Announcing The Eco-Homes Blog

GreenTown is pleased to announce a new blog where readers can get the latest on the Chain of Eco-Homes Project: The Chain of Eco-Homes The blog will be regularly updated by Project Managers Mason Earles, Emily Schlickman, and John Wickland. Check it out! The Eco-Homes Project has a full head of steam and will eventually feature as many as a dozen unique green homes that will serve as "living science museums" by day and eco-lodging by night.

KSU Architectural Designs Now Available

(KSU Studio 108 architecture student James O'Mara presents his model Four Square home to the community.)

December 16, 2008 - At a gathering on December 14, students from Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design returned to town with eight hand-built models of affordable, sustainable homes that they designed for people who are seeking to build in a green fashion. An advisory group composed of Kiowa County residents was on hand to receive this most generous gift and to thank the students for the amazing work they did on this project.

The plans for these homes are available locally at the GreenTown Visitors Center behind the Kwik Shop. Area residents may either borrow a hard copy of the booklet, Greening Greensburg: Affordable and Sustainable Home Designs, featuring the architectural renderings and plans, or they can take home a free CD that includes the book and additional information about the homes and the concepts behind them. READ MORE

GreenTown Breaks Ground

(Breaking Ground for GreenTown's First Eco-Home. Left to right: Mayor Bob Dixson, City Administrator Steve Hewitt, property donor Kim Gamble, GreenTown Board Chair Jackie Robertson, GreenTown staff Mason Earles, Executive Director Daniel Wallach, Program Director Catherine Hart, GreenTown staff John Wickland, GreenTown staff Emily Schlickman, AT&T Director for External Affairs Richard Shank, and Armour Homes General Manager David Moffitt)

December 16, 2008 - Last Thursday’s groundbreaking for the first Eco-Home was a very special event for GreenTown. We were happy to see so many friends and supporters come by to hear about the project, meet the builders, and watch the ceremonial turning of the soil. The ceremony got underway as T.J. Lawson, Pastor of Greensburg’s First Christian Church, opened with a prayer. Daniel Wallach, GreenTown’s Director, welcomed guests and introduced the people who have made this project possible: the funders, builders, staff and board. Daniel singled out the efforts of City Administrator Steve Hewitt in keeping the vision and momentum going. He acknowledged that the entire town worked together like a “symphony orchestra” to give vitality to the recovery and the Green Initiative. Board Chair Jackie Robertson thanked the staff and talked about the importance of the Green Initiative and GreenTown’s role in it. Mayor Bob Dixson welcomed people and spoke of the import of the town’s direction related to sustainability. And David Moffitt, General Manager of Armour Homes, described how his company feels privileged to be a part of this project. .READ MORE

Check Out the High Performance Buildings Database

With the support of DOE/NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) and in partnership with BuildingGreen.Com, we launched the Sustainable Buildings Database for Greensburg. This ambitious project features green building projects (both residential and commercial) in great detail, and includes information about projected energy usage, unique green features, history, and a wealth of other information. Photos, architectural renderings, and information about donors of products and services associated with each project can also be found here. You can access this database HERE.

Thank a Donor Today!

For you Greensburg area folks who've received gifts from our generous contributors, following are their mailing addresses if you'd like to drop them a note. The donors who have already received acknowledgment report to us how much it means to them to hear how their donations have affected people's lives. DONOR ADDRESSES HERE

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ECO-FRIENDLY PAINT DONATED

Last month, we at GreenTown were delighted by a visit from Jimmy Price and his son Jeff Price from Virginia Lime Works in Madison Heights, Virginia. The Prices operate a family-owned business which manufactures a lime-based paint that is totally environmentally friendly. After watching the “Greensburg” series on television, Jimmy felt compelled to donate a pallet of paint to the community. The Prices came to town to see first-hand what is happening with the rebuilding, to demonstrate how their paint can be most effectively utilized, and to explore with GreenTown staff how they might get further involved in local projects. Lime paint is a 6,000 year old “technology” which is non-toxic, and which actually absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. READ MORE
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Alternative Fuel Vehicle Show Held 10/16

