The Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, Louisiana was one of the hardest hit areas in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Located adjacent to the Industrial Canal levy, the neighborhood flooded with over 20 feet of water. However, after this devastating blow, a conglomeration of humanitarian aid and philanthropic deeds, the community began to be rebuilt in 2008 with energy efficient, low consumption homes that would provide families with the ability to offset their monthly utility costs. Currently, there are over 100 homes built all of which have received LEED Platinum recognition by the Green Building Council.
As of 2013, the population of the Lower 9th Ward had five times the amount of solar permits per capita than the rest of the city. “People in the Lower Nine recognize that, if we want a vibrant, resilient community, we have to begin at the community level to improve the natural environment, both locally and globally,” says Arthur Johnson, Executive Director of the Lower Ninth Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development. “Solar is one way people are doing that, and I think this report demonstrates that residents have really embraced the idea of sustainability and seen the benefits it can have for their families and their community.”
Many organizations have helped to make this sustainable neighborhood possible, including the Make It Right Foundation and the NOLA 100 Clinton Climate Initiative projects. These programs have streamlined the production and construction of these homes, greatly cutting the costs with significant energy savings. This has made housing affordable, especially in the Lower 9th Ward where the average annual income in 2000 was just under $28,000
Using the Lower 9th Ward as an example, we have the ability to make the energy more affordable for those with lower incomes within the state. If we were able to mimic the building designs and cost-saving strategies found in New Orleans, we could build homes that would greatly reduce the monthly cost of utilities in South Carolina.
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