From emagazine.com
A Midwest Town Continues Its Green Rebuilding
On May 4, 2007, an EF5 tornado cut a 1.7-mile path of destruction through Greensburg, Kansas. Winds reaching speeds of 205 miles per hour uprooted trees, demolished homes and leveled the town. Eleven people died and 95% of the buildings were destroyed beyond repair.
The town, whose population has dropped from 2,000 to 800 following the storm, responded with a first-of-its-kind commitment: to rebuild its businesses, schools and homes to meet the highest environmental standards. The motto on the town’s website captures the enthusiasm: “Greensburg: Better, Stronger, Greener!” Town officials passed a resolution that all future municipal buildings over 4,000 square feet would meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum designation. And word of the commitment created a media frenzy, including a reality TV show about Greensburg on Planet Green with eco-celebrity host Leonardo DiCaprio that’s now in its second season. President Obama even gave Greensburg a specific mention during his address to Congress in February.
Greensburg Mayor Bob Dixon says all that outside attention has given the town an advantage with attracting corporate sponsors and new businesses. While the rest of rural America is being hit hard with the economic downturn, high unemployment and layoffs, Greensburg’s emphasis on green living has given the town a buffer.
From EcoHomeMagazine.comCylindrical design and green techniques provide strength and sustainability.
With completion of Greensburg’s first “Eco-Home” expected next week, the tiny town in Kansas once ravaged by a tornado is drawing eco-tourists from all over the world.
After an EF5 tornado tore through southwest Kansas in May 2007, 95% of the town was reduced to rubble. In the wake of the catastrophe, Greensburg’s leaders and many residents embraced the idea of rebuilding as a green community.
That vision is slowly becoming reality with the completion of the community’s first Eco-Home, inspired by the local co-op’s grain elevator that was left standing after most homes and buildings were destroyed.
A news photo of the silo resonated with David Moffitt, a Florida builder who was preparing to market his ultra-hurricane-resistant home, under development since 2004. He realized his sustainable, durable Silo home was a perfect fit for tornado-prone Greensburg. “After the tornado went through Greensburg, we were impressed that the only thing left standing was the town’s silo,” says Moffitt, owner of Bushnell, Fla.-based Armour Homes. “We decided we could help out in Greensburg and work to market our product, not just to build back green, but also tornado-resistant.”
After meeting with Greensburg GreenTown founder Daniel Wallach, Moffitt decided to be the first builder to participate in the organization’s Chain of Eco-Homes project. Groudbreaking on the Silo home was in December; it is expected to be complete just after Labor Day.
GREENSBURG — This town is famous for having the world’s largest hand-dug well and the world’s largest pallasite meteorite.
But it’s another tourist attraction, not those claims to fame, that is bringing folks across the globe to Greensburg.
Take a drive in a tour bus through the streets of Greensburg, which was nearly wiped off the map by a tornado two years ago. Yes, you’ll see lingering effects of devastation, but, more importantly, something else — a town being rebuilt as a model green community.
Look inside the town’s new eco-home, which features ideas like energy-efficient heating and air conditioning, water-efficient toilets and a garden on the roof. Tour the art center, eat at one of the local restaurants or shop at the business incubator — all places using environmentally friendly technology.
“So many people are interested in what is going on here,” said Greensburg resident Susan Reinecke.
She and her husband, Scott, who ran an auto body shop in town before the tornado, opened Studio 54 — a glass art studio and gallery — a few months ago in the business incubator on Main Street. For several months, they didn’t know if they wanted to stay or open a business in a town ravaged by a tornado. Now, folks from New York, England and Australia are setting foot in the store.
Across the nation, people have tuned in to Planet Green’s television documentary, she said. They want to see the town for themselves. READ MORE
John Deere announces that the recently rebuilt BTI Greensburg (Kansas) dealership has received the platinum level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Building Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The platinum level certification is the highest level Green Building Rating available and is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of green buildings. The John Deere dealership was completely destroyed by a tornado on May 4, 2007, along with the rest of the town of Greensburg.
According to Mike Estes, general manager for the BTI Greensburg dealership, the new 28,500-square-foot facility was built to LEED platinum standards as part of the overall reconstruction of the city and Kiowa County, and for the obvious environmental and business benefits.
“Most of the other buildings in Greensburg have been rebuilt to various LEED standards and we wanted our dealership to participate in the ‘Greensburg Green Town’ theme,” Estes says. “We decided to rebuild to platinum level certification to serve as a model for other businesses in the community, as well as for other John Deere dealerships that might want to use some of these greener technologies in their facilities.”
Estes adds that incorporating the LEED standards into the new facility has turned out to make “good business sense” for the dealership. “We’ve utilized more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials in everything from the building to the landscaping. In addition, we’ve significantly reduced water usage, electricity and maintenance needs, and we’ve created a very attractive, bright and inviting retail and service facility that customers seem to enjoy.”