The Wichita-Greensburg Green Alliance hosted the first public showing of the nationally renowned Linc Volt from local entrepreneur and owner of H-line conversions, Johnathan Goodwin. The event was held in Wichita at the conference of The North American Association for Environmental Education. The public was also welcomed to view this state-of- the-art piece of technology before it was transported to San Francisco to be displayed. The car is owned by musician Neil Young, who has been an active partner in helping bring the vision of this vehicle to reality. Go to www.lincvolt.com to find out more. READ MORE

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GREENTOWN BOARD PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Facilitator Rich Male, GreenTown Vice-Chair Mary Melton, and Chair Jackie Robertson
The Board of Directors met on October 5 for an all-day retreat and planning session. Facilitator Rich Male, a seasoned board trainer based in Denver, was on hand to lead the group through an intensive day of visioning and goal-setting. The Board revisited and updated the organizational mission statement, examined its strengths and challenges, and made plans for the next year of operation. Rich describes the board as "strong, courageous and very warm." READ MORE
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AT&T Delivers a Most Generous Gift

GreenTown receives AT&T's generous donation to the Eco-Homes Project
L-R: GreenTown Board Member Bob Mosier, AT&T Director for External Affairs Richard Shank, Eco-Homes Project Manager Mason Earles, GreenTown Director Daniel Wallach, Eco-Homes Project Manager Emily Schlickman, and Kansas State Representative Dennis McKinney
GreenTown's Eco-Homes Project is the deeply grateful recipient of a $50,000 contribution from AT&T. The ceremonial check was graciously delivered by Richard Shank, AT&T Director for External Affairs, who is headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas. The company issued a press release on September 22 in which they discuss their anchor support of the innovative project, which will eventually build up to a dozen state-of-the-art, sustainable homes in Greensburg. Each will serve as "living laboratory" where Greensburg residents can learn about sustainable housing, and also as eco-lodging for visitors wishing to experience different types of eco-friendly building methods and technologies. READ MORE
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University of Colorado Committed to Eco-Homes Project

CU Instructors Rob Pyatt & Rick Sommerfeld discuss possibilities for a site for the Eco-Homes Project.
A group of a dozen students from the University of Colorado College of Architecture and Planning, accompanied by three professors, paid a weekend visit to Greensburg. They are committed to participating in GreenTown’s Chain of Eco-Homes Project, and came to town to get the lay of the land, meet the staff, and gather information from the community about what kind of structure would be most appropriate and helpful. They are very enthusiastic about Greensburg’s rebuilding as a model green community. They spent the first half of Sunday touring the town with Eco-Home Project Managers Mason Earles & Emily Schlickman and GreenTown volunteer John Wickland. READ MORE A Fun Gift for the Kids of Greensburg

Hobbymasters, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest hobby stores in the country with two floors
and over 7,000 square feet of hobbies, in operation since 1975.
Hobbymasters is a retail hobby shop located in Red Bank, New Jersey. Inspired by what Greensburg is doing, they held a fundraising event in their store, bringing in donations for the Green Initiative and raising awareness among their customers. They raised over $750 in cash and also sent two huge cartons of toys, including science experiments that demonstrate concepts of renewable energy and green living. READ MORE
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Meglio-ESI Generosity Benefits Kiowa County Businesses and Residents

Daniel Wallach, GreenTown; Sarah Massie, Meglio-ESI; Laura Stoltenberg, Kiowa County Housing
At the September 9 meeting of the Kiowa County Business Redevelopment Group, manufacturers’ rep Sarah Massie announced a generous discount program for all county residents. Sarah works for Meglio-ESI (Olathe, Kansas), a company that represents 19 different electrical manufacturers. Her territory includes all of her home state of Kansas. Ever since the tornado, she has been brainstorming how to best help the local community. Once everybody “got their bearings”, Sarah sprang into action and set up a program through which people can purchase a wide range of products from companies that she represents. READ MORE
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KSU Group Visits Greensburg to Partner on Eco-Home

