Thursday was an historic day for our state. Yesterday morning, I cut the ribbon to officially open North Carolina’s first environmentally friendly rest area. It is located on U.S. 421 Northbound in North Wilkesboro, in the northern part of our state.
I am proud of this project, because it shows our commitment to protecting the state’s natural resources and preserving its scenic beauty. By building the 10,030-square-foot facility using “green” technology, we are helping increase energy efficiency, conserve water and reduce greenhouse gases over the rest area’s long lifespan.
The building’s many unique eco-friendly features include:
• Domestic solar hot water. Three solar panels above the main entrance to the building capture the sun’s energy and use it to preheat the hot water in the restrooms;
• Photovoltaic panels. Fourteen PV panels located above the entrance walkway convert solar energy into alternating current power for use in the facility. The system will produce enough electricity each year to power a typical home in North Carolina for four months; and
• Rainwater catchment. Rainwater is collected from the roof, piped to a 26,000- gallon cistern, and used to flush the toilets and urinals. Calculations based on the normal amount of rainfall in Wilkes County show 309,000 gallons of rain will be harvested annually. Reusing the rainwater will allow the rest area to reduce its potable water use by 70-75 percent.
We also practiced good environmental stewardship with the materials leftover from construction. We reused or recycled 90 percent of the project’s waste, which kept it out of local landfills. For example, the small trees cut down during construction were turned into wood chips for use on the rest area’s 0.8-mile nature trail.
The next time you head to the western part of our state, I encourage you to stop at the Northwest North Carolina Visitor Center/Rest Area. Not only is it a great place to stretch your legs on the nature trail after a long drive, it is also a great way to learn about green building practices, and the financial and environmental benefits they offer.