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Case Study - Helpmate, Inc.

Helpmate, Inc. is an emergency shelter for abused women and their children. They rely on donors for much of their funding and they need to save money wherever possible.

Helpmate Inc. Case Study

One Hundred Energy Audits Completed for Public Facilities

Waste Reduction Partners recently completed 100 energy audits for community colleges, K-12 schools and local government under contract with the State Energy Office. WRP engineers conducted these audits across 26 western North Carolina counties in fiscal year 2009. Forty-three assessments were made for community colleges and 57 were conducted at local governments and K-12 school systems.

WRP Helps Givens Estate Use Water More Efficiently

In spring 2009, LOSRC's Waste Reduction Partners (WRP) program completed an extensive water-efficiency assessment of one of the largest retirement communities in Asheville. This 250-acre complex contains a variety of housing options for the 762 residents, as well as a health center and activity center. The WRP assessment team consisted of four retired professionals, along with the facility's project manager. Funding for this assessment, as well as other water-efficiency assessments, was provided by the Water Resources Department of the City of Asheville.

Military Contractor Steps Up Recycling

WRP Solid Waste Manager, Tom McCullough, worked with Kearfott Guidance and Navigation Corp., a 420-employee military parts contractor in Swannanoa. Mr. McCullough helped Kearfott's new Environmental Administrator to establish a recycling collection program for scrap metals, fiber waste, and containers, using two different vendors. Kearfott is already receiving revenues from this newly established program. WRP scientists, Elaine Marten and Parke Flick, also reviewed Kearfott's hazardous waste and wastewater treatment programs. A report was issued to Kearfott on addressing waste minimization techniques and also identified additional service providers to more cost effectively recycle and manage hazardous wastes.

WNC Wood Waste Biomass Study

In 2007, WRP released its study entitled, "Wood Waste Biomass Supply Survey for Western North Carolina." The survey showed that over 350,000 tons per year of wood waste is available within a 100-mile radius of Asheville, North Carolina. WRP staff compiled results of over 435 surveys that were mailed to wood waste generators in Western North Carolina, including logging, sawmills, pulp mills, land clearing, wood product manufacturers, wood processors, and county landfills. This information will allow business developers to assess new product opportunities and fuel uses for these wastes. The information will be important in addressing the upcoming wood pallet landfill ban in 2009 and the state's renewable energy portfolio standard.

Green and Micro Chemistry Course Development

WRP scientist, Al Glatz, created a workshop to demonstrate Green and Micro Chemistry techniques for middle and high school chemistry teachers. Dr. Glatz first presented the hands-on workshop at the annual Department of Public Instruction Teacher's Conference in New Bern in July 2006. Since that date, three more chemistry teachers' workshops were presented at the NCSU Science House, Appalachian State University and the Western RESA. WRP hopes to support another training event at East Carolina University in 2010. The effort is part of a School Lab Clean-out Initiatives project managed by the North Carolina Hazardous Waste Section.

Persistence Pays Off - Finding Homes for Solid Wastes

WRP assessors assist businesses with finding appropriate recycling service providers, waste processors, collection and material handling logistics, and program follow-through. The following are examples of selected efforts with WNC businesses in 2007:

WRP engineers have been working with an automotive carpet manufacturer in McDowell County to find more cost-effective options to recycle large volumes of textile waste, auto linings, and floor mat scrap. WRP staff helped the manufacturer recycle and process 120 tons of waste for use in energy recovery. The broker will utilize four truck loads per month and hopes the demand will grow.
WRP Assessor, Jan Foster, conducted a solid waste reduction assessment and developed implementation strategies for a retail furniture outlet. This retailer desires to expand and improve its current cardboard recycling program. It is considering baling cardboard to gain better revenues and to include other materials such as plastic films for recycling.
WRP assessors worked with a locally owned manufacturer in Woodfin to find a market for 24 tons per year of metal strapping from the company's shipping and receiving departments. WRP has previously provided this same manufacturer with water and energy efficiency assessments and recommendations.
WRP scientists, Jerome Chambliss and Jose Gonzalez, worked with a ceramics manufacturer in Henderson County to address the potential reclamation of several by-products. The company produces 12 tons per week of de-watered ceramic slurry mixture that it hopes to reclaim and reuse. WRP assessors provided their technical recommendations on the project. WRP also investigated recycling markets for dried edge trimming waste of more than 10 tons per month.

Follow-up Energy Study Proves Success

WRP Special Projects Coordinator, Wayne Rumble, conducted a follow-up study of previous WRP clients who received energy efficiency assessments in late 2007. From a sample of 30 clients, 19 responding clients reported an average implementation rate of 46 percent of the recommended energy efficiency measures developed by WRP. An increase was noted in the implementation rate for public and institutional sectors over previous years. Top energy conservation measures implemented were 1) improve HVAC maintenance, 2) repair compressed air leaks, 3) upgrade lighting to T-8 lamps with electronic ballasts, 4) improvements to building envelope, 5) turn off unnecessary lighting, including delamping vending machines.

City of Asheville Promotes Water Ethic with WRP Help

As part of the City of Asheville Water Resources Department's commitment to foster a water efficiency effort among their customer base, the WRP team has been contracted to perform water efficiency assessments and outreach to Asheville's large water users.

WRP Assists ASU Plemmons Student Union Center

WRP Assessors, Bob Gilbreath, Russ Jordan, and Terry Albrecht, worked with Appalachian State University's Facilities Management and Plemmons Student Union Center staff to assess potential energy-saving opportunities. WRP determined that the 106,000 square foot student union facility had an energy cost of $3.96/square foot. Mr. Gilbreath conducted follow-up visits with facility staff and recommended efficiency measures to save $45,000 per year. More importantly, Mr. Gilbreath's report provided guidance on how to begin a measurement and verification program to track existing energy use performance and monitor improvements. The report should be used to institute energy management improvement programs that can be utilized throughout the ASU campus.

Student Outreach with Brevard College

WRP staff, David Lowles, Art Lins, and John Roethle undertook a special project to create an Energy Assessment project with Professor Bob Cabin and his students at Brevard College. With WRP mentoring, students assessed energy consumption at three representative buildings on campus. Students focused on lighting efficiency improvements and presented recommendations for more than $31,426 of cost savings across the campus. The findings will be utilized by Brevard College's administration and an outsourced facility management company.

WRP Assists Municipality with Stormwater - Phase II

Over the past several years, the Land-of-Sky Regional Council has been assisting their member governments address new stormwater quality requirements of the Clean Water Act's Phase II Stormwater Program.