Tale of Two Cities: Greensburg Resurrected as a National Model for Green Communities

摘要

This fact sheet provides a summary of how NREL's technical assistance in Greensburg, Kansas, helped the town rebuild green after recovering from a tornado in May 2007. Greensburg, Kansas, was like any rural community in America until a massive tornado leveled much of the town on May 4, 2007. Key leaders in Greensburg and Kansas made a crucial decision not just to rebuild, but to remake the town as a model sustainable community. To help achieve that goal, technical experts from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) arrived in Greensburg in June 2007. For three years, the experts worked with city leaders, business owners, residents, and other state, federal, and local agencies to identify ways to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies into the town's rebuilding efforts. NREL conducted detailed studies to examine energy use; availability of renewable energy resources; energy options; and potential integrated energy solutions that could also be replicated in other communities recovering from disaster or working toward building green. Those recommendations were incorporated into the Greensburg Sustainable Comprehensive Master Plan and furthered the town's vision of becoming an affordable sustainable community. Technical assistance provided by NREL has impacted the following areas in Greensburg's resurrection. Residents also formed a non-profit organization, Greensburg GreenTown(trademark), to provide resources and support for rebuilding. Through energy modeling, education, training, and onsite assistance, NREL helped renovate and rebuild homes in Greensburg that on average, use 40% less energy than similar buildings built to code - surpassing the goal NREL originally set to achieve 30% energy savings in residential buildings.