Land- of- Sky Regiona l Counc il

Waste Reduction Partners’ (WRP) team of retired professionals is sharing its technical expertise with community businesses, industries, and insti-tutions. This volunteer team has helped organi-zations reduce utility costs by $1.96 million in fiscal year 2006. The WRP volunteers provided technical assistance to 111 organizations in Western and Southern Piedmont NC this year. WRP volunteers helped businesses reduce and recycle 18,700 tons of solid waste and recom-mended energy efficiency strategies to save more than 26.7 million kWh per year of electric-ity. For the year, the WRP team provided more than 12,100 hours of technical assistance in 23 NC counties.

Assisting Business to Find Markets for Wastes Led by Solid Waste Manager, Tom McCullough, the WRP team has worked diligently with more than 45 businesses and industries to help improve their solid waste management. WRP staff helps iden-tify recycling brokers. In many cases indus-tries are exploring more cost-effective waste reduct ion strategies. The WRP teams help these cl ients evaluate value-added process-ing (better sorting, baling, crushing, shredding, - even pelletizing). The WRP staff is persistent in making the right con-nection between markets, processors, and the client. Whether the WRP assistance helps a busi-ness client confirm that its program is the most efficient, helps rejuvenate waste reduction ef-forts or helps launch a new recycling effort, WRP is there to help provide the technical guidance.

Glycerin – Re-use from Bio-Diesel Production

In February 2006, WRP scientists and engineers began working with Blue Ridge Biofuels to iden-tify reuse options for a low-grade glycerin waste

that is produced in the production of biodiesel. Blue Ridge Biofuels has begun to manufacture biodiesel and hopes to be producing at the rate of 500,000 gallons per year by the end of 2006. Approximately 50,000 gallons of glycerin waste by-product will be generated as a result. A WRP team is evaluating crude glycerin refining markets in the region that would buy or accept this by-product. WRP has also identified a local composting operation that is inter-ested in utilizing the material.

Carpet Recycling Assistance

WRP staff began working with an automotive carpet manufacturer in late FY2006 to find more cost effec-tive strategies to manage carpet scrap. WRP is tak-ing a tiered approach to help find the closest and most economical markets for the material. WRP is working with several brokers to evaluate alternative markets and processing. WRP engineers also are helping to optimize existing on-site recycling process-

ing equipment. Asheville Apartments Offer Recycling WRP staff, Arami Bolick, Jan Foster, and Tom McCullough, have been working strategically to assist and encourage apartment complexes to offer recycling services for their tenants. Be-cause the complexes are commercial business, they are not part of curb-side recycling programs offered through the City of Asheville. WRP has been instrumental in

supporting six complexes, serving 2,000 residents, to offer recycling services for their tenants. WRP staff have linked the complexes with recycling bro-kers that can provide customized, cost-effective recy-cling services. WRP also has facilitated media cover-age to recognize the recycling efforts of apartment complexes, such as Parkway Crossing Apartments. The goal of the apartment initiative is to promote the business advantages, service amenities, tenant at-traction and retention for apartments that offer recy-cling services.

7/ 1/ 05 – 6/ 30/ 06 Ac hieveme nts

BABY BOOME RS SHARE TE CHNICAL EXPE RTISE : HE LP I NG B US I NE S S E S S AVE $1 .96 MI LLI ON

P R O G R A M H I G H L I G H T S

Solid Waste Reduction 1

Business Development 2

Water Efficiency 2

Energy Efficiency 3

Pollution Prevention 4

Stormwater Management 5

WRP News 5

Services 6

Funding 6

WAS T E R E DUCT I ON P ART N E R S 2006 H I GH L I GH T S

Printed on Recycled Paper

Professional Mentors Serving Public and Private Sectors

WRP Assessor, Larry Schwake, works on a recycling processing line with area carpet manufacturer.

Special Accomplishments 7/1/05 – 6/30/06

♦Saved clients $1.96 million

♦18,769 tons of solid waste diverted from landfills

♦26.7 million kWh/year of electricity savings recom-mendations

♦13.3 million gallons/yr of water savings recommen-dations

♦Performed 111 waste/energy reduction assess-ments with business and public sector clients

♦Working in 23 WNC coun-ties

♦ Provided 12,100 hours of technical assistance

Coal Ash Products—Pilot Plant and Economic Feasibility Study:

