Vote for Make It Right and Energy-Efficient Homes for New Orleans

<br> <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/10/06/brad-pitt-unveils-floating-house-for-make-it-right-foundation/" target="_blank">Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation</a> has been working these past four years to rebuild the community lost to Hurricane Katrina and provide energy-efficient homes for those that lost everything. Make It Right is now up for a <a href="http://www.wakeuppeople.com/makeitrightnola" target="_blank">Pepsi Refresh Grant</a> worth $250,000, which would go towards purchasing energy efficient systems for Make It Right homes, reducing the energy demands of the homes and making them cost less to run. So far the Make It Right Foundation has <a href="http://www.makeitrightnola.org/index.php/work_progress/track_progress/" target="_blank">completed 14 homes and is working on 19 more</a> and this grant could help them build even more.

Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation has pledged to build 150 homes in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, which was hardest hit by the hurricane.

Homes designs and plans were provided by 21 local, national and international firms. All of the homes have a strong focus on eco-friendly design and energy efficiency.

The U.S. Green Building Council says Make It Right is building the largest, greenest neighborhood of single family homes in America. Many of the homes are achieving LEED Platinum certification.

All of the homes are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds and rising waters and are outfitted with life-saving design features, eco-friendly materials, and energy-efficient systems to lower power consumption.

Each home is built 5-8 feet above the ground to withstand rising waters and is equipped with an escape hatch in the roof to provide a safe place in case water levels rise too high.

Each home features roof-mounted solar panels that provide enough power to make the homes zero-energy.

Advanced framing techniques are utilized to increase the durability of the homes, allowing them to withstand winds of at least 130mph.

Hurricane Fabric made from Kevlar (which is also used in bullet-proof vests) is fitted to all Make It Right windows, eliminating the lengthy and cumbersome process of boarding up windows with plywood.

James Hardie Fiber Cement Board siding and Bluwood structural framing components help safeguard the home against rot, moisture, hail, and storm damage so the home can last longer.

Landscaping around the home is designed to reduce the need for irrigation, requires minimal maintenance, and handles droughts or temporary inundation.

Each house harvests rainwater and stores it in cisterns so that it can be used for landscape irrigation.

Inside, the homes feature low-flow water-efficient fixtures, tankless water heaters, zero-VOC paint, cabinetry without formaldehyde, and eco-friendly carpets.

Energy-efficient ENERGY STAR appliances and systems are installed along with low-e windows and doors to keep the home cool during the summer months and warm during the winter.