Green Role Model
July 17, 2009 – 11:45 am by MarinaHanes
Transitioning into a more sustainable lifestyle can be overwhelming, and you might become reluctant simply because it’s uncharted territory. This is when green models and people with experience such as environmental consultants can help. Currently, Greensburg GreenTown is giving Green Tours of its eco-friendly community. Greensburg, Kansas was hit by an EF5 tornado in 2007 and 95% of this small town was completely destroyed. If you want to enhance your home and improve your habits, learning from those who are more experienced is a great way to change your mindset.
The first EF5 tornado recorded in history took out about a 1.7 mile wide area of Greensburg. The community lost everything; loved ones, homes, lights, radio, telephone, etc. The town hit a crossroads, because everything needed to be rebuilt but there were not any jobs to keep people afloat. The damage was so severe that the area was declared National Disaster Area #1655. Amidst the dilemma, the people chose to rebuild even though it was going to be a long and challenging road, and the town was going to be a green model for others.
There are two tours you can take of Greensburg. The one-hour tour features the downtown/South Sycamore area, which is home to the Sun Chips Incubator, GreenTown Office and Silo-EcoHomes. The two-hour tour looks at the local hospital and John Deere dealership. The cost is $5 per person with a $10 minimum, and you can go everyday except Sunday to see the 16 greenest buildings they have rebuilt. In August, you might be able to rent the silo eco-homes for an overnight stay.
The most valuable lessons from the Greensburg residents is that you can’t give up and building better means going green. Within 6 months the rebuilding started to pay off and now people are working and living, and their children are able to go to school again.
Tags: eco-tour, Greensburg, Kansas, the first EF5 tornado
One Response to “Green Role Model”
Thank you for letting your readers know about Greensburg. This is a very well written post! In that first paragraph you captured EXACTLY why we are doing what we are doing. Our mission is to demystify, depoliticize and simplify green living. There is no better way to learn than to immerse oneself in a three dimensional experience. Having a town and all the elements of a town accessible on a small scale can be a great tool in moving people, institutions and communities forward.
Thanks for helping us articulate our mission. If folks want more info check out http://www.greensburggreentown.org.
By Daniel on Jul 18, 2009