Rebuilding New Orleans
ONE TOUGH GREEN HOUSE
Global Green to reopen Holy Cross Home/Visitor Center in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward. Green Features Built to Survive Storms and Fight Climate Change
New Orleans, LA - September 4, 2008 - Global Green USA New Orleans Director Beth Galante surveyed Global Green’s Holy Cross Project Visitor Center for the first time since Gustav hit the Gulf Coast today. The house, made possible with lead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation, was built specifically to withstand water and high winds, in addition to being a LEED Platinum home that generates all of its own electricity and will save future homeowners money on utilities while improving their health.
“As my fellow New Orleanians return home, I am excited that our model home can serve as a learning tool for families looking to rebuild tough green homes that are more likely to withstand future storms,” said Beth Galante. “With thousands of people already visiting this home, hopefully we’ve already begun to inspire a better way to rebuild.”
The Holy Cross Project, which will ultimately feature housing for 23 families and a community center,
is being built on the highest ground in the Ninth Ward. Additionally the homes are being raised 4 feet above grade for a total of 8 feet above sea level. The frame construction uses borate treated wood, which makes it mold and mildew resistant. The first floor of the home was built to withstand any flooding as its Cypress floors and paperless sheetrock will inhibit mold growth and can easily be restored if flooding were to occur.
The home was also designed to resist Hurricane winds of up to 130 mph through structural reinforcement, a durable metal roof, and energy-efficient windows and doors that are designed to be hurricane resistant with shatterproof glass. The solar panels, which can generate power for the home and feed electricity back into the grid, were specially designed to withstand hurricane force winds.
Global Green’s Visitor Center is expected to reopen next week, and will resume standard visiting hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 11-4 and Sat 10-1.
About Global Green USA’s Holy Cross Project
The first home in Global Green’s Holy Cross Project, with lead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation, was recently completed and is currently serving as a Visitor Center for the public as a model for how to build a sustainable green house in New Orleans and other coastal cities. The design by Workshop APD of New York City was chosen from a competition chaired by Brad Pitt. Located on Andre Street next to the levee of the Mississippi River, just downriver from the Industrial Canal, the Global Green House includes solar panels, geothermal energy, a green roof, and all green
construction and interiors. The site will ultimately include five single family, an 18 unit multi- family residence a community center. Global Green has also launched an ambitious Green School initiative, the Build It Back Green initiative to help New Orleanians planning to rebuild with tips and vendors for rebuilding green, and also runs a resource center with forums and experts which is located in the city's business district. These initiatives are part of a broad Global Green campaign advocating the green rebuilding of New Orleans as a model for coastal cities everywhere.
