by Devin Benavidez
Five years after one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the United States, New Orleans residents are still picking up the pieces. The rebuilding process, now five years old, is well under way and the spirit of perseverance has reinvigorated a city that was left in ruins in August of 2005 by the category five hurricane. In efforts to restore the city known for its southern hospitality and Cajun cuisine, non profit organizations spearheaded by internationally recognized figures have invested in rebuilding affordable, environmentally friendly homes in the areas most devastated neighborhoods.
Brad Pitt’s Make it Right Foundation is planning to build 150 homes in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, a low income neighborhood that has been slow to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Global Green, the American arm of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross International, is also working to educate New Orleans residents about renewable energy solutions and is building a “sustainable village” in the Lower Ninth Ward that will consist of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a community and climate action center.
Model of new 'green' homes (Source: keetsa.com)
Before Hurricane Katrina, the state of Louisiana lacked a green jobs sector and the traditional homes in New Orleans were tremendously energy inefficient. By capitalizing on the need for sustainable homes in New Orleans, organizations like Global Green have extended the dialogue about renewable energy to those who may have previously rejected the label of ‘environmentalist.’ By incorporating people who have been traditionally left out of the discourse on sustainability, such as low income families, non profit organizations assisting with the rebuilding of New Orleans have been successful in creating an environmental awareness among its citizens and have built homes that are 70-90 percent more efficient. Energy efficient homes in the Lower Ninth Ward not only help to reduce the need for traditional sources of energy, but also manage to cut down on the cost of utility bills, an aspect that has many residents in the Ninth Ward enthusiastic about the payoff of energy efficient design.
The move toward sustainability in New Orleans was facilitated by the passage of a 2007 state tax credit for renewable energy. This law, the most progressive renewable energy law in the country, mandates that the state provide a tax credit for 50 percent of the total cost of the renewable energy system. Louisiana residents are also able to take advantage of a 30 percent federal tax credit for renewable energy system installation. As a result, the green jobs sector in Louisiana has grown dramatically, expanding from only 3 to more than 110 solar panel installation companies since 2007. Additionally, New Orleans currently has the highest number of green, single-family, affordable housing units being built than in any other city in the country.
The expansion of the green jobs sector in Louisiana and the willingness of the residents to adopt sustainability into their design plans is symbolic of the growing support nationwide for a greener economy. The rebuilding process in New Orleans should not only serve to restore charm to this great city, but should also provide the impetus necessary to jump-start our nation’s green jobs sector.
Devin Benavidez is a Research Intern at Bridging Nations in Washington, D.C., and has a BA in political science from California State University, Long Beach.
Five years after one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the United States, New Orleans residents are still picking up the pieces. The rebuilding process, now five years old, is well under way and the spirit of perseverance has reinvigorated a city that was left in ruins in August of 2005 by the category five hurricane. In efforts to restore the city known for its southern hospitality and Cajun cuisine, non profit organizations spearheaded by internationally recognized figures have invested in rebuilding affordable, environmentally friendly homes in the areas most devastated neighborhoods.
Brad Pitt’s Make it Right Foundation is planning to build 150 homes in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, a low income neighborhood that has been slow to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Global Green, the American arm of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev’s Green Cross International, is also working to educate New Orleans residents about renewable energy solutions and is building a “sustainable village” in the Lower Ninth Ward that will consist of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a community and climate action center.
Model of new 'green' homes (Source: keetsa.com)
Before Hurricane Katrina, the state of Louisiana lacked a green jobs sector and the traditional homes in New Orleans were tremendously energy inefficient. By capitalizing on the need for sustainable homes in New Orleans, organizations like Global Green have extended the dialogue about renewable energy to those who may have previously rejected the label of ‘environmentalist.’ By incorporating people who have been traditionally left out of the discourse on sustainability, such as low income families, non profit organizations assisting with the rebuilding of New Orleans have been successful in creating an environmental awareness among its citizens and have built homes that are 70-90 percent more efficient. Energy efficient homes in the Lower Ninth Ward not only help to reduce the need for traditional sources of energy, but also manage to cut down on the cost of utility bills, an aspect that has many residents in the Ninth Ward enthusiastic about the payoff of energy efficient design.
The move toward sustainability in New Orleans was facilitated by the passage of a 2007 state tax credit for renewable energy. This law, the most progressive renewable energy law in the country, mandates that the state provide a tax credit for 50 percent of the total cost of the renewable energy system. Louisiana residents are also able to take advantage of a 30 percent federal tax credit for renewable energy system installation. As a result, the green jobs sector in Louisiana has grown dramatically, expanding from only 3 to more than 110 solar panel installation companies since 2007. Additionally, New Orleans currently has the highest number of green, single-family, affordable housing units being built than in any other city in the country.
The expansion of the green jobs sector in Louisiana and the willingness of the residents to adopt sustainability into their design plans is symbolic of the growing support nationwide for a greener economy. The rebuilding process in New Orleans should not only serve to restore charm to this great city, but should also provide the impetus necessary to jump-start our nation’s green jobs sector.
Devin Benavidez is a Research Intern at Bridging Nations in Washington, D.C., and has a BA in political science from California State University, Long Beach.
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