Through an ongoing partnership of stakeholders known as the Coal Ash Products Consortium (CAP) (previously the Lightweight Aggregate Consortium), WRP staff continued providing technical support and grant funding assistance to demonstrate the feasibility of processing coal combustion ash and sludge

waste to create new products, including carbon, bottom ash, high quality fly ash, and lightweight aggregate. In fall 2005, the NCSU Mineral Research Lab in Asheville, built a pilot scale plant and separated fly ash into usable products. The pilot run was con-sidered very successful and product evaluation began. With additional funding from the NC Rural Center, the Land-of-Sky Regional Council has contracted with Ken Butcher, an engineer and business developer, to perform a marketing study and an economic feasibility analysis on the CAP project. Mr. Butcher is laying the groundwork to further demonstrate the project’s feasibility as a viable large-scale plant that could process between 100,000 and 200,000 tons of waste per year into new products. Wood Pelletizing

As a result of WRP assessors Dave Lowles and Tom McCullough’s input and facilita-tion, a Macon County lumber company is partnering with a biofuels company to create a business to pelletize approximately 50,000 tons of sawdust per year. Negotiations on this project have been on-going for several months and a business agreement is very close to being confirmed. WRP staff continues to utilize its economic analysis information to promote a centralized processing plant that would produce pellets from

a number of wood waste streams throughout the WNC area.

Latex Paint By-product Development WRP Scientist, Elaine Marten, has been working with a paint recycling company in Rutherford County to develop new uses for off-spec latex by-products. Dr. Marten has been able to develop several prototypes of landscaping stones using recycled coal-fired boiler ash bonded with the latex by-products. Colorants, design impressions, and mold shapes have also been evaluated. Hopefully client company will be inter-ested in further developing these prototypes as a recycled - product development project. Breakthrough with Bottom Ash in NC: WRP assessors have been in a continuous dialogue with Progress Energy about planning and developing reuse strategies for coal fly ash and gypsum by-products produced from the air emission scrubber recently installed at the Skyland Power Plant. In February 2006, General Shale announced the construction of a concrete block manufacturing plant in Moncure, NC, that would use bottom ash generated from Progress Energy’s coal-fired boiler sites. Almost three years ago, WRP introduced Progress Energy’s Coal Manage-ment staff to this opportunity and took them on a field trip to the General Shale plants in Elizabethton, TN. Progress Energy has since recognized the benefits and initiated programs to separate and collect bottom ash to sell to General Shale.

Page 2 Was te Reduc tion Partne rs

WAS TE B Y- PROD UCTS FE E D NE W B US I NE S S E S

CI TY OF AS HE VI LLE — PROMOTI NG WATE R E FFI CI E NCY WI TH WRP HE LP

The water-saving recommendations included strategies for these customers to reduce 13.3 million gallons per year of water use. These water efficiency strategies could save more than $117,000 per year in water, sewer, and energy. WRP engineers have placed special emphasis on estimating the energy savings that accompany hot water use reduction in applications such as laundries, dishwashers, showers, lavatories, process rinsing, etc.

In 2006 the City of Asheville’s Water Resource De-partment provided WRP a grant to conduct water efficiency assessments at commercial and industrial water customers’ site. The Waste Reduction Partners’ Water Assessment Team conducted 10 water efficiency audits in the City of Asheville service area. The clients included two motels, two private schools, one retirement cen-ter, two low income housing projects, and three non-profit organizations.

“A 2006 follow-up survey of clients receiving energy

and water use audits showed that 45 percent of

cost saving recommendations had been implemented.”

Wayne Rumble, WRP Special Projects

7/ 1/ 05 – 6/ 30/ 06

WRP Team examine alternative fuel feeds with Jackson Paper in Sylva, NC

WRP helped divert 18,769 tons from landfilling in 2006.

WRP recommended 13.3 million gallons per year of water conservation measures.

Was te Reduc tion Partners

Responding to Record Setting Fuel Prices As natural gas and fuel oil prices hit an all-time high during the winter of 2006, WRP staff part-nered with the State Energy Office to provide eight half-day workshops titled, “Energy $avings Opportunities for NC Businesses and Institu-tions.” Three hundred attendees participated in the half-day workshop which focused on no-cost and low cost energy efficiency measures that businesses and industries could implement in short notice. WRP Energy Auditor, Russ Jordan, presented workshops in Watauga, Wilkes, Ca-tawba, Jackson, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Bun-combe, and Guilford Counties. As a result of the workshop, at least five follow-up energy audits were requested through Waste Reduction Part-ners. Other outreach presentations on energy efficiency were conducted at an Energy Educa-tion Workshop for the Carolinas Area School Systems, an ACCFO Con-ference in Asheville, and a Department of Corrections workshop in Morganton. WRP is also partnering with AB-Tech on a new Building Operators Certifi-cation Course on Energy Efficiency that will begin in October 2006. E n e r g y E f f i c i e n c y Assessments—Job One! Waste Reduction Partners’ team of energy auditors conducted 52 on-site en-ergy efficiency assess-ments at industries, schools, commercial busi-nesses, non-profits, and local government facilities. WRP energy efficiency assessments typically consist of an on-site as-sessment and a written report which addresses opportunities in energy program administra-tion/communication, utility accounting, lighting, HVAC, motors, hot water systems, compressed air, process energy usage, energy management systems, and building envelope. Efficiency meas-ures focus on facility retrofits and upgrades with near-term paybacks. Fourteen WRP engineers shared expertise with clients in 23 western and southern piedmont NC counties. WRP provided clients with energy efficiency recommendations that reduce the consumption of more than 26.7 million kWh/yr and more than 125,500 therms of natural gas per year. Implemented measures will save clients $780,000 per year.

