The Alliance for Affordable Energy, a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization promoting fair, affordable and environmentally responsible energy policies for Louisiana and the nation for 20 years, has launched a series of workshops designed to elicit strategies and action steps from the local community on how to rebuild New Orleans in a sensible, sustainable fashion.
Based on suggestions from participants at the first workshop held Oct. 8th, letters were sent earlier this week to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation, Governor Kathleen Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin, the New Orleans City Council and their respective commissions urging them to ensure that sustainability is an essential part of redevelopment.
The group listed six principles they considered essential to the rebuilding process including:
1) accountability and community participation,
2) walkable, mixed use neighborhoods with improved public transportation,
3) green, energy efficient rebuilding,
4) greater distributed generation of electricity including the use of more renewable energy resources,
5) coastal restoration and adequate hurricane protection, and 6) stopping global warming which is causing hurricanes to become stronger and sea-levels to rise.
Alliance Executive Director Linda Stone said in the letters, “Many elements of a ‘sustainable’ city can already be found in New Orleans. The live oaks, historic doubles and amenities within walking distance, embody what much of the country is trying to return to. While honoring our neighborhoods, we can enhance damaged buildings with energy efficient features and construct new homes and facilities that combine building science technologies with classic features such as high ceilings and transoms that work so well for our hot humid climate. We want to see a New Orleans that retains its rich and diverse heritage, but that serves its people better.”
The rebuilding could provide a national model of sustainability and a catalyst for energy-efficient and renewable technologies and community-based economic development.
More community input will be gathered and next steps will be decided at the second Sustainable Redevelopment Community Workshop this Saturday, October 29, 2005, 10am to 2pm, at the Carrollton United Methodist Church, 921 S. Carrollton Avenue at Freret Street, New Orleans. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. RSVP to the email:
Loading...