Kansas State University Professor Gary Coates and his architecture students scope out potential sites for the Eco-Home they are collaborating on with Xtreme Homes & GreenTown.
Students from Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning and Design, led by Professor Gary Coates, paid a visit to Greensburg on September 15. The students shared a PowerPoint presentation with GreenTown staff and local residents which outlined the ideas and values they'd like to incorporate into the design of their Eco-Home.READ MORE
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Announcing . . . Two new website features

Check out the GreenTown calendar of events (click on "calendar" in the sidebar) to keep up-to-date with the latest events related to the Green Initiative. And be sure to share your green ideas with us by visiting the Idea Box (also in the sidebar). We'd love to hear from you. Thanks to Website Specialist Anita Hohl for designing these features.
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VIEGA Brings Gifts To Kiowa County

Viega team members present the Manabloc plumbing system to local community representatives on August 7. Left toright: Jeff Courtney, Viega Project Manager; Daniel Wallach, Director of Greensburg GreenTown; Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg; Christian Geisthoff, Viega Vice-President of Marketing; Steve Hewitt, Greensburg City Administrator; and Adina Barnes, Viega Director of Marketing.

A vanload of folks from Viega (pronounced Vee'-guh) North America rolled into Greensburg on August 7, bringing a substantial donation to the County. Viega is a plumbing and heating company founded in Germany in the late nineteenth century, which has its North American headquarters in Wichita and its manufacturing plant in McPherson. They are inspired by the local green rebuilding effort and are excited to participate. They have committed a gift of 300 Manabloc systems to people in Kiowa County who are rebuilding. READ MORE ___________________________________

USDA Bestows Special Recognition
On Saturday, June 28, GreenTown was presented with a Certificate of Award by USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks and Housing Program Director Tim Rogers. We are recognized as an "outstanding nonprofit partner by demonstrating leadership and introducing innovative residential housing concepts for the Greensburg Community Self-Help- Housing Program". The recognition occurred during a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating phase two of the Mennonite Self-Help Housing Program. READ MORE
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Greensburg's Green Rebuilding Highlighted at St. Louis Conference

The Heartland Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) sponsored its conference June 22-24 in St. Louis. Four representatives from Greensburg were invited to share information about the Green Initiative at a panel presentation: City Administrator Steve Hewitt, School Superintendent Darin Headrick, former Mayor John Janssen, and GreenTown Executive Director Daniel Wallach. At the start of the session the 5-minute trailer from the Discovery Network for the "Greensburg" series was shown to audience; the footage from the tornado's aftermath visibly moved many in the audience. Each speaker gave a summary of the rebuilding from their perspective and then took questions. READ MORE
___________________________________GreenTalk Radio Interview

Daniel Wallach, Executive Director of Greensburg GreenTown, was recently interviewed by Sean Daily, host of Green Living Ideas on Green Talk Radio. Listen to the interview HERE, or READ MORE.
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PF WaterWorks Donates to the Greenest in Greensburg
PF WaterWorks™ is a Texas-based company that has generously donated state-of-the-art drain management systems to Greensburg. These p-traps have a manual cleaning component that minimizes the use of chemical drain cleaners. These 50 units will be offered to Greensburg homes and businesses that have incorporated exemplary green building practices. READ MORE
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Greensburg Receives International Acclaim as Sustainable City
LONDON (June 16, 2008) – Nine outstanding programs from organizations around the world representing both the public and private sectors have been selected as winners in the first annual Sustainable Cities Awards program, sponsored jointly by the Financial Times and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The award winners were announced today in conjunction with a Financial Times ULI Sustainable Cities conference being held in London. READ MORE
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Greensburg GreenTown T-Shirts!
Summer weight organic cotton t-shirts with 3 logos to choose from! READ MORE AND ORDER
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A Beautiful Gift of Recycled Glass
A nonprofit group located in Georgetown, Ohio called The Glass reFactory creates handmade sun catchers from 100% recycled glass. Last week we received a very generous shipment from these folks, who want to share their bounty. READ MORE
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