Equinox’ Environmental Design group has been implementing Sustainable Landscape Design strategies since 2000, helping to create landscapes that improve water quality, lower energy and resource consumption, offset carbon emissions, reduce waste, provide habitat, and produce food.  Sustainable landscape design helps to mitigate against climate change, but is also pertinent in adapting to projected climate change extremes, like drought, flooding, and record temperatures.  We see landscapes not solely as aesthetic components, but if planned and treated accordingly, can also function as energy reducing tools.  Properly planned landscapes can shelter buildings from cold winter winds and summer sun exposure, reducing the need to run air conditioning and heating units, to create more comfortable, sustainable living environments.

Using innovative landscape design techniques, homeowners can reduce their energy consumption and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenway & Park Planning provides opportunities for recreation and alternative modes of transportation, while positively influencing economic and community development.  Equinox specializes in greenways, pedestrian planning, park master planning, and alternative transportation master planning.  Greenways and parks provide avenues for conserving open space, wildlife habitat and migration corridors, and native vegetation while encouraging citizen interaction with the natural environment.  This interaction helps to create more of an overall awareness of ecological events, like impacts from climate change.  Results of integrated networks of greenways linking parks, neighborhoods, and other special places are a higher quality of life, a healthier environment, a healthier community, and less dependence on vehicular travel, reducing carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption.

Schoolchildren take a sweet field trip to the Flat Creek Trail, a greenway in Black Mountain. This amazing resource has allowed more children to walk to school, and has also provided a safe and beautiful natural area for anyone to get some exercise!

Equinox has been a leader in the region in planning for and designing stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to help reduce the impacts of increased rainfall events.  The innovative stormwater solutions we offer as part of our Stormwater Planning & Design service not only meet all applicable government regulatory requirements but integrate innovative solutions that prepare for projected changes in our climate, such as more intense rain events, increased flooding, and droughts.

This constructed stormwater wetland functions as a filter, cleaning pollutants from collected runoff. Wetlands are extremely important in maintaining water quality and managing the excess stormwater that is being produced due to climate change and increased rainfall events.

Proper Land Planning for residential and commercial development projects can help minimize adverse environmental impacts or ensure that they are avoided altogether.  Proper planning can save and protect significant tracts of woodlands, wetlands or other green spaces that act as carbon reservoirs.  Planning livable, more “walkable” communities can save resources while helping to decrease dependence on the automobile.  Also, proper planning reduces the overall negative impacts on the natural environment, including less material use, reduced impervious cover, and an overall increase in energy savings.

Creating a plan for the sustainable use of resources within a community is a vital resource. Equinox creates and implements low-impact development plans which help to preserve contiguous tracts of forests. In turn, these forests absorb and retain atmospheric carbon, helping to reduce local heat-trapping effects.

Ecological Restoration services help to re-establish native vegetation and reclaim ecological functioning of a place over time.  Replanting natural areas, like streams and wetlands, with native vegetation helps to restore the integrity of developed or damaged ecosystems, allowing more carbon uptake in vegetative mass and carbon storage in healthy soils.

Looking downstream at this once-incised creek gives a good picture of how ecological restoration can be simultaneously functional, beautiful, and restorative.

Through our range of expertise, Equinox has the ability to really make a difference when it comes to responding to climate change.  Our service groups work together to develop and implement innovative solutions that create and preserve natural areas and maintain their functioning – ultimately, we try our hardest to sustain our ecosystems because they do so much to sustain our lives.  It’s never easy and it takes time, but we’re dedicated to the well-being of this earth and always will be.  As we continue to respond to an ever-changing climate, we look forward to innovation, better choices, and shared responsibility, all of which will help uphold and improve all life on this planet.

Our Ecological Services Group helps to mitigate and adapt to Climate Change in various creative ways.  Our services include baseline documentation, Phase I environmental assessments, stream restoration monitoring, and open space & habitat management, all of which help to establish and maintain healthy ecosystems that function at the highest possible levels.