Strategic Energy Planning Assistance As a component of our energy efficiency technical assistance, several public sector clients have re-quested input into their strategic energy planning efforts to better plan and organize their approach to efficient energy management. WRP worked with Henderson County, Town of Black Mountain, Met-ropolitan Sewerage District, Town of Marion and others on broader planning approaches to energy management

Guaranteed Energy Savings — Performance Contracting

Performance contracting offers a unique way to implement large energy-saving projects, in both public and business facilities. With a grant from the USEPA, Waste Reduction Partners is develop-ing a “Lessons Learned” guidance manual on

Performance Contracting for Municipal and County Gov-ernments and K-12 School Systems. Since 1996 less than 50 Guaranteed Energy Saving Contracting projects have been undertaken by NC local governments and school systems. This guid-ance manual will “walk” facilities administrators through the performance contractor process and share valuable lessons learned by organizations with past or on-going per-formance contracts. WRP assessor Bob Gilbreath is leading this initiative. ASU — Plemmons Student Union Center WRP Assessors, Bob Gil-

breath, Russ Jordan, and Terry Albrecht, worked with Appalachian State University’s Facilities Man-agement and Plemmons Student Union Center staff to assess potential energy saving opportuni-ties. WRP determined that the 106,000 square foot student union facility had an energy cost of $3.96/square foot. Mr. Gilbreath conducted fol-low-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 re-port should be used to institute energy manage-ment improvement programs that can be utilized throughout the ASU campus.

Page 3

E SCALATI NG E NE RGY COSTS - WRP HE LPI NG BUSI NE SSE S COPE

“Their (WRP) analysis proved to be very insightful and has provided the blueprint for several initiatives to reduce energy consumption and save money on utilities. I highly recommend their services. Our conversion to electronic florescent ballasts and T8 bulbs alone is estimated to save about $18,000 annually in reduced electric bills." David Robertson, Director, ASU Dept of Student Programs.

WRP Engineer, Bob Gilbreath, works with Physical Plant Staff at Appalachian State.

WRP provided recommendations to saving 26.7 million kWh/hours of electricity.

Page 4 Was te Reduc tion Partners 7/ 1/ 05 – 6/ 30/ 06

Brevard College Energy Assessment Course WRP special projects engineer David Lowles has been working with environmental science profes-sors at Brevard College to offer a new course in Environmental Assessments. Part of the course will include an energy audit practicum by students of buildings on campus. The findings will be util-ized by Brevard College’s administration and out-sourced facility management company. Mr. Lowles will be teaching and guiding the educa-tional process. State Parks Assessment Energy Assessment The State Parks’ Chief of Operations requested the WRP engineers survey current lighting efficiency efforts at selected state parks and make recom-mendations for the implementation of a statewide lighting efficiency effort. WRP Lighting Auditor Art Lins reviewed energy efficiency initiatives at Mount Mitchell and Lake James State Parks. The feed-back and recommendations outlined an approach which begins with training maintenance supervi-sors and staff on lighting maintenance and up-grade programs Congregational Energy Efficiency— Audit and Workshops Conducted WRP Engineer Nelson Sobel led several energy efficiency audits for churches in the WNC area. The energy walk-through audits were an abridged version of WRP’s standard audit format. The “mini-audit” program was designed in preparation for WRP to respond quickly to requests for energy reviews at small organizations. WRP also distrib-

uted hundreds of energy efficiency self-assessment tools booklets, posters, and other saving guides to congregations throughout the WNC region. WRP Director Terry Albrecht pro-vided a series of workshops on en-ergy efficiency for churches and congregations in April at Lake Junaluska. The workshops re-viewed cost-effective strategies for congregations to reduce their im-pact on global warming, lower en-ergy consumption, and save operat-ing ex penses.

