WORTHY MATERIAL
Passive Solar for Do-It-Yourselfers:
Living in Harmony with Nature
Designing and building with passive solar and sun spaces in mind makes more sense, if saving money and leaving a light footprint on Mother Earth are high on your priority list of things worth doing. Noteworthy is the technique of building with dry stack blocks without mortar that utilize Quikwall or a similar surface bonding product. Nowadays, living in harmony with nature can be as practical as it is beautiful. More.

WORTHY COMPETITION
Reptile Beauty Pageant
WNC Nature Center in Asheville invites you to bring your beautiful and talented pet reptile(s) to the Center for our annual Reptile Beauty Pageant being held Saturday July 15, 2006. For details, call 828-298-5600. More.

WORTHY REALTOR
New Category of Eco-Realtors
Ginny Lentz of Beverly-Hanks & Associates, Weaverville, NC, is one of the nation's first designated Eco-Realtors. Her new video is a primer on how she hopes to preserve the mountains. More>

WORTHY BUILDINGS
North Carolina One of Top Six States with Energy-Efficient, Environmentally Safe Buildings
Energy Star status was conferred on more than 2500 buildings in 2005 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All states had some Energy Star status buildings, but most are located in six states with Food Lion leading the way. More>

WORTHY INSTRUMENT
How to Determine Solar Potential on Your Property
The manufacturer of "Solar Pathfinder" said that its affordable technical field instrument can help you determine your site's total annual solar potential in just five minutes. More.

WORTHY PRODUCT
Make Your Roof Out of Photovoltaic Shingles
This article explains how and why some builders are installing PV collectors that resemble traditional roof shingles. More...

WORTHY TV
New Generation of Photovoltaic Cells
PBS and Scientific American have teamed up to offer "Hydrogen Hopes," a wonderful series about what some people are doing to make the world a greener, better place. Noteworthy is Part 3, entitled "Sunshine Hydrogen." The info about a new generation of rugged, thin-film, photovoltaic cells is incredible. More.

WORTHY EXHIBITION
Georgia Nature Center To Feature Solar Power
The Georgia Nature Center, located on 144 acres in Oconee County, Georgia, 20 minutes south of Athens, is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2006. Featured are exhibits and information about organic farming and solar energy, as well as five miles of nature trails to contemplate a greener home. More.

WORTHY PROGRAM
How to Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Alliant Energy's PowerHouse is an educational program designed to help improve the energy efficiency, safety and comfort of your home. We in the mountains would do well to borrow a page from their book. More.

WORTHY NONPROFIT
Biodiversity Rules
Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project (SABP) is a favorite among greener advocates in the Asheville Area. If you're looking for a local green group to join, this might be your match. More.

WORTHY SCIENCE
Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice
Some say this book is the seminal text on green chemistry. The concept of lowering risk by reducing hazard rather than exposure is discussed. The 12 principles of green chemistry are described in detail. More>

WORTHY COMMUNITY
Earthaven Develops Village-Scale Economy
Earthaven Ecovillage, an intentional community located in Rutherford County, explains how some of its members earn a living on-site or in nearby Asheville. Tours of Earthaven are available to the public by reservation. More.

WORTHY ORGANIZATION
U.N.'s Sustainable Development Division
The United Nations' Division for Sustainable Development initiates and participates in many "greener" meetings, conferences and initiatives offered around the globe. More>

WORTHY RESOURCE
Access and Write for Wikipedia, The Free Online Encyclopedia
Wikipedia is a most wonderful grassroots resource in every way. Whether it's today's news, today's featured topic, or one of thousands of non-commercial articles about our environment, construction, energy, transportation, fuel -- or whatever else your questioning mind wants to know -- this is one straightforward, easy-to-use, worthy informational source that rivals the accuracy of the traditional gold standard in the knowledge business: the Encyclopaedia Brittannica, which for the most part is not free. And if you're so inclined, you too can author your own articles about what it is you know and care about. Power to the 'Pedia! More>

WORTHY CHURCH
"SustainLane" Tells of Greener Churches
Some congregations believe that part of their mission is to treasure God's green earth when building, remodeling or maintaining their own homes of worship. More.

WORTHY PARK
Why the Smoky Mountains Deserve Protection
"Smog levels in the Great Smoky Mountains rival the level of smog in Los Angeles." More...

WORTHY WATCHDOG
Mountaineer Notes "Disappearing Haywood"
In a copyrighted story by Jeff Schmerker of The Mountaineer, there's evidence of immediate need for more slope and erosion control as new construction accelerates in the mountains. More.

WORTHY SURPRISE
Forest and Wildlife Come Back to Chernobyl
Although humans dare not visit the site of the world's worst nuclear accident said to equal the radiation fallout of 400 Hiroshimas, Mother Nature is unexpectedly returning. More>