Global Green USA presents Latest Progress of the Holy Cross Project: The Lower 9th Ward's Green Village is Growing

Model Homes to Save Money, Improve Health for Families

March 4, 2009 – New Orleans, LA – Global Green USA welcomed members of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association and local leaders in the Lower 9th ward today to tour the progress of the Holy Cross Project, made possible with lead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation.  The project is an entirely sustainable green village being built in the neighborhood.

The village, located where Andry Street meets the Mississippi River in the Katrina-devastated neighborhood, has significantly evolved since the first model green home was completed in May of last year. All five single family homes and the multi-unit apartment complex to be built in the village will be ranked among the top-tier of green buildings in America, built to LEED platinum standards of the US Green Building Council. The first house has been open to the public since last spring and has already welcomed well over 3500 visitors for guided tours.

Global Green is now framing up two of four additional sustainable homes that will be built in the village projected to be completed in May and slated to be ready for sale this summer. The construction of 2 additional 1-story houses, making a total of 5 free-standing, single-family homes, has also begun and is scheduled to be completed in late summer. All 5 homes have been designed to accommodate solar power panels which will produce the majority of the homes’ electricity and drastically cut utility costs allowing residents to save money for other necessities. The homes are also designed to maintain the highest level of air quality, minimizing risks of upper-respiratory health problems which are currently on the rise nationally.

“Low to moderate income families pay the highest percentage of their income for utility bills. The utility savings is really something to be proud of,” said Mike Lopez, Global Green’s construction manager. “To be able to tell families that the money they would have had to pay for utilities can now be used for other necessities like food, clothing, medical care or education is really significant. “Also the indoor air quality in these homes is excellent because of all the materials we’ve selected whether it is inside the walls or inside of the house. So not only are the families going to be saving money, but also the indoor air quality is such that their children are going to be raised in extremely healthy homes.”
In addition to the single family homes under construction, Global Green expects to break ground on the multi-unit apartment complex this summer and is aiming for the building to be complete by spring 2010. Global Green’s capital campaign is also in progress to raise the funding to build a climate action and community development center that will also be located in the Holy Cross Green Village.

“We’re truly gratified to see how much New Orleans homeowners and building professionals have taken up the idea of green building and are trying to learn more and use more green techniques in rebuilding,” said Beth Galante, Director of Global Green USA’s New Orleans office. “The combination of the Holy Cross house as a visitor’s center and green building resource, the Build it Back Green program and our continued monthly public panel discussions have significantly helped to take the mystery out of green building and demonstrate to people how they can build green without spending huge amounts of money.”

Global Green is committed to bringing green building methods to the affordable housing industry and the general community through the construction of the LEED designed village in the Lower 9th ward.  Since beginning the construction of the Holy Cross Project, Global Green has hired exclusively local contractors who are paid and trained to perform the most cutting-edge green building techniques, developing a pool of local contractors who can continue to incorporate eco-friendly building principles within local projects and grow a sustainable green-collar industry in New Orleans long after the completion of the Holy Cross Project. 
 
The completed house is presently serving as a Visitor Center and is available for public viewing from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Monday and Friday and 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday.

About Global Green USA and The Holy Cross Project
The first home in Global Green’s Holy Cross Project, with lead funding partner The Home Depot Foundation, is currently serving as a Visitor Center for the public as a model for how to build a sustainable green house in New Orleans and other coastal cities. The design by Workshop APD of New York City was chosen from a competition chaired by Brad Pitt. Located on Andry Street next to the levee of the Mississippi River, just downriver from the Industrial Canal, the Global Green House includes solar panels, geothermal energy, a green roof, and all green construction and interiors.  Global Green has also launched an ambitious Green School initiative, the Build It Back Green initiative to help New Orleanians planning to rebuild with tips and vendors for rebuilding green, and also runs a resource center with forums and experts which is located in the city's business district. These initiatives are part of a broad Global Green campaign advocating the green rebuilding of New Orleans as a model for coastal cities everywhere.

For more information, please contact Jeanne Nathan, 504.218.4807, nathan@creativeindustryusa.com