It is vitally important to collect precise data, especially when it comes to ecological sciences.  Our Natural Resources Inventory & Monitoring services guarantee just that.  Baseline Documentation Reports, one of our specialties,  include ecosystem analysis and help to determine the quantity and quality of forests on a given property.  These forests can translate into carbon ‘sinks’, areas which capture and store atmospheric carbon and reduce Greenhouse gas presence.  Baselines are designed to establish ‘baseline’ conditions on properties which are being put into conservation for perpetuity, and so those forests will always be protected and continue to act as sinks, leading to the guaranteed continuation of carbon sinking throughout time.   The conservation of natural areas can also preserve corridors for species movement so plants and animals can migrate as plant hardiness zones and habitat ranges begin to shift due to climate change.  Maintaining these corridors is essential to the preservation and expansion of natural, functioning ecosystems.

Large trees (like this one) absorb and store massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere - when they're protected from logging, they'll do so until they die.

Stream and wetland monitoring also helps to address climate change by preserving forested lands around water resources and ensuring their success.  At the onset of a project, the riparian area is restored to a more natural stream channel and is replanted with thousands of woody trees, all of which will grow to uptake and store carbon.  When we monitor the vegetation on a project, we provide a picture of the overall success of the vegetative buffer which will remain forested for perpetuity.  Like the forests inventoried in baseline documents, these riparian forests also help sink carbon and will do so forever.  Also, the vegetative buffer is important to the restored stream because it provides shading and slows the flow of the water to provide habitats for various vertebrate and invertebrate organisms.  Furthermore, the preservation and monitoring of our precious wetlands is vital to mitigating the influx of pollutants from sources associated with greenhous gas increases and climate change – they are incredible filters, and when we monitor them and confirm they’re functioning properly, we’re ensuring a reduction of pollutants within our soils and water tables.  All of these qualities mean cleaner, healthier outflow which helps to support a healthy ecosystem downstream.  Healthy ecosystems provide the necessary ‘environmental purification’ (like carbon sinking and filtering of contaminants) to maintain a healthy planet.

Wetlands are amazing filters - identifying, preserving and expanding our existing wetlands will increase the interception and absorption of pollutants, the majority of which are derived from climate change.

Finally, our open space and habitat management services help to re-establish native vegetation where invasive-exotic plants have come in.  The invasive plants which invade healthy ecosystems grow rapidly and overtake native plants and communities are generally smaller in size and biomass, and store a considerably smaller proportion of carbon than those larger, native trees and shrubs.  As climate change continues to build, invasive-exotic plants thrive in the warmer temperatures, producing more seed and spreading more rapidly.  When we help remove these species, we ensure that the healthy native ecosystem will survive and continue to absorb and store atmospheric carbon and reduce Greenhouse gases.

Lindsay Majer, Invasive Plant Specialist, selectively applies herbicides to freshly-cut Japanese knotweed, an amazingly invasive and persistent shrub which has overtaken miles of streambank in Western North Carolina. Knotweed's range continues to expand as climate changes.

Conservation Planning

Equinox’ Conservation Planning Group is well equipped to address impacts from climate change and greenhouse gas reduction through its Partnership and Capacity Building, Water Resource Planning, and NEPA, Regulatory Permitting, and Due Diligence services.  These services are vital pre-cursors to addressing on-the-ground issues and compliment Equinox’ Ecological and Environmental Design service groups’ capabilities.

Partnership and Capacity Building, one of the Conservation Planning Groups flagship services, is known for facilitating collaboration between agencies, organizations, and individuals to expand their capabilities and extend their resources to get things done.  Equinox has extensive experience bringing partners together, keeping them engaged, developing and executing public relations strategies, recruiting volunteers, engaging landowners, and securing funding.  Addressing climate change requires many partners and Equinox is well-suited to bring the appropriate parties together to develop momentum towards mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Volunteers work together to put another tree into the ground on the Muddy Creek Watershed Restoration Initiative project.

