August 18, 2008
Doors opened on Grandfather Mountain's new fudge shop in July. This shop was constructed with eco-friendly design choices to minimize the concession stand's impact on the environment.
"The new facility will be a great addition to Grandfather Mountain's green initiative," said Grandfather's Green Manager Luke Appling. "We plan to decorate the main room with illustrations that explain the building's different planet-friendly features in an entertaining way."
Energy-efficient lighting is just of the green elements showcased in Grandfather's fudge shop. Natural light pours through skylights, making the open room as bright and welcoming as the employees who work there. However, when electric lights are needed to supplement the natural light, fudge makers can switch on compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs last ten times longer and consume 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.
When visiting the shop you can also learn about its solar water heating system. Located on the roof of the building are solar thermal panels. These panels collect the energy of the sun to heat ethylene glycol. A heat exchanger transfers the warmth from the solar-heated glycol to potable water that is used in the kitchen and bathrooms. When cooler weather arrives the super-heated glycol will also be pumped through coils running beneath the building's floors to warm the building with radiant heat.
For the flooring, bamboo was selected because it is a strong, dimensionally-stable material that is actually a readily-renewable grass rather than wood from a tree that takes years to grow. This hardwood substitute regenerates without need for replanting, requires minimal fertilization and will mature in just three years.
The use of a rain barrel to collect runoff from the roof is another green minded decision that was made. This is an eco-friendly strategy that can be easily duplicated in American back yards. At the Grandfather Mountain fudge shop the staff then use that runoff to water plants in the butterfly garden allowing potable well water to be reserved for human consumption.
In the future, photovoltaic cells (solar panels) will be installed on the roof of the structure to generate electricity and further reduce Grandfather Mountain's carbon footprint.
Grandfather Mountain is a 3,000-acre scenic attraction and nature preserve located near Linville, NC on US Highway 221, one mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 305. For more information phone 800-468-7325 or plan a trip at www.grandfather.com.
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