November 9, 2009

Scientists at the National Climatic Data Center have projected a high probability of a return to drought conditions for our region. In addition, they have stated that future rainfall is more apt to occur in high volumes but in limited areas. The combination of those factors, plus ongoing development practices that favor rapid channeling of rainwater off of residential and commercial property, would lead to further reduction in groundwater supplies as well as increase erosion, the #1 source of NC water pollution.

Panelists

Richard Heim, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center

Ted Campbell, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality

Carter Cone, North Carolina State University, Water Quality Group

Bill Eaker, Land of Sky Regional Council

[in absentia] Robert Sweeney, BRSI Water Quality & Resources

Presentations

Richard Heim

Ted Campbell

Carter Cone

Robert Sweeney

Audio

Green Monday 9 Audio
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Video

Videographer/Editor: Peter Brezny of PurpleCat Networks, www.PurpleCat.net

October 19, 2009

An important conversation on advances in sustainability measurement throughout the region and through BRSI’s own Sustainability Indicators Project (SIP).

Panelists

Michael Leahy, Sustainability Coordinator for the Asheville Hub’s Asheville Buncombe Sustainability Community Council

Bill Hargrove, Ecologist, Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center of the U.S. Forestry Service’s Southern Research Station

Ty Hallock, Founding Partner and CEO, TopFloorStudio

Dave Brown, Executive Director, Asheville Hub Alliance

Ron Townley, Director of Local Government Services, Land of Sky Regional Council

Drew Kitt, Leader, BRSI’s Sustainability Indicators Project, and President, Renewable Logistics, Inc.

Presentations

Michael Leahey

Bill Hargrove

Ty Hallock

Dave Brown

Audio

Green Monday 8 Audio
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Video

Videographer/Editor: Peter Brezny of PurpleCat Networks, www.PurpleCat.net

June 8, 2009

“How does air quality fare in Western North Carolina, in light of atmospheric aerosol loading and other atmospheric pollutants?”

“What impact do atmospheric aerosols and pollutants have on the region’s ecology and economy, and on human health?”

“What can be done to reduce atmospheric aerosols and pollutants, and to mitigate their effects?”

Panelists

Dr. John A. Allen, Jr., Chief Scientist and Director, Atmospheric Science, Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute, and former Deputy Chief, Astrochemistry Branch, NASA/Goddard Flight Center

Jessica Blunden, Scientific Editor, STG Inc. at National Climatic Data Center

Paul Muller, Regional Supervisor, Division of Air Quality, North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources

Presentations

Jessica Blunden

Paul Muller

Paul A. Allen, Jr.

Audio

Green Monday 7 Audio
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Video

Videographer/Editor: Peter Brezny of PurpleCat Networks, www.PurpleCat.net

May 11, 2009

“How can we make our farms, forests, and land more sustainable?”

“What is the relationship between our natural environment and our urban communities?”

“Which changes to the built environment have a negative impact on the ability of our land to produce, and how can we grow and gather more from our land without destroying it?”

Panelists

John Ager, Owner Hickory Nut Gap Farm

Linda Giltz, Regional Land Use Planner, Land-of-Sky Regional Council

Leah Mathews, Associate Professor of Economics, University of North Carolina, Asheville

Joe-Ann McCoy, Director, Germplasm Repository, Bent Creek Institute

Presentations

Linda Giltz

Leah Mathews

Videos

Videographer/Editor: Charles Elmer of Wumedia, Charles@wumedia.net / http://wumedia.net/index.html.

March 30, 2009

“Which established practices would best help Western North Carolina become more sustainable, in terms of energy, the environment, and the economy?”

“Are there cities at home and abroad with lessons to teach us, despite the unique characteristics of the people and the landscape of our region?”

“Can models of success be adopted so we need not start from scratch, or adapted to our particular needs?”

Panelists

David Johnson, Board Member, Asheville Design Center; Special Advisor, Built and Natural Environment, Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute

Jim Barton, Director, Smith Mill Creek Institute

Robin Cape, City Council Member, City of Asheville

Presentation

David Johnson

Audio

Green Monday 5 Audio
Click to play or right-click to download.

Video

Videographer/Editor: Peter Brezny of PurpleCat Networks, www.PurpleCat.net

February 23, 2009

“What does sustainability look like?”

“How can we know what we need to do to achieve it?”

“What will it look like when we get there, and how will we recognize it?”