Climate scientists predict changes in the frequency, intensity, and duration of precipitation events as one effect of climate change resulting in water quantity and quality problems.  On one end of the spectrum, reduced precipitation can lead to drought and water supply shortages, while on the other end of the spectrum, increases in precipitation can lead to flooding and stormwater issues.  With over 12 years of experience providing Water Resource Planning services, Equinox has the expertise to address the impacts of climate change on our precious water resources.  Equinox’ environmental scientists, planners, and biologists identify water quality stressors through physical, biological, and chemical assessments.  This planning considers the context of the watershed in regard to land use, geology, and climate.  Resulting watershed management plans incorporate best management practice recommendations and strategies for implementing measures that protect and improve the water supply and reduce flood hazards.

Lindsay examines a soil sample taken below a fuel oil tank to determine if any leakage is occurring. This type of analysis helps identify and mitigate sustained environmental damages from anthropogenic activities.

Assessing environmental impacts in advance and thinking critically about the risks associated with climate change will reduce our vulnerability to its impacts and make our communities more resilient.  Equinox regularly practices these types of analysis in our NEPA, Regulatory Permitting, and Due Diligence services.  As communities begin to adapt to climate change and develop strategies to mitigate impacts, alternatives must be evaluated to ensure long-term impacts to the environment are minimized.

Be sure to check in next week for the second installment of this three-part series!

The Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council is a group of individuals, organizations, and government agencies who have come together to address food insecurity and “identify and propose innovative solutions to improve local food systems that spur local economic development and make food systems environmentally sustainable and socially just.”  Participants include, but are in no way limited to, farmers, restaurateurs, grocers, consumers, health care providers, legislators, planners, food banks, educators, and anyone who is involved with food in anyway.  The Food Policy Council provides a venue for diverse stakeholders to communicate about issues and collaborate to develop mutually beneficial solutions.

And with little more than 6 months under their belt, the Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council has celebrated several successes.  One success comes with the City of Asheville amendment of an ordinance allowing fresh food markets in residential neighborhoods at churches, schools, and community centers.  These types of neighborhood produce stands increase access to fresh produce, especially in food deserts where grocery stores are sparse and the closest source of food is a gas station or convenience store.  Another success comes with City Council unanimously supporting the Center for Environmental Farm System’s 10% Campaign, which challenges governments, institutions, and individuals to spend 10% of their food budget on locally produced foods.  The City’s support of this campaign economically supports our local farmers and keeps our food dollars within our region.

Over the coming months, the Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council will be working to increase access to affordable food by evaluating existing land use policies, identifying opportunities for economic development, developing an education campaign, and communicating progress through a variety of media outlets.  If you are interested in participating in the future of food security within our Foodtopia, visit abfoodpolicy.com and get involved.

As we strive to live sustainably and work towards lessening our impact on the Earth, it’s important to consider our food systems.  Where does it come from?  Who does it support?  Does everyone have access to it?  Next time you’re enjoying some of Asheville’s finest, consider this food for thought.

-Lindsay Majer, Environmental Planner, food consumer, and Board Chair of Bountiful Cities

When one applies science and economics to study the value of a tree, one will ultimately discover that the tree is incredibly invaluable.  What I mean to say is that the ecosystem services, the goods provided to us by trees, are numerous and diverse, and positively affect our lives daily whether we understand it or not.  I think it’s safe to assume that most people recognize that through photosynthesis our simple, oxygen-dependent cardiovascular system is supported by trees.  And from my childhood experiences in Atlanta,GA, most people welcome the shade of a tall white oak in the dog days of summer.  But what else are we missing, what other critical roles do trees play in our ecosystem that we don’t take time to understand?

