This USA Today article gives much optimism talking about nonprofit groups and personal contributions donating money to help rebuild some of the less poorer areas of New Orleans with green homes. Over 500 homes have been and are being build, mostly in the lower 9th Ward and Pontchartrain Park areas of New Orleans – both of which have lower income families. These homes are those with the average value of $120,000-$160,000, but have been given the additions of eco-friendly materials, these mostly include installation, rain barrels, and solar panels. This effort is the first major effort to help build single family homes. Seattle, Washington and Boston, Massachusetts, have both built apartment buildings for poorer individuals and families with green materials and technologies. Building the homes is all thanks to contributions from nonprofit groups, Global Green USA, based in California, Make it Right, a nonprofit started by Brad Pitt, Riggio Foundation, a New York based nonprofit which has given $20 million, and personal contributions from Wendell Pierce, a New Orleans native and on the HBO show The Wire. The finished houses have shown decreases of 75% on energy bills, and one family, with 5 children, has claimed decreases of $300 on their monthly energy bills.
To me this is a great idea not only to help rebuild New Orleans and help those who didn’t have insurance and can’t easily afford a new house themselves. But, it is also rebuilds the city sustainably as well as giving the families decreased monthly bills, increased wealth in their home, and hopefully some increased pride in their homes. One concern I had was over the upkeep of solar panels and if it would be expensive for the poorer families, but other than needing to be rinsed with a hose if there is no rain and they become dirty, there is very little, if any upkeep needed over long periods of time. So, it gives a great gift to those families, neighborhoods, and the city of New Orleans, as well as it will hopefully be an example for cities which will rebuild poorer areas in the future.
--Jason Mathias
