Albemarle Stewardship Development Program

Albemarle RC&D Council

Wisely Conserving Natural Resources & Creating Opportunities for Positive Economic & Community Development

Serving the people of
Camden, Chowan,
Currituck,
Dare, Gates, Hyde
Pasquotank, Perquimans,
Tyrrell and
Washington Counties

Albemarle Stewardship
Development Program

PURPOSE

In 2008, the Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council developed the Stewardship Development Program to honor residential, commercial and public development projects in the Albemarle region that demonstrate outstanding environmental stewardship of natural resources.

The program is designed to recognize environmental stewardship in the following areas:

Protection
Conservation
Improvement
Awareness

2009 Recipients

The first annual Albemarle Stewardship Development Program awards were presented on December 8, 2009 at the Albemarle RC&D Council annual awards banquet at the Vernon James Research Center in Plymouth, NC.

Merchants Millpond State Park Located in Gates County, Merchants Millpond State Park received the first annual Albemarle Stewardship Program Outstanding Stewardship Award for the recent completion of the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certified Visitors Center. The presentation highlighted environmentally sensitive features of the project, including minimal impact to the original site, use of recycled materials, recycling of construction waste, use of water cisterns, passive solar design and geothermal heating and cooling.

Adrian O’Neal, East District Superintendant for the NC Division of Parks and Recreation, was also recognized by the Council for his support of LEED certified projects in the state park system.


Jay Greenwood, Park Superintendant	Adrian O'Neal, NC Parks & Rec

Dare County was presented the Outstanding Stewardship Award for the innovative waste water treatment system in Stumpy Point that will improve the water quality of Stumpy Point Bay and the Pamlico Sound. The high water table had damaged septic systems on over 60 lots in the community and two sections of the Stumpy Point Bay had been closed to shellfishing because of high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. Using a combination of bond and grant funding from the state, the county installed dual chamber step tanks and connected 134 lots to a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system.

Lee Wrenn, Dare County Special Projects Manager

Justin and Kim Old, Quality Homes of Currituck, LLC, received the Outstanding Stewardship Award for the design and construction of a LEED certified single family home in Currituck County. When his father said “it couldn’t be done”, Justin Old rose to the challenge and proved that an energy efficient, environmentally friendly single-family home could be built in the comparable price range of surrounding homes. Construction features included recycled stone and fiber cement siding, energy efficient windows, bamboo flooring, advanced energy star lighting, energy star appliances, oak cabinets milled from local trees felled by storms and a 2.4 kw wind turbine.

Kim and Justin Old, Quality Homes of Currituck, LLC

LEVELS OF RECOGNITION

Outstanding Stewardship

This highest level of distinction is awarded to projects that have achieved or exceeded applicable criteria. The project must be sufficiently complete and demonstrate accomplishment or expected accomplishment of project goals in order to receive this level of recognition.

Significant Achievement

This level of recognition is awarded to a project that is well underway, but is not sufficiently complete or has not yet accomplished all of the expected project goals. Approved Project Plans and specific elements of a project may be considered for recognition at this level.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Albemarle Stewardship Development Awards are presented annually at the Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council annual awards banquet.
• Applications are accepted anytime between January and September 30.
• Applications are reviewed by the Selections Committee and recipients are notified by November 30.
• Awards are presented every December.

Click here for more details about the Award Criteria and the Application.

Related Links:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification is an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the US Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org)

Energy Star ratings identify products that use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. (www.energystar.gov)

Low Impact Development Center (LID) philosophy focuses on how the developed area of a site is planned and designed to minimize hydrologic impact.(www.lowimpact-development.org)