• Trees are filters – they absorb and retain water that flows over land through the process of infiltration.  During infiltration, a significant amount of heavy metals and other pollutants carried in the water are removed by the tree, the end result being cleaner water stored in our aquifers, and less cost to remove those contaminants before human consumption.
• Trees are like linebackers – in winter, evergreen species block cold winds from penetrating your house, therefore reducing draftiness and the subsequent need for conditioned air…equaling a lower heating bill.  In the summer, their deciduous counterparts reflect and absorb the sun’s rays, leading to a temperature-normalizing effect and a reduction in cooling costs.
• Trees are grounded in reality– their root systems hold our soils in place, preventing erosion and unnecessary sediment loading into our waterways during heavy rain events.
• Trees are strongholds – through photosynthesis, elemental carbon is separated out of carbon dioxide and stored in the tissues of living trees.  We know that atmospheric carbon exacerbates the trapping of heat within our atmosphere, and so without its sustained removal and storage our planet would suffer from wild fluctuations in climate driven by unregulated temperatures.

So what does all of this translate to?  In an urban setting, trees lower costs, increase savings, provide cleaner water, cleaner air, even marketable products (in the form of carbon credits).  There are now ways to quantify with one-cent accuracy the amount of money trees save us, especially in our cities and hardscapes where impervious surfaces, automobiles, heavy metals, and extreme temperature fluctuations are abundant.  Even street trees, root-bound by concrete on all sides, provide simple and beneficial ecosystem services which should not be overlooked.  For example, the city of Corvallis, OR (roughly 53,000 residents) used a computer program to value their urban forest’s annual worth at close to four million dollars; that estimate was generated by data collection in forested areas, street trees, shrubs, and grasslands, and included in the savings were pollutant removal, carbon storage, stormwater reduction, energy savings, and increases in real estate values (EPA).  Based on that figure, it certainly seems like more cities would pursue initiatives to protect their urban forests, if only for the economic savings generated by their presence.

Maybe we should change the age-old phrase to say “money doesn’t grow on trees, it grows through them”, all the way from the stabilizing roots to the shading canopies.  That might change the way we look at them.  The investment in and preservation of urban forests generates real and quantifiable annual returns which are in no way insignificant.  Add those tangible benefits to the incalculable aesthetic value of a tree, of a whole forest of trees, and we may just be able to strike a balance between science and economics and begin to grasp the incredible worth of a resource we so easily take for granted.

-Owen Carson, Field Technician (and tree-hugger)

1.       Our blend of unique skills and services- Our multidisciplinary team of professionals  produces sustainable solutions that work.   As simple as it sounds, our experience and backgrounds are critical to the success of each project we undertake.  Our talented team includes a diverse group of professionals from the planning, design, scientific, and natural resource realms that have a host of certifications and professional licenses to boot.  We will stick to what we do best because we are good at it, not everyone can do what we do, and we get deep satisfaction out of our work.

2.       Personal touch- We take great care to work with our clients and colleagues to promote effective communications.  It’s that “mom and pop” feeling combined with our practical experience within our niche market that gives the people we work with confidence that we truly have their best interest at heart.  This emphasis has served us and our clients’ very well over the years and has never been more important.

3.       Commitment to community- Equinox has a social mission that is tied to our community and the communities in which we work.  One of our main business goals is to make this world a better place and we believe that giving back to our community is part of who we are as an organization and how we can achieve that goal.  We give back in terms of volunteer time and financial contributions every year.

4.       Quality- We have built our reputation on delivering services and products that meet or exceed the expectations of the people with whom we work.  Equinox’ people are highly motivated, well trained, personable, and passionate about conservation, sustainable development, and client service.  This ensures that every project gets staffed by the best people and leads to the best result.

5.       Relationships- We believe in building relationships based on trustworthiness, integrity, and by valuing people. Our goal is to build and sustain long-term relationships with clients and collaborators that share these values.  Our emphasis on relationships gives people with whom we work the confidence in us to deliver what is needed every time.

