In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Global Green USA  (American branch of Green Cross) came to the aid of the homeless with new approach.

Global Green, in partnership with Brad Pitt, sponsored an international design competition during the summer of 2006, with more than 125 entries competing to design a zero energy affordable housing development in the Holy Cross Neighborhood of the Lower 9th Ward.

 

Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen of Workshop/APD in New York created the winning design. With the support of Lead Funding Partner, Home Depot Foundation, Global Green is now working with Workshop/APD and a dedicated and highly skilled team of sustainable design and building experts together with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association to translate the winning development proposal into a reality.

 

It was estimated that If 50,000 of the homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina were rebuilt according to the green standards set by the design competition, residents of New Orleans would save $38 million to $56 million in energy bills every year and eliminate over 1⁄2 million total tons of CO2 - the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.

 

To find out more, visit the Holy Cross Project Website.