Clean Air Awards Announced

Since 2004, the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency (WNCRAQA) has been giving special recognition to local businesses and other organizations that have gone above and beyond air quality rules and regulations to implement voluntary, innovative programs that reduce air pollution in our region.  In 2012, with the assistance of the Agency’s Advisory Committee, the awards program was updated and expanded to include more detailed guidelines and generate more interest from the local community.  This year, WNCRAQA is presenting a Clean Air Excellence Award to Asheville Housing Authority.

Asheville Housing Authority

The Asheville Housing Authority was certified for accreditation by the Sustainable Performance Institute (www.sustainable-performance.org) as a sustainable affordable housing provider in 2013. The Institute partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a customized accreditation program for public housing authorities and other grantees. Asheville Housing Authority was one of 40 agencies and companies from around the United States that went through the voluntary process of achieving this unique recognition, which provided support to internalize best practices and then validated that the applicant has institutionalized the systems, processes and program management to deliver best practices in green building, and realize portfolio-wide improvements over time.

The Asheville Housing Authority was accredited in part based on the significant commitment it has made over the last several years to energy efficiency.   The implementation of an energy performance contract with Siemens has reduced baseline energy and water consumption significantly, with electricity down 16%, natural gas down 24%, and water consumption down 50%.

Specific Examples related to the contract include:

• Installation of electronic ballasts and T8 lamps in all fluorescent fixtures in hallways, stairwells, common areas and other appropriate locations. 
• Replacement of more than 13,000 incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents.
• Replacement of more than 7,000 windows with low-E, high efficiency windows.
• Replacement of older heating units with new energy efficient natural gas heating equipment, duct sealing and insulation, and new thermostats.
• Replacement of older refrigerators with new energy efficient refrigerators.
• Installation of a solar thermal hot water heating system for 114 affordable units at Bartlett Arms.
• Major energy efficiency renovations of Aston Park Tower and the W.C. Reid Center, now called Arthur R. Edington Education and Career Center.  At Aston Park Tower, renovations included removal of the exterior building envelope down to the structural concrete and metal studs, new energy efficient windows, exterior doors, insulation, vapor barrier and exterior sheathing, and the installation of high efficiency laundry equipment in the three laundry rooms.  At the Edington Center, renovations included replacement of the old gas boiler with a geothermal water-based heat pump system that provides cooling as well as heat and includes 35 geothermal wells in the parking lot behind the Center.  Energy efficient lighting was installed throughout the building with motion sensor controls and the bathrooms fixtures were upgraded with Water Sense or better fixtures and equipment. A new reflective membrane roof and insulation meeting current code standards over the gym and auditorium (which had old black tar paper roofing) has been installed.
• Other recent and ongoing projects include replacement of the antiquated boiler at Altamont Apartments with a new high efficiency boiler and thermostatic control system; upgrading all laundry rooms with high efficiency equipment, and replacement of the water delivery system at Livingston Heights to reduce leaks.

Annual emissions reductions with the energy efficiency upgrades are estimated by Siemens to be:

• 3,865,287 pounds of Carbon Dioxide
• 4,711 pounds of Sulfur Dioxide
• 4,156 pounds of Nitrogen Oxides
• Emissions reductions are equivalent to removing 321 cars from the road each year.

The awards will be presented at the beginning of the WNCRAQA Board Meeting on July 10 at 4 pm at the Buncombe County Planning and Development Board Room located at 30 Valley Street, Asheville, NC  28801.  For additional information, please contact the Agency at 828-250-6777, wncair@buncombecounty.org, or visit the website at www.wncairquality.org.