WRP Scientist Presents Paper at Lemelson Center Conference in Oregon. Dr. Elaine Marten presented a paper entitled, “Seniors Sparking the Surge of Sustainability,” at the Sustainable Shelters conference in Portland, Oregon, in March 2006. The conference was co-sponsored by the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.

WRP Scientists Help Manufacturer Identify and Eliminate Traces of Cyanide in Wastewater In March 2006, WRP scientists Eric Wellisch and Al Glatz met with an abrasives manufacturer in Buncombe County to help identify and address a source of cyanide that had been detected in its wastewater discharge. WRP developed a strategy to test and confirm the presence of cyanide in the company’s wastewater sludge residuals and suggested a process to further destruct the cya-nide. Company experiments results to reduce cyanide have shown favorable results. School Lab Clean-out Initiatives In September 2005, WRP scientist Al Glatz made a presentation about School Lab Clean-out Initia-tives at an EPA compliance workshop for Universi-ties held in RTP, NC. Renewed interest in proper lab chemical management prompted the NC Haz-ardous Waste Section to acquire a grant to assist K-12 schools with chemical clean-out programs, improved inventory systems, and green chemistry efforts. WRP volunteer scientists are partnering with the Hazardous Waste Section to pilot and implement the initiative - starting in 2007. Henderson County Solid Waste Advisory Committee Solid Waste Manager Tom McCullough has been participating on Henderson County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Tom has helped connect the county staff and committee members with service providers that can implement the County’s goal of offering Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Collection programs. The programs are planned in the County’s FY2007 Budget. Sustainable Technology Energy Cluster Analysis A team of WRP and Land-of-Sky Regional Council staff and David Wallace with the State Energy Office have been developing an initiative to promote exist-ing businesses in the sus-tainable energy sector in WNC and attract new busi-nesses in this sector. The team is developing an inventory of energy related businesses and sup-portive infrastructure in our region that can at-tract additional capital investment in this growing field of highly efficient and renewable energy equipment and services. The team’s goal is to attract the focus of regional economic develop-ment efforts to further support the energy busi-ness cluster.

WRP scientists Eric Wellisch and Al Glatz

assisted a manufacturer of

abrasives to understand and

eliminate cyanide contaminants in its

wastewater discharge.

POLLUTI ON PRE VE NTI ON PROJE CTS AS S I S TE D B Y WRP VOLUNTE E RS

Eric Wellisch consults with client on-site.

Elaine Marten, Ph.D., WRP Scientist

WRP volunteers provided 12,100 hours of technical assistance in the WNC community.

WRP MOD E L TO E XPAND S TATE WI D E

WRP Assists Municipality with Stormwater - Phase II Permit Requirements Over the past three years, the Land-of-Sky Re-gional Council has been assisting their member governments address new stormwater quality requirements of the Clean Water Act’s Phase II Stormwater Program. This year municipalities in Buncombe and Hen-derson counties received their Phase II Stormwa-ter permit requirements from the state’s Division of Water Quality. Bob Brown, a volunteer Civil Engi-neering technician with WRP, began assisting the Town of Bilt-more Forest with the implemen-tation of these permitting require-ments. Mr. Brown worked with Terry Crouch, Public Works Direc-tor with the Town of Biltmore Forest, to complete all of year one activities, including the de-velopment of a Stormwater Man-agement Plan. The Stormwater Management Plan is divided in six major areas: 1) Public Education and Outreach, 2) Public In-volvement and Participation, 3) Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, 4) Construction Site Runoff Controls, 5) Post-Construction Site Runoff Controls, and 6) Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations. As part of the public outreach, a flyer entitled “What is Stormwater and Why Do I Care?” was mailed to every resident of the Town of Biltmore Forest in the spring. The flyer presented an over-view of the new Stormwater Phase II mandated program requiring municipalities to take certain steps to remove pollutants from stormwater, and to maintain a record of the stormwater program for official review. The town also held a public meeting in June 2006 to seek public comment and involvement in the effort.

An Illicit discharge detection program has been initiated to reduce stormwater contamination. The town has identified and mapped stormwater discharge outfalls along the five major creeks for quarterly inspection. The town currently complies with the require-ments for Construction Site Runoff Controls, and has ordinances requiring the prompt and thor-ough removal of construction waste. “Post-Construction Site Runoff Controls” are long-term

measures to control, prevent, or minimize the built environment’s impact on water quality. A highly recommended method of doing this is to bring stormwater to collection points in grassed ditches. Biltmore Forest’s miles of well-maintained ditches are a solution already in place. Compliance with most requirements of post-construction controls will not be necessary until 2007.

