May 15 2008
Global Green USA and The Home Depot(R) Foundation today celebrated the completion of the first green home built in the Lower Ninth Ward along with residents and city officials from the Holy Cross neighborhood. This home, the first-of-its-kind completed in the area, will serve as a visitor center while the remainder of the project, which includes five single-family homes, an 18 multi-unit apartment complex and a community center/Sustainable Design and Climate Action Institute, is completed.
"It's very exciting to see our vision of a healthier, greener New Orleans coming to fruition," said Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA. "This project was never about just one home or one project. This model sustainable village is about showing what is possible here in New Orleans and throughout the country to protect all of our coastal cities threatened by global warming -- by working together to build a better, more energy-efficient and healthier world."
"We are honored to be supporting such an important effort to help the Holy Cross and Ninth Ward communities rebuild affordable, healthier green homes that can be replicated throughout New Orleans and the Gulf Coast," said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. "The Foundation supports the construction of homes for families that are healthy to live in and affordable to own for the long-term and this project is another step in advancing our mission and ensuring that the Gulf region is built back stronger than it was before the hurricanes of 2005."
At the celebration, Global Green and the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association (HCNA) announced that there will be four docents, who, along with Global Green staff, will lead tours of the completed home. Global Green also announced that it will provide temporary office space in the home for the HCNA. Global Green anticipates the visitor's center will educate thousands of visitors, residents, developers and elected officials on ways to create greener, more affordable homes.
Global Green supporter Salma Hayek recently toured the completed home. She remarked that the home has great value as a symbol of hope for the entire region.
"This house was built with so much love and it was the dream of a collective group of people who are trying to change things in the world. I think that what has happened here has been a wake up call and the courage and dignity from the people who have faced this tragedy has been something that will motivate all of us," said Hayek.