Description

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"There was never a town with a truer name, though it didn't really discover it till tragedy created an opportunity that residents seized with head and heart!"
— Bill McKibben, author Oil and Honey:The Education of an Unlikely Activist

Hope for a greener America . . . from the extraordinary community that made it a reality.

Green Town U.S.A. recounts Greensburg’s inspiring story of resilience, community, and sustainability which began on the evening of May 4, 2007, when disaster struck the quiet Kansas city. A tornado topping all the scales touched down, and in a matter of minutes, Greensburg, which stood for more than 120 years, was destroyed.

Greensburg committed to reconstructing itself from the ground up while embracing green technology and building methods, along with solar and wind energy. The new Greensburg stands testament to the strength and viability of sustainable community redevelopment and energy-efficient living.

Green Town U.S.A. is a story of hope and opportunity—even in the face of obstacles and difficulties—and provides a real-world proving ground for sustainable solutions. Green Town U.S.A. takes you through the entire reconstruction process, from Long-Term Community Recovery planning for Greensburg, to the latest advancements in green materials and technology, to the leadership and teambuilding necessary to realize an achievement of this magnitude.

Every town can be a “green town.” Any community faced with rebuilding after a natural disaster, planning new municipal buildings or schools, upgrading retail or industrial centers, or building homes can gain valuable insight from the example of Greensburg, Kansas.

Green Town U.S.A. is an invaluable handbook for civic leaders, concerned citizens, business owners, and anyone who is a stakeholder in America’s sustainable future.

About the Author

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Thomas Fox is an attorney and former research editor at Reader’s Digest. Fox is the author of Urban Farming: Sustainable City Living in Your Backyard, in Your Community, and in the World. His work has been published in The Washington Post, Wine Enthusiast, and elsewhere. He writes extensively on sustainability.

Daniel Wallach is the Executive Director and Founder of Greensburg GreenTown, a grassroots community-based organization that works side-by-side with city and county officials, business owners, and local residents to incorporate sustainable principles into their rebuilding processes.

Alex Wilson is the Founder of BuildingGreen, Inc. in Brattleboro, Vermont and the nonprofit Resilient Design Institute.

Praise For…

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"There was never a town with a truer name, though it didn't really discover it till tragedy created an opportunity that residents seized with head and heart!"
— Bill McKibben, author Oil and Honey:The Education of an Unlikely Activist

"Extreme and catastrophic climate events are the new normal. Fox is prescient in chronicling the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding a post-disaster Greensburg, Kansas. This is a story of what can be learned from both the successes and failures of rebuilding communities in Tornado Alley in the age of climate change." — Jennifer Cockrall-King, Author of Food and the City: Urban Agriculture and the New Food Revolution

"...a global example of how clean energy can power an entire community, how it can bring jobs and businesses to a place where piles of bricks and rubble once lay." - President Barack Obama

"From the rubble of a tornado, a Kansas town becomes a model for environmentally friendly living" - USA Today

"This town was almost blown off the map—now it’s back, and super green." - Daniel Penner, Grist.org

“…visionary”. – The New York Times
 
“…an example for sustainable communities everywhere.” --  National Geographic
 
“…a living example of what can be achieved when we take that leap into environmental sustainability.”  - The Huffington Post
 
“…the greenest town in America.” — Los Angeles Times