In the City of New Orleans, the storm surge caused more than 50 breaches in drainage canal levees and also in navigational canal levees and precipitated the worst engineering disaster in the history of the United States. By August 31, 2005, 80% of New Orleans was flooded, with some parts under 15 feet (4.6 m) of water. Flickr User: GregHounslow
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast and caused major damages in New Orleans due to the breach of the flood protection system. Eighty percent of the city flooded, resulting heavy property damages. The massive effort to restore and rebuild New Orleans has prompted the city to go green. Thanks to environmental organizations such as Global Green and Rebuilding Together, New Orleans Rebuilding has focused on developing energy efficient eco houses. Seven years later, here is a summary of New Orleans after Katrina, and their green renovation on their path toward an earth friendly recovery.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused significant real estate issues. Some buildings in the New Orleans central business district survived, yet over 204,000 homes were seriously damaged or destroyed, leaving 1 in 25 people homeless. However, this disaster gave the city the unique opportunity to develop a national model for rebuilding green. Frederic Schwartz, the architect selected by the citizens of New Orleans and the New Orleans City Planning Commission to re-plan one third of the city for forty percent of its population, engaged New Orleans Rebuilding on a social and green path. Thus, numerous programs were launched to build quality, affordable and sustainable houses.
Among these green projects, Global Green and Rebuilding Together have been the most committed organizations in the creation of a green model for the New Orleans rebuilding:
The Global Green Holy Cross Project consisted of five affordable single family homes, an 18-unit apartment building and a community center that houses a bank, a grocery store and café, offices for the green organization, the neighborhood association and a Climate Action Center. In 2009, the eco houses and the Holy Cross Project Visitors Center had officially been certified LEED Platinum by the United States Green Building Council. Global Green has also expanded renovation efforts to schools. In 2004, they launched the Green Schools Initiative that focused on greening New Orleans schools. “The goal of this initiative is to create healthier classrooms and more energy efficient schools that in turn improve student performance and save money for school districts, while helping to protect the environment and reducing carbon emissions,” states globalgreen.org.
Educational programs have been conducted to help students, teachers and the community to understand climate change consequences and therefore, how important a green renovation is for the rebirth of New Orleans.
Global Green responded to Hurricane Katrina through smart solutions to climate change and the green rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Flickr User: Tulane Publication
Similarly, the Rebuilding Together New Orleans (RTNO) program has worked to provide home repairs for low-income homeowners, disabled, first responders or single head of households caring for minor children. After Hurricane Katrina, RTNO focused on restoring the existing housing stock of New Orleans. Rebuilding Together New Orleans has incorporated environmentally friendly practices to its building techniques and materials. Thus, the green organization provides a model of sustainable and eco-friendly rehabilitation while preserving the historic neighborhoods’ style.
RTNO helps homeowners to reduce their energy bills thanks to simple renovations such as weatherization: “This green effort creates a model for sustainable historic preservation, minimizing the negative impact on the environment and decreasing utility costs.”
Through deconstruction, the organization has saved high quality materials and created a green cycle for home rebuilding and repair. Recycling and reusing materials also allowed RTNO to reduce their carbon footprint while avoiding materials that end-up in landfills. When new materials are required, a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative is always found to keep things as efficient and sustainable as possible during the renovation process.
Rebuilding Together New Orleans has revitalized more than 1000 homes, however, according to the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center, more than 50,000 of the city's houses -- about 27% -- remain vacant, the highest proportion of any city in the country. Flickr User: PwBaker
Rebuilding Together and Global Green are not the only green rebuilding efforts in New Orleans: Brad Pitt’s organization, Make It Right, Go Green NOLA, The Green Project and more have been involved to renovate on new green foundations the city. All these projects are living solutions to climate change effects. They are evidence that Katrina didn’t leave New Orleans hopeless but full of promises. If the recovery is a long process and there is still a lot to do, 7 years after this human and ecological disaster, New Orleans is coming back better thanks to these bright green developments and the help of numerous volunteers.