Panelists

Tilt Thompkins, Professor, School of Business, Western Carolina University

Dee Eggers, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies, University of North Carolina, Asheville

Steve Cochran, Co-Founder, Sustainability Strategies LLC

Maggie Ullman, Energy Coordinator, City of Asheville

Presentations

Tilt Thompkins

Steve Cochran

Maggie Ullman

Audio

Green Monday 4 Audio
Click to play or right-click to download.

Video

Videographer/Editor: Peter Brezny of PurpleCat Networks, www.PurpleCat.net

December 1, 2008

“What are the current and emerging Green Economy job and entrepreneurial opportunities in our region?”

“What will a Green Economy innovation network look like here?”

“What must Western North Carolina do now to jumpstart its Green Economy?”

Panelists

Russ Yelton, Executive Director, Global Institute for Sustainability Technologies at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Dan Leroy, Co-Founder, Asheville Green Opportunities

Tom Byers, Western North Carolina Marketing Director, Self-Help Ventures Fund / Self-Help Credit Union

Sandra Maxey, Director of Economic Development, Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute

Presentations

Russ Yelton

Dan Leroy

Sandy Maxey

Audio

Green Monday 3 Audio
Click to play or right-click to download.

Video

Videographer/Editor: Peter Brezny of PurpleCat Networks, www.PurpleCat.net

October 27, 2008

“Is clean, renewable energy ready for prime time?”

“Why not build another nuclear power plant in Western North Carolina?”

“What keeps us from moving forward with clean, renewable energy more aggressively?”

Panelists

Martha Thompson, Manager of Community Relations, Western Region, Progress Energy

John Wilson, Research Director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Michael Shore, Founding Partner and President, FLS (Forward Looking Sustainable) Energy

Paul Braese, Director of Facilities Management, Warren Wilson College

John Myers, Co-Project Director, Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community

Ned Ryan Doyle, Coordinator, Southern Energy & Environment Expo; Producer/Host, Our Southern Community, WNCW 88.7 FM; Director, R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. Project

Presentations

John Wilson

Martha Thompson

Michael Shore

Paul Braese

John Myers

Videos

[googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5121439846837536370&hl=en[/googlevideo] [googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6211218674385748994&hl=en[/googlevideo] [googlevideo]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6910174464197324726&hl=en[/googlevideo]

Videographer: David Bonyun of Broad Reach Video, david@broadreachvideo.com / www.broadreachvideo.com

Editor: Kim Celentano of Career Corner Digital, kim@careercorner.tv / www.careercorner.tv

September 29, 2008

“How can we best communicate sustainability options to decision-makers and the general public?”

Panelists

Andrew (Drew) Jones, Program Director, The Sustainability Institute

Rebecca Bowe, “The Green Scene,” Mountain Xpress

Ned Ryan Doyle, Coordinator, Southern Energy & Environment Expo; Producer/Host, Our Southern Community, WNCW 88.7 FM; Director, R.E.A.L.I.T.Y. Project

Presentations

Drew Jones

Rebecca Bowe

Videos

Videographer: David Bonyun of Broad Reach Video, david@broadreachvideo.com / www.broadreachvideo.com

Editor: Kim Celentano of Career Corner Digital, kim@careercorner.tv / www.careercorner.tv

Green Mondays is held from 3-5pm in the Board Room of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.

Our Next Green Mondays is February 27, 2012.

Through its Green Mondays series, the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute shares information, solicits new ideas, and develops consensus in pursuit of sustainable community and economic development.  

The goals of Green Mondays are to provide information to regional leaders, citizens and students, and to solicit ideas for new initiatives for more sustainable community and economic development. While not designed as a consensus-building event, discussions at Green Mondays can lead to a convergence of opinions. Discussions started at Green Monday are often continued in other forums.

Green Monday discussions start with short presentations by members of a panel of experts. The floor is then open to questions and comments from the community. The proceedings are videotaped, and along with any visuals panelists have provided, posted on our website. A summary of each Green Monday discussion also appears in Knowledge Into Action, BRSI’s monthly electronic newsletter.

We invite and encourage you to join us and take part in the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute’s Green Mondays. To receive announcements of upcoming Green Mondays, contact us to be added to our e-mail list.

Green Mondays are a monthly community discussion of an aspect of sustainability of interest to Western North Carolina. They are organized by the Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute funded by a grant from Progress Energy, hosted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Purplecat Networks provides additional technical support.

Special Thanks to all the Green Mondays sponsors: