Sustainability a Focus of New Shelter, Community

Charleston's shade of green grows deeper every year.

Long considered one of the most effective homeless shelters in the nation (based to a great degree on their guests returning to self-sufficiency), Crisis Ministries will soon become nationally recognized for a new reason: sustainability. With a public groundbreaking scheduled for October 18, the organization’s new facility will be one of only a handful of U.S. shelters to achieve LEED certification. Organizers note that they aren’t pursuing the designation, but that it will be a natural extension of their commitment to cost efficiencies. Among them: careful management of HVAC systems, rainwater collection, and window placement. The plans were a recent focus of a City Paper supplement focused on all things sustainable.

And while “Charleston Green ” has long been an actual color here in the region, Charleston green increasingly refers to the region’s embrace of all things sustainable. This weekend will mark the return of the annual Green Fair in Marion Square. The celebration of living small gets bigger every year, and features live local music, vendors, educational sessions, food and children’s activities.

Seek a greener life but can’t get to Marion Square on Sunday? CharlestonWISE Home Energy Conservation workshops are being offered September 29, October 6 and October 18 in Charleston and Berkeley counties. The free workshops focus on energy cost savings at home. Visit http://www.charlestonwise.com/Impact.aspx for details.

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