Thomas J. Fox - Green Town USA: The Handbook for Americas Sustainable Future

To Tracy, who has always sheltered me, whatever the storm; Carole, who makes my life more sustainable every day; and the people of Kiowa County, Kansas, whose resilience, compassion, and inventiveness continue to inspire me.

Thomas Fox

One of the hardest parts of this project (and this book) is to adequately recognize all the heroes of the greening of Greensburg. But I need to name several: Catherine Hart was my better half and unrelenting positive voice and hard worker in the development and execution of the organization that is Greensburg GreenTown. In the community itself, City Administrator Steve Hewitt was a phenomenal leader through it all. Mayor McCollum, the first mayor and his point man Jack McCawley were essential in the early weeks and then Mayor John Janssen carried through powerful leadership for that all-important first year. GreenTown board members, and especially board chairs Mary Melton and Wylan Fleener, were integral in the Green Initiative succeeding (Wylan has given of himself virtually every day since the tornado to keep sustainability paramount in Greensburg). The Americorps fellows and Ruth Ann Wedel gave way more than I have ever seen people give. Business leaders, especially the Estes family and the Scott Brown family, made it possible for us to stay encouraged and energized. The Shanks and their GM dealership were important and were early champions. The county involvement was critical and Commissioner Gene West, Mary Sweet at the hospital, and Darin Headrick at the school provided tireless leadership and unyielding commitment. Finally, there was an entire contingency from outside the community like the teams from NREL, USDA Rural Development, FEMA, State of Kansas, and many others that contributed greatly. Residents like City Council person Erica Goodman and her family and Matt Deighton and Laura Stoltenberg provided ongoing enthusiasm for the green initiative. Folks like the Ellers, Allisons, and Kirks pioneered the greenest new homes in town and generously shared of their process with a media and public hungry for information and proof that the town was truly rebuilding green. Of course, there were also the hundreds of businesses and thousands of volunteers that gave deeply. The media kept telling our story (and continues to) which served us so well in keeping momentum going. See what I mean? So many to thank and I am still leaving many off. But it is important to say something because it has truly been the effort, sacrifice, vision, and courage of thousands of people that made this all work. This is community, this is our true nature.

Daniel Wallach

W hen natural disasters strike, we may watch the news, listen to the tragic stories of loss, and draw inspiration from acts of heroism. A few of us may send donations to the Red Cross. But, fairly quickly, these stories fade from view. Such was the case for many of us with the 2007 tornado that struck the small Kansas town of Greensburg, two hours west of Wichita. The EF5 tornado, more than a mile-and-a-half wide at its base, mowed a swath through the town on the evening of May 4th, destroying 95 percent of Greensburgs buildings and infrastructure.

For Greensburg residents, the tornado was a turning point, an opportunity to stand back and ask what do we want to be? The Greensburg tornado launched one of the most remarkable stories in the country of a community pulling itself from the ashes and committing not only to rebuild, but to rebuild as the greenest, most sustainable town in America.

Greensburg became Americas Green Town.

Now, six years later, Greensburg is ready to teach the rest of us how to do it. Green Town U.S.A. provides a roadmap that will help us use the experiences of Greensburg to transform our own communities. We dont have to wait for a tragedy to begin this process of change. Sustainability translates into more jobs, improved quality of life, a healthier environment, and resilience, and this book will help you begin the process of achieving sustainability in your town.

Consider Green Town U.S.A. your manual for this transition. By creating a bridge to the future using sustainable practices as our measure, we can renew, restore, and rebuild this great country one Green Town at a time.

A LEX W ILSON

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

G reensburg, Kansas sits at the end of a rainbow.

In the heartland of America, a small farming community rebuilt itself from the ravages of destruction. With heart and soul, and a determination that reflects their frontier heritage, the people of Greensburg removed the rubble and started again.

However, this time, something was different. Laying aside differences in opinion and political beliefs, together the community agreed to start afresh with a new vision for their future. A green future. Lush with the promise of great days ahead. A city that would reflect their enduring values and a commitment to the generations to come.

Our future is based on the decisions we make today. We can choose to follow the same path or, like the citizens of Greensburg, we can strive for a better tomorrow. Its all about the choices we make. In our own lives and in our communities.

What struck me most about the people of Greensburg was their practicality. Their common sense. When it came time to restore their city, there was no hesitation to choose sustainability.

It is then in these pages you will find their story and, most importantly, their choices. It is my hope you will find inspiration for your own community to help you make choices that will have a positive impact for many tomorrows.

And if you ever find yourself in the great prairies of Kansas, turn off the highway just west of Wichita and pay a visit to Greensburg. You will find warm, welcoming people who have quite a story to tell.

A NDREW F LACH , Publisher