LEED certification facts about the BTI Greensburg dealership:
- Uses 51.5 percent less electricity than code-required minimum performance, which saves 161,911 kWh annually — enough electricity to power 14 homes for one year.
- 18,600 kWh are produced on-site by two wind turbines.
- 64 tons of the 73 tons of construction waste were diverted from landfill for re-use and recycling.
- Uses 48.8 percent less water than code-required minimum, saving 38,750 gallons of water annually.
- Utilizes low VOC carpet, paints, and sealants throughout the facility to ensure healthy indoor air quality.
- Has 23 skylights in the retail and service areas to utilize natural lighting as much as possible.
For more information about the BTI Greensburg John Deere dealership, visit www.gti-bti.com.
John Deere (Deere & Company — NYSE: DE) is the world’s leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.
Located across the street from the SunChips Business Incubator at the head end of Main Street, the Kiowa County United building will soon offer several 1,500-ft. retail spaces. Several local merchants are planning to bring back businesses and new businesses are also planned. The shopping center will also feature off-street parking.
Governor Mark Parkinson tonight named BTI of Greensburg the winner of the Governor’s Award of Excellence, while Cereal Ingredients of Leavenworth was named the Governor’s Exporter of the Year, at the annual Kansas Cavalry Encampment at Johnson County Community College.
The two awards are the state’s top business honors and serve as the highlight of the Kansas Cavalry Encampment, the state’s annual celebration of Kansas business. The event is sponsored by the Kansas Cavalry, a volunteer group of business leaders who promote Kansas as a business location, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Commerce.
“We are honored to present BTI of Greensburg and Cereal Ingredients of Leavenworth with the state’s top business awards,” Governor Parkinson said. “These companies embody Kansas ingenuity and values, and they illustrate what a great place Kansas is to live, work and do business.”
The Kiowa County Tree Arboretum (open to the public) will be located at the Kiowa County Fairgrounds (northwest corner of Greensburg, KS).
The arboretum will be planted with over 80 trees that are adapted to the area by student in the Home Horticulture class at Fort Hays State University.
The trees will be labeled to allow visitors to know specifically what variety they are looking at and to see what the tree looks like before opting to plant it in their own landscape. Very few trees survived the tornado that struck Greensburg, so the arboretum will encourage homeowners to plant the best adapted trees for their location.
Assisting the students in planting trees will be the Kiowa County Master Gardeners (a voluntary group, Kiowa County 4-H members and citizens of Greensburg. The tree list was determined by a cooperative effort between the Greensburg City Tree Board, the Kiowa County Extension Office and the Kansas Forest Service. After planting drip irrigation will be installed and the area mulched.
The FHSU students will also be planting an ornamental grass display along the main street in Greensburg.
A ceremony recognizing the efforts of the students and Arbor Day 2009 was held in front of the courthouse. Dignitaries speaking include Kansas House Representative Pat Maloney, Greensburg Mayor Bob Dixson and representatives from U.S. Senator Pat Robert’s Office. A proclamation issued by the Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius was read along with a letter of support from Senator Ruth Teichman. (story courtesy of FHSU Horticulure).
As new projects continue to grow around the Greensburg area, the city council continues to pursue new ways to finance projects.
Looking for creative ways to speed recovery is something the city is becoming good at.
Recently, City Administrator Steve Hewitt discussed the concept of creating a Public Building Commission (PBC) in order to come up with gap funding for upcoming building projects as part of the tornado recovery program. The purpose of the PBC would be to plan financing for upcoming projects and issue general revenue bonds. Changes in legislation at the Kansas state level would allow Greensburg to add additional sales tax to help pay off the bonds. The special purpose sales tax would be required to sunset (end) withing 10 years.
The city council voted uanaimously to pursue the conccept of forming a PBC in order to tackle the next upcoming building project, the Big Well Museum.
As the new Greensburg sprouts from the ground, the local tourism board is ready to help tourism grow right along with it.
Mike Husband and Judy Herberling of Herberling and Associates of Alexandria, PA, have been retained by the area to create a master tourism plan for the area. Along with a listening tour from March 23-25 and a visit on April 9, the couple is putting together a plan that will help establish Greensburg as a tourism destination.
The Big Well already draws tourists from around the world and will certainly become a centerpiece of the recommendations.
The group expects to produce a plan with the next six months.
Fresh off of creating a master tourism plan for neighboring Dodge City, Huband and Herberling are surveying information on all the things needed to bolster tourism in Kiowa County, including focusing on tourism-related businesses including shops, restaurants, eco-tourism and agri-tourism, among many other areas.
The master plan should be a great help in aiding the attraction, development and support of local business and industry.
With an eye toward providing even more community services, another building is about to grow in Greensburg. The Kiowa County Council on Aging is about to break ground for a new Senior Center at the corner of Maiin and Grant streets.
Special landscaping has been planned for the north side of the property to help create a pleasing green buffer between the building and residential areas. Possible plans include additions of low shrubs, shade trees and flower beds.