More than a year ago, WRP staff performed a Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping assessment of the public work operations and set in motion an improvement plan and self-inspection program. WRP staff is now offering technical assistance to other municipalities with their Stormwater Phase II implementations.

STORMWATE R POLLUTI ON PRE VE NTI ON

“We’re at an opportune cross-roads in the history

of North Carolina. The WRP program engages the talents and ‘brain

power’ of our NC growing baby-boomer

demographics for both economic and

environmental benefits.” Terry Albrecht, WRP

Director

Was te Reduc tion Partners Page 5

new WRP office would serve the remaining 63 counties in NC with nearly 30,000 hours of tech-nical assistance over a three year period. “We’re at an opportune cross-roads in the history of North Carolina. The WRP program engaged the talents and ‘brain power’ of our NC growing baby-boomer demographics for both economic and environmental benefits” states Terry Albrecht, Director of Waste Reduction Partners. DPPEA plans to launch the Central/Eastern program in early 2007.

In March 2006, the North Carolina Energy Policy Council approved a proposal to expand the highly successful WNC Waste Reduction Partners model to provide technical service coverage statewide. In a partnership between the NC Division of Pollu-tion Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA) and the State Energy Office, a Central/Eastern “Retired Engineers” technical outreach program will be created to assist NC businesses and institutions become more economically com-petitive and environmentally sustainable. The

Town of Biltm ore Forest M unicipal O perations

Special thanks to the State Energy Office for funding support.

Land-of-Sky Regional Council Waste Reduction Partners 25 Heritage Drive Asheville, NC 28806 Phone: 828.251.6622 Fax: 828.251.6353 E-mail: wrp@landofsky.org Web:www.landofsky.org/wrp

What is WRP? Waste Reduction Partners, a team of highly experienced volunteer and retired engineers, architects and scientists, provides WNC businesses and industries with waste and energy reduction assessments and technical assistance. The WRP mission is to work for a sustainable economy, healthy environment, and better quality of life throughout the greater WNC region. Specialty Services: Energy Efficiency, Lighting Efficiency, Solid Waste Reduction, Recycled Product Development, Water Efficiency / Demand Side Management , ISO14001 Assistance, Stormwater Pollution Prevention, Pre-ventative Environmental Strategies to Achieve Compliance, Indoor Air Quality Consultations, and Special Environmental Projects. Our Clients: Any industry, business, local government, institution, or non-profit can request WRP services. Technical assistance is provided free of charge and is confidential and non-regulatory. Service Area: Waste Reduction Partners serves any business or public entity located in the western-most 32 counties west of Interstate 77 in North Carolina. Partners: Waste Reduction Partners is a program of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council and works in special part-nership with the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. Other partners include the State Energy Office of North Carolina; the Environmental Protection Agency; the USDA Rural Utility Services; the City of Asheville, and private contributors.

Confidential, No-Cost Services in Waste Reduction and Energy Management

WRP Volunteer Assessors

Roger Ambrose John Ashe George Begg Arami Bolick Barry Bowden Bob Brown Holly Bullman* Jim Brunn Richard Burke Harris Burns, Jr, Ph.D. Craig Coker Jerome Chambless Bob DiDiego Bill Farrell Jan Foster Bob Gilbreath Al Glatz, Ph.D. Jose Gonzalez III Raymond Guerrein Virgil Hutchinson Russ Jordan Hans Kahn Andrew Kallianos, Ph.D. Al Keiser Richard Krulikas Don Levitt Art Lins Dave Lowles Elaine Marten, Ph.D. Tony Martin Tom McCullough Joe McGuth Orville McKinney John Roethle Joe Rowden Wayne Rumble Bob Schornstheimer Larry Schwake Frank Smith Nelson Sobel Doug Stimson William Swarts Jerry Touzinsky, Ph.D. Ron Townley* Eric Wellisch, Ph.D. Keith Wood

WRP Program Director Terry Albrecht, PE**

WRP Administrator Don Hollister* Joe McKinney* Executive Director, LOSRC James L. Stokoe* Assistant Director, LOSRC Gary Hunt** Director, NCDPPEA

*LOSRC Employee **NCDPPEA Employee

Waste Reduction Partners works in partnership with the NC Division of Pollution Preven-tion and Environ-mental Assistance

WRP TE AM/SE RVI CE S

Page 6 Was te Reduc tion Partners 7/ 1/ 05 – 6/ 30/ 06

“This year WRP has provided 12,100 technical assistance hours to improve operations of WNC businesses and pub-lic facilities. The FY2006 operating budget for Waste Reduction Partners was $171,000.”

Check out our Web Site www.landofsky.org/wrp

2006 photo of the WRP team of retired and volunteer engi-neers, scientists, and business professionals