels, at the recently renovated ART Transit Station on Coxe Avenue. This is the first City facility to include renewable energy production in a renovation or new construction project. The City is under contract or is in [...]
To Asheville residents using paper bags for their fall leaves these past two years, we say thank you and keep up the good work! We’d encourage everyone else to follow their example. Paper bags cost about the same as plastic ones. They’re compostable and more eco-friendly. Below is a guide on how to use them effectively, with [...]
The City of Asheville has a strong record and long-standing commitment to sustainability. That’s why Mayor Esther Manheimer signed on to a letter sent by Climate Mayors to Congressional leaders urging bold action to protect our planet and build a more just economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Because only bold action can tackle [...]
The City of Asheville’s Office of Sustainability will begin working alongside other innovative cities in the Southeast to develop and implement food waste initiatives. The City was selected as a participant in the Natural Resources Defense Council Food Matters Project. The Food Matters project partners with cities [...]
On July 28, 2020, Asheville City Council approved the construction of onsite solar systems at five (5) City facilities. The five Asheville City sites are Wall Street Parking Deck, Burton Street Community Center, Shiloh Recreation Center, Fire Station 10 and Fire Station 11. Collectively, this project will install a combined total of 259 kW of solar [...]
We are in a period of uncertainty, anxiety, and confusion. How do we come together to support each other, stay productive, and stay safe? How do we continue to advance our values of environmental and social justice? With the uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is becoming more apparent that sustainability is not just [...]
Beginning the week of June 1, the last phase of the ART Transit Station renovations will include the installation of the City’s first photovoltaic array, commonly referred to as solar panels. In all, 180 solar panels will be installed on the south-facing side of the passenger canopy to create a system designed to produce over [...]