The (further) greening of Grandfather Mountain
At 5,946 feet above sea level, Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina for more than five decades has been known as a scenic travel attraction and nature preserve permanently protected from development. It’s part of the United Nations’ international network of biosphere reserves.
“Because it is covered in 3,000 acres of trees and shrubs, Grandfather Mountain could probably offset the carbon footprint of a couple of thousand people per year. But because of the company’s desire to lead the way in all things ecological, the management wants the nature park to be even greener,†says its owners.
The first steps toward making Grandfather greener involved establishing recycling stations, replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, enrolling Grandfather in the High Country Biofuel Cooperative, and converting the restaurant to biodegradable plates & utensils.
The green team then installed air stratification fans in the Nature Museum that gently keep air moving to prevent heat from collecting in the building’s cathedral ceilings. The fans move the warm air down for a more even floor-to-ceiling temperature, thereby reducing energy use, eliminating hot and cold spots, and increasing personal comfort for guests in the building.
Another step in the greening process was for Grandfather to start generating power of its own. They installed an array of photovoltaic cells that produce seven kilowatts of electricity per month which is sold directly into the power grid. Grandfather hopes over time to expand the number of photovoltaic cells to produce 50 kilowatts of electricity a month
The showpiece for the company’s commitment to sustainable practices is the fudge shop that opened this summer. The building relies on skylights to provide natural light (reducing the need for electric lighting), uses energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs when necessary, has eco-friendly bamboo floors, uses rainwater collected from the roof to water the garden, and has solar-thermal panels on the roof that produce hot water for the kitchen and radiant heat for the building.
“Grandfather Mountain has always been a leader in environmental advocacy and education,†said the Mountain’s Green Manager Luke Appling. “It is our responsibility to not just teach others but to follow green business practices ourselves.â€
Grandfather Mountain is a 3,000-acre nature park famous for its 360-degree vistas, native wildlife habitats, and Mile High Swinging Bridge. The attraction is located on US Highway 221, two miles north of Linville, NC, near the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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