Recession resistant jobs, right here!
by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com
Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime
Deadline Newsroom -
Greensburg, KS rises from the rubble as a 'Green Phoenix'
From the ashes of a May 4, 2007 EF5 tornado that virtually wiped the town off the map, Greensburg, KS is being redeveloped for its namesake -- GREENsburg.
On the second anniversary of the destruction, the Little-Town-That-Could's effort is putting Greensburg back on the map in a very green way. What's more, during a recession, their timing couldn't be better. Jobs are being created and savings will mount as the town becomes a model for sustainability.
From a bootstrap angle as well, President Barack Obama owes them a visit.
Soon after the tornado, the city council passed a resolution stating that all city building would be built to LEED - platinum and other sustainability standards, making it the first city in the nation to do so.
The greening of Greensburg comes with the help of Greensburg GreenTown, a non-profit organization created to partner with residents to teach them about being green and to help them implement green history.
In a year's time, the long-term community redevelopment plan has done more than most towns accomplish in 20 years.
Of course -- for better or for worse -- they did have a virtual blank slate upon which to draw.
In any case, when it comes to green, Greensburg's really got it going on.
• More than hot air. A planned Greensburg Wind Farm of 10 turbines will provide enough power for the entire city.
• Locavores are lovin' it. Organic and natural foods from a consortium of 100 local farmers and other food producers is available to the town.
• LEED homes are moving in. The first (eight) LEED platinum homes in the state of Kansas, among only a handful in the nation..
• Recycled building materials are hot. A Silo Eco-home comprised of recycled foundations, basements, driveways, and sidewalks of buildings destroyed in the tornado.
• More green buildings are going up. See the "Greensburg Sustainable Building Database."
• The town has celebrity status. The Discovery Channel's Planet Green, Greensburg is documenting the effort, now in season two.
• It's a social networking model. The town's all the rage on both Facebook and in a Flickr photo journal.
• The town's got guts. It hasn't been easy. See "Red Tape Precedes Greensburg's 'Green' Rebuilding Plan"
• More on Livin' Green
• Click on the keywords below for more stories on this subject.
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com
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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group, including DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site, and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. Perkins is also a National Real Estate Examiner. All the news that really hits home from three locations -- that's location, location, location!
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