I look forward to helping our clients reach their goals to protect and restore land and water resources, address environmental issues, build in an environmentally sensitive manner, or develop land based on sustainability and livability principles.  Hopefully, as we emerge out of the shadows of the economic doldrums, we can all have a bright and more sustainable 2012 and beyond.

David Tuch

President

The native Virginia witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, is a large shrub/small tree that flowers in early winter, with delicate star-like yellow blooms that make me think of “pom-poms.” The vernal witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis, is another native witch hazel that blooms typically in January, with fragrant yellow to red flowers.  Several cultivars have flowers ranging from orange to purple and even include enhanced ‘spicy’ fragrances from the species.  These odorous traits are delicate but alluring, with scents similar to culinary delicacies, such as the Gingerbread witch hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Gingerbread’ ) and the Diane Red Flowering witch hazel  (Hamamelis x intermedia‘Diane’), with scents of vanilla and clove.  I’ve always wanted to bring branches into the house to brighten things up a bit, but I can never bring myself to cut these beautiful displays.

With more and more exotic evergreen choices flooding the horticultural market, don’t forget about the more subtle and unique native witch hazel varieties for winter interest.  Similar to azaleas and rhodos, they primarily need the same requirements: acidic, well drained soils, and partial sun (typically full morning sun is optimal for blooms).  Witch hazels look great with finer textured evergreens in the background, such as an eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) or white pine (Pinus strobus).  Also try mixing them with winter fruiting displays, such as the winterberry holly (Illex verticillata).   They can really be a great component to your winter landscape and add a bit of colorful cheer to overcome those winter blues.

-Dena Chandler, Landscape Designer, LEED-AP

Since we outlined our basic strategy, we have had an energy audit to determine a baseline of energy consumption from which to compare any success we may achieve in reducing our energy use.  Waste Reduction Partners conducted the energy audit for us and helped us determine that our energy use is roughly 25.3 kBTUs per square foot whereas the average used by comparable small businesses in the Asheville  area is 93.0!  Learning this was a real morale booster; we are doing great – and honestly it’s not surprising -  it is important to us to do the right thing.  Now the challenge is to do more!  We know it can be done, and therefore, we’ve created a plan to address our internal energy consumption and efficiency.

We hired Green Opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of our space by adding additional sealing to windows, walls and doors. We have insulated the pipes to our water heater, disconnected the compressor to an internal water fountain, have plugged up some leaky holes in our walls, and have converted all of our light bulbs to fluorescent and LED. The energy savings won’t be staggering, but every little bit helps, and we want to do all that we can.

We are also implementing a Green House Gas Emission Reduction Policy that includes a variety of ways our conglomerate behavior at Equinox can change to reduce the amount of energy we consume.  Changes will include: 1.) increased planning, including carpooling when applicable, to reduce the amount of mileage we accumulate while working and commuting to work, 2.) requiring staff to turn off the power supply to all equipment at their workspace at the end of the day, 3.) converting to electronic documents instead of printed when possible, and  4.) a program to incentivize staff to choose alternative ways to get to work such as using city transit, walking or biking to work, or working from home when feasible.  We are optimistic that we can make a greater difference here and tread more softly on this beautiful planet we call home.

We hope to achieve a 25% reduction in our energy consumption and will track the achievement of our target.  We hope not only to reduce our green house gas emissions, but to also reduce the cost of doing business. If these efforts do not allow us to achieve our target, we will purchase offsets that will reduce our carbon footprint.  Our intention is to find in the ground projects that are local to Asheville and the surrounding area.  Ultimately, the point of all our efforts to increase energy efficiency and minimize consumption of resources and their resulting emissions is not to boast a number or meet a requirement, it is to embody our mission as well as to make good on our promise to ourselves and our incredibly precious planet.

