JULY 16, 2009 ISSUE
A Green End To App Summer
BREMCO Hosts GreenSmart Festival at ASU July 25
For years, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Cooperative (BREMCO) has sponsored An Appalachian Summer’s festival finale concert—a celebration of the month-long music and arts series that culminates annual with a performance by a nationally renowned performer, followed by a fireworks show.
This year, the inaugural GreenSmart Festival at ASU’s Durham Park will precede App Summer’s final show featuring chart-topping rocker Kenny Loggins at the Holmes Convocation Center. The park is located across Rivers Street from the Holmes Center.
The GreenSmart Festival is a free, fun and informative event taking place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., where the public can learn about energy efficiency from displays focusing on conservation and environmental concerns. Games, activities and inflatables will be available for kids, and families are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and a picnic, or purchase dinner at the park.
Local acoustic roots music band Southern Exposure will provide live music at the GreenSmart Festival courtesy of the band’s solar-powered public address system.
“We’re trying to help members save energy,” said Renee Whitener, BREMCO’s director of public relations. “We’re hoping to see a lot of folks at the event. It’s going to be a fun, educational, affordable afternoon for the family.”
According to Whitener, BREMCO will have a booth at the GreenSmart Festival where members can pick up coupons for compact fluorescent lamps (light bulbs). Whitener said that the lamps are 75 percent more efficient than normal incandescent bulbs, lasting up to 10 times as long.
“What we’re trying to do now is find simple, effective measures to help customers save money in their homes,” said Whitener.
BREMCO’s GreenSmart family of programs is designed to help its members save energy and money. On August 20, 2007, North Carolina became the first state in the Southeast to sign into law the North Carolina Energy Legislation (SB3). The law promotes the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency through the implementation of a Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS). GreenSmart will also help BREMCO to meet the state-mandated goals for renewable energy and energy efficiency during the next 10 years.
For more information on the GreenSmart Festival at ASU, click to www.BlueRidgeemc.com.
Participating GreenSmart Festival Exhibitors
Dozens of High Country businesses, nonprofits and programs—everything from construction companies and farms, to recycling boosters and retail outlets—will be on hand during Blue Ridge Electric Membership Cooperative’s GreenSmart Festival at ASU’s Durham Park on Saturday, July 25. Below is a full list of scheduled participants.
Blue Ridge Energy Works, LLC
Eco-Green, LLC
Institute for Sustainable Development
Caldwell Community College
Building Performance Engineering
Scott Brothers Heating and Air, Inc.
T-Square Solar Solutions
Green Horizon Innovators
WAMY Community Action Agency
Weatherization Assistance Program
ASU Sustainable Energy Society
ASU Recycling Program
Watauga County Recycling Program
Appalachian Initiative for Renewable Energy (AIRE)
High Country Energy Solutions
Mountain Keepers
Green Mother Goods
Music on the Mountaintop
State Energy Office
Zydeco Moon Organic Farm
Sunny Day Homes, Inc.
Cooperative Extension Service (Watauga office)
Mountaineer Sheet Metal
Home Energy Solutions, Inc.
Enertia Building Systems, Inc.
New River Building Supply/Guardian Fiberglass
ASU Energy Center
Western North Carolina Renewable Energy Initiative
Community Interest
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