Quaint Setting Doesn’t Slow Commitment to Technology
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With its plethora of 18th- and 19th-century homes‚ Washington County evokes the small-town charm of yesteryear. But the community is hardly behind the times.
Witness the commitment to technology – a trend that started back in 1995‚ when Abingdon citizens decided to link the town to rest of the world via a high-speed Internet connection to give local businesses a worldwide advantage.
The network they created is known as the Electric Village of Abingdon – or EVA for short. Abingdon’s information technology department serves as the service provider in partnership with Bristol Virginia Utilities. Computer terminals are available for public use at the town hall‚ as well as at Coomes Recreational Center.
“Our town council worked hard to be able to allow the town to run and oversee its own service‚” says Greg Kelly‚ town manager.
The network has been warmly received‚ so much so that some have cited the high-speed connection as one of their reasons for moving into the area.
“It is certainly a plus and a good selling point for new businesses that are making plans to come to Abingdon‚” Kelly says.
Not only does the communication system aid business‚ but it also provides links to area services and cultural centers.
The county has benefited from other Internet advances‚ as well. In 1999‚ Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU) started the groundwork for BVU OptiNet‚ which bundles telecommunication and Internet services.
Along with offering telephone and Internet services‚ the system provides cable TV and utility services‚ such as water and electric.
“There’s a wonderful convenience factor for the customer when they can come to one location and order all their services at one time‚” says Sandy Crusenberry‚ marketing and business development director for BVU.
Also on the home front‚ Ernest Coburn‚ owner of the Quest Group and Houburn Construction Co.‚ is using cutting-edge technology to build homes with healthier indoor environments. The new 204-home Piper Spring development off U.S. Highway 19 will feature several Health House homes‚ a designation given to houses that are built following American Lung Association guidelines.
Piper Spring will include town houses‚ single-level homes and larger estate homes.
Coburn‚ who is also a radiologist‚ became intrigued by the idea after talking to American Lung Association and Health House representatives.
“I thought it would be really good for this area‚” Coburn says. “I talked with Honeywell‚ American Standard – companies that could do the indoor air quality that we wanted.”
He decided to partner with EarthCraft House‚ a green building program that supports recycled materials and mate rials that emit fewer toxins. “The materials we are using are as green as they can be‚ and they improve efficiency‚” Coburn says.
The green construction method will be standard on all Houburn-built homes in Piper Spring. Lot owners who use other builders are not required to adhere to the Health House standards‚ which typically increase construction costs by 5 percent to 10 percent. However‚ improved efficiency can be expected to recoup those extra dollars over time – an added bonus for those who value their health.
Story by Pam George
Photo by Brian McCord
