Spring 2010 Sustainbility Workshop Series

ASUSES is scheduling several FREE lectures and workshops on topics of renewable energy and sustainable development for March and April 2010!! Check back for full calendar listings and updates!!

14th Annual SOLAR Tree Lighting!

Dec 16th 2009


Come out to Galileo's at 5 pm to eat dinner with friends and family or have a drink and listen to some free live music!

6:30 Processional to the Jone's House Community Center led by Bagpiper Casey Smith for the TREE Lighting ceremony

7:00 Raffle drawing with refreshments at Galileos!!

8:00 Live Music ($5 cover, ALL AGES) at Galileos
8:00 Woodgrain
10:00 Guard the Van
12:00 - 2:00 Native Sway

Raffle tickets now on sale!!! ONLY $1 each or buy 5 get one free!!! Over 90 prizes to win!!
Some of our prizes include: two $50 gift certificates to Bead Box, $40 gift certificate to Speak Easy, $50 bike tune up from Magic Cycles, $30 Snowboarding DVD from RECESS, $25 gift certificate to Red Onion, $30 gift certificate to Woolands BBQ, Appalachian gear from Sew and So Embroidery, books from Dancing Moon, and much more!!

Buy tickets at the Bead Box (cash only) from now up until the day of the event! There will also be tables set up at Galileo's at the reception and at the Jones House during the tree lighting ceremony for last minute sales!! [Read More]

ASU for 350: Food and Climate Change

As part of the 350.org International Day of Climate Action we will host an event on Sanford Lawn this Friday Oct 23rd from 11:30 - 2:00 to educate about the importance of addressing our food systems when dealing with climate change. Come check out our Fall Foods table and ASU Sustainable Development Research and Development Farmers Market Stand to learn how to eat with the seasons. We will have a plethora of information on ways to help support local food in your community and fall deserts made with yummy local ingredients to give out!!! Donations will be greatly appraciated and will benefit ASUSES and the new Sustainable Development club!

We will take a photo at 12:00 to send to the 350.org as part of the international visual protest for climate change. This visual protest will help ensure proper action is made by your politicians at the upcoming international meeting in Copenhagen to address climate change.

As 350.org states..."And as the world spins on the 24th and beyond, we'll be working round the clock to beam your photos onto the billboards at Times Square in New York, deliver them to the UN headquarters, and ensure they're front-and-center in the newspapers politicians read. Your photos will remind our leaders that they need to take physical reality--and not political expediency--into account when they make decisions about our collective future."


check out 350.org to learn more about the international movement!

14th annual Green and Solar Homes Tour 2009

When: Saturday Oct 3, 2009
Where: The Cooperative Extension Agricultural Conference Center, 971 W King St. Boone, NC
Time: 8am - 4pm
Fees: $20 per person ( $10 for students/ NCSEA members) includes breakfast and lunch

To register email Amy Metsker at:
asuses@gmail.com

This tour is part of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association's Solar and Green Home Tour hosted by the ASU Sustainable Energy Society.

We will be taking a guided tour of many green homes, as well as, renewable energy sites in the Boone area. This is a great opportunity to learn about sustainable options for renewable energy technology, alternative building materials, green building certifications, energy efficiency, and much more!

We will visit many high performance houses including a 1,600 sqft Dwellbox made of recycled shipping containers. The homes will show examples of passive solar design, solar thermal water heating,ground source heat pumps, alternative building materials,LEED and Energy Star Certifications and much more.

We will have speakers during lunch to further educate about green building, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. We are delighted to have Crystal Simmons speak about the new Broyhill Wind Turbine Project installed by the ASU Renewable Energy Initiative!

For more info contact Amy Metsker at asuses@gmail.com
Hope to see you there!!

ASUSES and Sustainable Transportation Present Earth Month

Please See Calendar Below! Select "Read More" For directions, more information, and RSVP info for the Farm Workshop!

A Biodiesel Workshop! April 4 from 9-12 at the Biodiesel site

The Festival for Sustainability April 4th from 11-6 Behind Mast General Store

The Sustainable Farm Workshop Sunday April 5 from 11-4:30 at the Sustainable Development Farm

What: An afternoon of networking and a workshop series including a tour of our awesome sustainable farm!

• Featuring lectures By:
o Tracy Myhalyk on vermiculture and composting.
o Marc Williams on wild edibles.
o Dianna Donnovan on medicinal herbs.

Home cooked lunch will be provided free of charge! Come ready to meet people and soak up some knowledge!

When: 11am '" 4:30pm

Where: The ASU Sustainable Development Teaching and
Research Farm; Valle Crucis, NC

Directions: From ASU:
• Take 321/Hardin St. South toward Blowing Rock.
• Take a right onto Hwy 105 South at the Wendy's.
• Go down the mountain until you reach a stoplight at
"The Ham Shoppe" take a right onto Broad Stone Rd.
• Then continue on, past the Mast Inn, until you see
signs for Hwy 194 and take a left onto Hwy 194.
• Continue on and after you pass the Apple Barn take
a left onto Dutch Creek Rd. (It is more like a fork left
as 194 takes a sharp right curve so use the mirror to
look for traffic!)
• The SD Research Farm will be the first farm on your
left with a big red barn out front. Park along the
road on the left hand side.
• Let’s be sustainable and try to carpool because
parking is limited!!
Please RSVP at asuses@gmail.com so I know how much food to prepare!! THANKS!

ASU's Carbon Footprint Wednesday April 8 from 7-8:30 in the Calloway Peak Room in the Student Union Snacks Provided

REI Spring Forum Thursday April 9 5-9 in The Solarium

EPA Funded Biofuels Presentation Thursday April 16 from 5-6:30 in the Linville Falls Room of the Student Union Snacks Provided


Current Trends in Green Building and Energy Efficiency Monday April 20 from 5-6:30 in the Attic Ballroom Snacks Provided

Al Bentz and Dr. Terry Carroll Monday April 20 from 7-8:30 in room 114 in the Belk Library

APRIL 22 EARTH DAY 10-2 ON THE MALL

The Movie The 11th Hour on Earth Day at 7 pm in the library


Green Grooves Thursday April 23rd at the Dragonfly from 8-2.. Food, Music, and Fun!

Sustainable Development April 23 at 7 p.m. in the Belk Library David Johnston will be speaking

[Read More]

The Mission

Saving the World Since 1996!
The Appalachian State University Sustainable Energy Society you know today owes its origins to the Solar Club. The Solar Club was started way back in 1996 by a group of students who wanted to learn and teach each other about renewable energy technologies. So these early visionaries would have regular workshops on various topics.

American Solar Energy Society?
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is one of the largest non-profits in the country that helps promote renewable energy technologies through national conferences, magazines, and research. The Solar Club decided to become a local chapter of ASES in 2003 through the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Society. That's a long way of saying we get a free entry into their annual conference!

Meetings every Tuesday @ 7:00 in Rm 178 Katherine Harper Hall

(Website last updated on 9/22/09)