Environmental Action Community of WNC

10/19/2026

EAC member George Sheppard leads local hikes on most Thursdays. See our website calendar page for info on how to join him.
eacwnc.org

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

Asheville GreenWorks is embarking on a two year pilot program to research sustainable methods of harvesting, propagating and installing native River cane (arundinaria gigantea). River cane once covered the majority of the floodplains in our region and due to overdevelopment and agricultural practices, river cane populations are down to 2% of pre European settlement. We established a new nursery dedicated to researching commercially viable growing methods for river cane. Please join us on our regular Friday workdays as we explore this amazing plant together. Register below to help us support this on-going program. https://dash.pointapp.org/events/834825

10/19/2026

Could thousands of home solar panels and batteries work together like one giant power plant? In South Africa, that idea is becoming reality. ☀️🔋

After years of rolling blackouts, households across the country installed rooftop solar and home batteries in record numbers. Now, “virtual power plants” (VPPs) are using cloud software to coordinate these systems into a shared, flexible grid resource. A Plentify pilot in Cape Town that managed water heaters in 500 households cut peak-time electricity use by up to 80%. The program has since expanded to 13 Balwin Properties housing estates with about 9,000 smart controllers, reducing peak demand by 46% while keeping hot water steady for residents.

The scale is growing fast: Plentify and inverter maker Deye now aim to coordinate 160,000 home batteries nationwide, totaling roughly 2.7 gigawatt-hours of storage — about double the capacity of Eskom’s first utility-scale battery project.

As one industry voice put it, a VPP works like a “savings pool” for electricity. The technology already works well — the real challenge now is building the rules that let ordinary households trade power flexibility the way a small power station would.

Want the full story? Link is in the comments 👇

📸Stefan de Vries on Pexels https://buff.ly/P0bGbXX

10/19/2026

Want to do more for wildlife right where you live? 🌿

Across North Carolina, NCWF Community Wildlife Chapters bring together people who care about wildlife and habitat and turn that passion into action.

Birders, gardeners, anglers, hunters, hikers, backpackers, and wildlife enthusiasts of all kinds come together for nature programs, field trips, hands-on habitat projects, and other conservation efforts in their communities.

Find a chapter near you: https://ncwf.org/community-wildlife-chapter/

10/18/2026

Help reduce plastics and increase recycling. Support an NC Bottle Bill
https://c.org/WRQcNsr6sH

10/17/2026

Ride To Work Day pedals into action every October 18, encouraging commuters to embrace the joy and benefits of cycling. Swap your car for a bike to boost your health, reduce traffic congestion, and protect the environment. Join the movement by planning your bike route, sharing your ride, and inspiring others to cycle.
- nationaltoday.com