darby – Page 17

We Can Do It, They Can Help

The “greening of America” is on, and some major mainstream corporations continue to lead. While The Home Depot declared a full-time dedicated staff to environmental issues way back in 1990, their actions continue to prove their sustained interest.

From producing progressive consumer education programs to their ultra generous corporate contributions, it seems every time I turn around, The Home Depot is sponsoring sustainable building initiatives. In addition, they announced back in August that “products that meet the criteria will be tagged Eco Options to make them easier to find.” While this past years onslaught of mega-stores providing “green” options has no doubt acted as an incentive for this product attention, the positive outcomes continue to be the real story.

I know that without The Home Depot’s involvement, our local Habitat for Humanity would be unable to accomplish much of their work. The continued efforts and huge contributions of the orange DIY store makes me reconsider going anywhere else for my home improvement needs.

(This, by the way, is much more than any ad campaign would hope to accomplish. Although, their You Can Do It, We Can Help tagline IS excellent.

Preserving the Tale

Threads to the Past by Marty LeMessurier

While with my “in-laws-to-be” over Thanksgiving, I was introduced to this amazing gift idea by my “mom-in-law-to-be”. It is a book entitled The Story of a Lifetime, and it seems to me every member of every family should have one.

The book is substantial in size, nice and heavy, and will eventually contain the life story of the recipient, after s/he fills in all of the (nearly) 400 pages of questions.

Questions like:
What was your first year of marriage like?
How did your mother and father meet?
What were your dreams and goals during your first years of independence?
What does your ethnic and cultural background mean to you?

While this gift can be given to anyone of any age, it seems especially suited to relatives who are older, wiser, and have much to tell. I love honoring our elders’ experiences and stories in this way.

Little Pink Houses

What’s not to like about pink sustainable houses conceived by Brad Pitt? In response to rebuilding New Orleans Lower 9th ward – after the (still) devastating effects of Katrina – Global Green, Brad Pitt, Home Depot, and the people of the 9th Ward’s Holy Cross Neighborhood Association teamed up to produce the first low-income sustainable housing community.

Global Green and Pitt sponsored an international design competition in the summer of 2006. The New York based architecture firm Workshop/APD won the competition, and the completion of the first home there is underway.

The Holy Cross Project consists of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a community center/sustainable design and climate action center. The goal of the project is to achieve LEED Platinum standards…, net zero energy and carbon neutral building. By using solar panels, high performance building design, HVAC systems, energy and resource monitoring systems, and energy efficient appliances, the buildings in the Holy Cross Project will use at least 75% less energy than typical buildings. In addition, Global Green is also exploring the use of river turbines in the adjacent Mississipi River.

My favorite part of all of this is that “Global Green has assembled a highly skilled and dedicated project team of national experts paired with local professionals with the goal of transferring knowledge to ultimately make green expertise indigenous to New Orleans.” Teach a ‘hood to fish. True sustainability.

So, where does the “pink thing” come in, you ask? Well, The Pink Project is a huge installation, combining architecture, film, and art to raise funds for the rebuilding effort in New Orleans. Check out the super cool concept and more on the Make It Right website.

On December 3rd, over 100 pink houses will be unveiled along the Industrial Canal in the Lower 9th Ward. Upon commencement, the components of each house will lay haphazard on the site. It is only through monetary donations that these pink placeholders become reassembled, registering the effects of a collective consciousness, ultimately enabling the construction of 150 real homes.

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