Pitt and his organization have already accomplished a great deal in New Orleans by actually building homes for families, although they still have a long ways to go. After his visit to the disaster zone, Pitt promised to build 150 houses in the Lower 9th Ward and has even brought on international architects to design the homes. Fourteen homes have been built so far, and nineteen more are under construction, but there’s still a long ways to go.
Make It Right is currently up for a Pepsi Refresh Grant worth $250,000, which would be used to provide green features for Make It Right homes, like solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, tankless water heaters, water-efficient fixtures, and rainwater cisterns. The winner for this large grant is chosen by us through online voting, which lasts until July 31st. Certainly all of the organizations up for the grant are worthy, but putting money towards energy-efficient homes for people who need them is a topic near and dear to our hearts — so vote for Make It Right today!
Photo credits: Make It Right Foundation
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Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation 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 Pepsi Refresh Grant 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 completed 14 homes and is working on 19 more…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Each home features roof-mounted solar panels that provide enough power to make the homes zero-energy.
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Advanced framing techniques are utilized to increase the durability of the homes, allowing them to withstand winds of at least 130mph.
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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.
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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.
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Landscaping around the home is designed to reduce the need for irrigation, requires minimal maintenance, and handles droughts or temporary inundation.
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Each house harvests rainwater and stores it in cisterns so that it can be used for landscape irrigation.
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Inside, the homes feature low-flow water-efficient fixtures, tankless water heaters, zero-VOC paint, cabinetry without formaldehyde, and eco-friendly carpets.
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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.
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