Destroyed US town a model of eco-living as it rebuilds

Destroyed US town a model of eco-living as it rebuilds

GREENSBURG, Kansas (AFP) – With all eyes on US efforts to combat climate change at next week's UN summit in Copenhagen, one Kansas town is going green in a big way -- and setting an example for American communities.

On the evening of May 4, 2007, a category-five tornado swept through the rural midwestern town of Greensburg, killing nine people and obliterating 95 percent of the urban landscape, including the school, the hospital and more than 900 houses.

But this community of 1,400 is rebuilding stronger than ever, in a remarkable comeback billed by Greensburg GreenTown -- a grassroots organization involving town residents, local officials and business owners -- as a "model for sustainable building and green living."

In the wake of disaster, local leaders vowed to rebuild their town as the first in the United States to have all municipal projects constructed to the highest environmental and efficiency design standards.

The efforts have attracted green experts and enthusiasts from around the world because of the Greensburg's environmentally sustainable principles through renewable energy.

Whereas previously the town's only pull was having the world's largest hand-dug well, it now hopes to put itself on the map for eco-living.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091205/sc_afp/unclimatewarmingusenvironmentenergy_20091205175755

to the tornado. That hand dug well is something! We walked all the way down inside of it, amazing and the little museum was cool but long gone I fear. It is too far to just drive to see so I have not been back. I know people who work there and have been hearing little tidbits about all of this outside of the news. I really want to go back and see how it looks now. Before it was a typical small Kansas town, I am guessing it is a lot different now. I hope they rebuilt the museum and that they found the meteor then had on display. Tough, well directed people. :)

Our State Treasurer is from that town.

We were able to climb down in it a ways, my mom was too scared to go in.

I hope Greensburg catalyzes other towns to re-think their area.

I can't remember what station - TLC? Anyhow, I watched the shows with interest. At first it seems it was definitely slow going and hard to get people to warm up to the green thing, but now it seems to be paying off. I think it's great they can show that it can be done.

plan to build the best new town possible.