-Joyce Brown, Andy Brown, Win Taylor, and Owen Carson-

With most of my Holidayshopping complete (I am not one to wait to the last minute) I reflected on the impact that “buying local” had on Equinox.  I found that the impact this past year in particular was very positive for our business.  Projects in the community of major significance in terms of scope and costs typically are awarded to firms outside the city and county line.  However, this year the City of Asheville hired local firm McGill Associates to lead the effort on the Lake Craig project a major flood improvement project near the highly visited and used Azalea Road Park and Nature Center.  McGill assembled a team of local professionals to assist with the project, which thankfully included Equinox.  Also this year, Equinox with another local firm Kostelec Planning was hired to lead the Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan, a project that could have easily been “outsourced”.  These two projects alone helped support 7 firms that employ more than 80 people that live and work locally.  Since small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, these two projects alone had a significant impact.

If you start to look closely, products from food to crafts and services from design to engineering can be purchased or provided from locally-owned and operated businesses.  I know firsthand this has had a positive impact on our local businesses and I find myself thankful for the “Buy Local” movement.  We can all play a role in supporting the community in which we live and work so support your local businesses, buy American made products, and enjoy the Holiday season and have a prosperous new year!

 -David Tuch, President

Here are a couple of places to start your buy local endeavors:

The Asheville Grown Business Alliance and the Asheville City Schools Foundation are co-sponsoring the Asheville Go Local card  (http://www.facebook.com/avlgolocal?sk=wall)  The Go Local Card raises money for Asheville City Schools PTOs and the Asheville City Schools Foundation while keeping our dollars local.  The Go Local card costs only $15.00 and represents hundreds of dollars in discounts. For each card sold, the selling PTO keeps $5.00.  Another $5.00 goes to the Asheville City Schools Foundation which makes educational equity and teaching grants available to Asheville City schools classrooms and teachers.  Buy yours at your local school, or at http://acsf.org/get-involved/go-local-card.php

Blue Ridge Food Ventures, a service of Advantage West, is an 11,000 sq. ft. shared-use kitchen incubator and natural products manufacturing facility that offers support in product development, regulation guidance, advice on packaging and label design, and much more.  To purchase delicacies produced locally through BRFV go to http://www.advantagewest.com/content.cfm/content_id/336/section/food

For a list of local businesses that are part of the Asheville Grown Business Alliance go to http://ashevillegrown.wordpress.com/

This incident got me thinking, what choices do non-vehicular travelers have for getting around town?  Sure we can “Share the Road” with cars and ride in designated bike lanes where they exist.  But what if pedestrians and cyclists could connect from Point A to Point B without worrying about encroaching motor-vehicles or oncoming traffic?

Greenways provide opportunities for alternative modes of transportation, typically along open space and stream corridors.  Greenway networks connect parks, neighborhoods, schools, work, farmers markets and other destinations while contributing to a healthier environment, a better quality of life, and an increase in economic opportunities.

Greenways offer a safe and fun route for the casual walker, cycler, or runner.

In Buncombe County, there are currently 10 miles of existing greenways with over 200 miles proposed.  Where will these greenways go and where will they connect?  You tell us.  Equinox is currently working with Buncombe County and its partners throughout the region in updating Buncombe County’s 2008 Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Master Plan.   The plan will integrate Asheville’s preliminary greenway plan, Land of Sky’s Linking Lands Project, and most importantly input from YOU!

Attend one of the meetings in your community and make your voice heard:

October 20^th at the Wilma Sherrill Center at UNC Asheville, 5:30-7pm

October 24^th at the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, 5:30-7pm

October 27^th at the Skyland Fire Department, 5:30-7pm

If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would like to contribute your input into the planning process, complete this brief online survey.

It took a few weeks after my accident to rally up the courage to get back on my bicycle, but before long I was once again cruising the streets of Asheville envisioning a time in the near future when I can meander through town via greenways!

-Lindsay Majer, Environmental Planner and Greenway Lover!