Four closures of City infrastructure had a high probability of being weather related in fiscal year 2024. Examples of closures include facilities, roads, and services like electricity and water. This is the first year city-owned infrastructure closures were tracked for these purposes and we are updating our tracking methodology to increase reporting consistency across the [...]
Before COVID, carbon emissions from City operations were trending downwards and on track to meet our 2% annual reduction goal, but not the 4% annual reduction goal. As employees have shifted back to office-based work, and the number of City employees has increased, emissions have increased. Employee commute, electricity use, and fleet fuels are all [...]
Electrify Asheville-Buncombe County is a pilot program supporting home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades as one way to move toward the City supported goal of powering Buncombe county with 100% renewable energy by 2042.
Pawpaw season is here! Find, pick, peel and eat this fleeting fruit for a taste of the tropics right here in Appalachia. Did you know the Pawpaw is North America’s largest native fruit? No matter what time of year it is, the Asheville Edibles Map provides great ideas for locating and [...]
As changes in climate continue to impact our local weather patterns, the Asheville region expects more frequent and more intense weather events. There are actions we can take individually and as a community that will help build our resilience during emergency events and that will also support in “blue skies” times.
Blue-skies actions, meaning the good [...]
The City of Asheville is embarking on a comprehensive tree inventory as part of its Urban Forest Master Plan to safeguard and enhance the urban forest. Over the next several weeks, arborists will conduct a thorough assessment of public trees located in the right-of-way, typically the area between the sidewalk and street.
This public [...]
Thanks to everyone who took our sustainability building rebates survey! We are writing to give a quick update on the findings of the survey.
We received a total of 34 responses and 65% of respondents don’t currently participate in the rebate program, mostly because they didn’t know that the program existed.
Regarding potential changes to the rebate [...]
It is the City of Asheville’s mission to support a thriving local economy and a clean, healthy environment. Community cleanliness was identified by City Council as an area of concern and in October 2022, Asheville City Council directed the Sustainability Department to take a phased approach to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic.
The first phase [...]