Five years after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans finds itself at the forefront of affordable green building.  In large part thanks to the Make It Right Foundation, co-founded by Brad Pitt, the organization builds safe, sustainable, and affordable homes for working families who were displaced because of the hurricane.  The foundation aims to build 150 environmentally friendly homes in the Lower Ninth Ward.

The designers and architects donate their knowledge and time to create these cutting-edge single family homes and duplexes.  The Make It Right Foundation is on its way to building the largest, greenest neighborhood of single family homes in America.  The homes are equipped with metals roof to absorb less heat and reduce the need to cool a home by 20-70%, solar power, roof hatches, elevation, storm fabric, advance framing techniques, green guard rain drop building wrap, Bluewood, rainwater harvesting, and those are just the exterior features. Interior, homes are equipped with Energy Star-rated windows and appliances, formaldehyde-free cabinets and paints free of VOCs.

It is amazing what can happen when people come together and work towards a common goal.  It is even more amazing that the common goal for the Make It Right Foundation is to not just get families displaced by Hurricane Katrina back into their homes, but to be environmentally conscious and affordable while doing it.  Each of these homes sells for no more than $150,000.

America should take a hint from the foundation.  More and more neighborhoods are being built that could easily be built in an environmentally favorable way, while costing less; keeping the health and environment in mind.