The Salvation Army launches EnviRenew Initiative by greening the Twelve Days of Christmas The Louisiana Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is proud to be a partner in Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans’ Twelve Days of Christmas initiative. USGBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the building industry and advance buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. By committing to the improvement of homes in the Broadmoor neighborhood, The Salvation Army is improving the quality of life for residents and the community as a whole. As a first step in the EnviRenew program, Salvation Army is greening the Twelve Days of Christmas. For each of the 12 days between December 26th and January 6th, one family in the Broadmoor neighborhood has been identified to receive a green building upgrade. Salvation Army is paying local green building professionals to install these upgrades.
"The Twelve Days of Christmas starts our EnviRenew Initiative, and there is no better day to start this initiative than Twelfth Night, a celebration of the day that the three kings brought gifts to the Baby Jesus" says Captain Ethan Frizzell, Area Commander of the Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans. "Over the next three years the EnviRenew Initiative will renovate 125 homes, build 125 new homes, and create an ongoing alternative giving program in the Twelve Days of Christmas. All this will lead up to the Salvation Army’s 125th Anniversary in 2011."
Green Coast Enterprises, a local developer who is the owner’s representative for Project Home Again, is coordinating the installations for the Salvation Army, and the Broadmoor Development Corporation has selected the families within the Broadmoor neighborhood. The U.S. Green Building Council – Louisiana Chapter has helped to select the green building upgrades and develop marketing material.
"The Salvation Army has been a wonderful partner in our recovery to date," says Hal Roark, Executive Director of the Broadmoor Development Corporation. "The EnviRenew Initiative is a fantastic way to magnify the impact that Salvation Army has had in New Orleans, and we are pleased to be a partner in this effort."
"We are honored to participate in this, and are especially pleased that the Salvation Army has decided to support local green building entrepreneurs through the design of the Twelve Days program. We look forward to working with them over the next three years, and the Twelve Days of Christmas is a great way to kick off the larger Initiative" says Reuben Teague, principal of Green Coast Enterprises.
The EnviRenew Initiative will be celebrated at the Twelfth Night Party where Kern Studios is opening their new Mardi Gras World facility at 1380 Port of New Orleans Avenue. Boards describing the gifts and families will be on hand at the Twelfth Night party, and project partners, builders, and families will be available for questions after 5:30.