Story & Photo by Sam Calhoun
Since 2005, a flare of methane gas has been burning at the Watauga County Landfill as a glowing reminder of the potential energy that could be harvested if the current collection system was hooked into a custom energy converter.
But the flare does not burn in vain—Watauga County, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation (BREMCO) and the ASU Energy Center have been hard at work for the past four years on a Landfill Gas To Energy project that would make use of the energy created from the methane gas collection system at the county’s closed landfill site in Boone.
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Posted by Davezilla
1. Baroque = Broken
2. Casual Living = Your neighbors have a refrigerator on their front lawn
3. Charming = Corners don’t line up. Sagging porch.
4. Country Living = Your street will never see a snow plow.
5. Cozy = Cramped
6. Diverse Wildlife = Raccoons will raid your garbage. Bats will roost in your attic. Coyotes will eat your dog. Bears will eat your children.
7. Urban Setting = Ghetto
8. Family-ready = Previous tenants left toys everywhere
9. Historic = Has ghosts
10. Interesting History = Has murderous ghosts
11. Laid-back Lifestyle = Retirement Community
12. Outdoor fire-pit = Previous owner burned the garage to the ground.
13. Private Drive = All your neighbors were eaten by redneck cannibals
14. Quaint = Outdated
15. Quiet neighbors = Cult compound
16. Scenic View = Adjacent Cemetery
17. Spacious = No windows
18. Starter Home = Cardboard box
19. Tree-lined = Welcome to the jungle
20. Unique Layout = Architect was unlicensed and possibly schizophrenic
21. Waterfront Property = Septic tank backs up in spring
By: Scott Nicholson
Three appraisers involved in county purchases of property assembled for the new high school tract had their licenses suspended by a state board.
The North Carolina Appraisal Board’s August bulletin announced the disciplinary actions against Hope W. Teaster, Pattie J. Tennille and David R. Roberts.
According to the bulletin and consent order, Roberts performed four appraisals for Watauga County in 2006. Roberts’ appraisal was for a 59-acre tract, valued at $60,000 an acre and noted the “highest and best use” of the property was retail, office or possible multi-family development, though the Town of Boone zoning at that time wouldn’t have allowed those uses. The appraisal board determined the appraisal was based on “an undisclosed hypothetical condition or extraordinary assumption.” The bulletin also said that Roberts hadn’t noted a prior sale of the property in 2004.
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Click here to see photos of the new high school
By: Scott Nicholson
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners gave the go-ahead for a gas-to-electricity project at the former county landfill Tuesday night.
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Story by Celeste von Mangan
Water heating in your home uses a large portion of electricity and is preceded in energy consumption only by air heating and cooling systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a solar water heating system in conjunction with a backup electric heater can cut costs by 50 percent. Though it may take several years to recoup the initial outlay at the time of purchase, recovery of this cost can be facilitated by taking advantage of a $500 rebate from Blue Ridge Electric, along with progressive tax credits from the federal and state government.
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Early Registration for NAHB’s Certified Green Professional Courses Ends September 18
Story by Sam Calhoun
Face it—if you are builder and don’t have a plan to go green soon, you are way behind the pack. Green is definitely the buzzword these days, especially in regards to building, as homebuyers are now more than ever looking for homes that are energy efficient, sustainable and feature renewable technologies. So why are you still building yesterday’s stick-built home when you could be learning how to build tomorrow’s sustainable, energy-efficient masterpiece?
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