Building a Model Green Community in Greensburg, Kansas

By Interview Megan Phelps
Published on November 24, 2009
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On May 4, 2007, an EF5 tornado leveled the town of Greensburg, Kan. Greensburg GreenTown is a grassroots, community-based organization that is helping to rebuild the town as a model green community. Find the organization online at www.greensburggreentown.org.
On May 4, 2007, an EF5 tornado leveled the town of Greensburg, Kan. Greensburg GreenTown is a grassroots, community-based organization that is helping to rebuild the town as a model green community. Find the organization online at www.greensburggreentown.org.
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Daniel Wallach is the executive director and founder of Greensburg GreenTown. This photo was taken inside the nearly completed Silo Eco Home.
Daniel Wallach is the executive director and founder of Greensburg GreenTown. This photo was taken inside the nearly completed Silo Eco Home.
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The Greensburg Tornado destroyed 95 percent of the town’s homes and buildings and took 11 lives.
The Greensburg Tornado destroyed 95 percent of the town’s homes and buildings and took 11 lives.
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Outside, near the Greensburg GreenTown office. In the background are several “demonstration cubes” built to explain and showcase different green building technologies. The cubes were designed and constructed by Kansas State University students from the College of Architecture, Planning and Design.
Outside, near the Greensburg GreenTown office. In the background are several “demonstration cubes” built to explain and showcase different green building technologies. The cubes were designed and constructed by Kansas State University students from the College of Architecture, Planning and Design.
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The tornado was 1.7 miles wide. Greensburg itself is only 1.5 square miles.
The tornado was 1.7 miles wide. Greensburg itself is only 1.5 square miles.
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The Greensburg tornado was on the ground for 22 miles non-stop and 30 minutes. Maximum winds were estimated at 205 mph.
The Greensburg tornado was on the ground for 22 miles non-stop and 30 minutes. Maximum winds were estimated at 205 mph.
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The Silo Eco-Home is one of the planned “Chain of Eco Homes” in Greensburg. When it has been completed, it will be available as an information center, and for rental as an eco-lodging.
The Silo Eco-Home is one of the planned “Chain of Eco Homes” in Greensburg. When it has been completed, it will be available as an information center, and for rental as an eco-lodging.
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Greensburg GreenTown volunteers show examples of new green building products and technologies. This countertop material includes recycled materials. Other materials on display included samples of the materials for porous pavers, SIPs and insulated concrete forms.
Greensburg GreenTown volunteers show examples of new green building products and technologies. This countertop material includes recycled materials. Other materials on display included samples of the materials for porous pavers, SIPs and insulated concrete forms.
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Part of the geothermal heating system in the basement of the arts center.
Part of the geothermal heating system in the basement of the arts center.
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The outside of the Greensburg arts center, which is used for art exhibitions, classes and meeting space for community organizations. It’s the first building in Kansas to achieve a LEED Platinum rating. Among its many green features are rooftop solar panels, wind turbines and a geothermal heating and cooling system.
The outside of the Greensburg arts center, which is used for art exhibitions, classes and meeting space for community organizations. It’s the first building in Kansas to achieve a LEED Platinum rating. Among its many green features are rooftop solar panels, wind turbines and a geothermal heating and cooling system.
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Building integrated PV panels are visible on the new Greensburg city hall.
Building integrated PV panels are visible on the new Greensburg city hall.
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This commercial building in Greensburg is one of many new structures in town being constructed with insulated concrete forms (ICFs). ICF construction is extremely durable, making these buildings highly resistant to storms. It also produces well-insulated buildings, which will lead to reductions in heating and cooling costs.
This commercial building in Greensburg is one of many new structures in town being constructed with insulated concrete forms (ICFs). ICF construction is extremely durable, making these buildings highly resistant to storms. It also produces well-insulated buildings, which will lead to reductions in heating and cooling costs.

In May of 2007, Greensburg, Kan., was struck by an EF5 tornado, which killed 11 people and destroyed 95 percent of the buildings in this small southwestern Kansas town. Since that time, Greensburg has made a commitment to rebuilding as a model green community. That effort is already well underway. From city hall, to a new arts center, to the local school, buildings are being constructed with green features such as high performance windows, building integrated solar panels, and geothermal heating and cooling.

One of the organizations behind the success of this massive green building effort is the nonprofit community group Greensburg GreenTown. Recently, we spoke with Daniel Wallach, the founder and executive director of Greensburg GreenTown. Here’s what he had to say about renewable energy and green building, the challenges facing small rural communities, and the most effective ways to communicate about environmental problems and solutions.

The Idea of a Green Community

How did you first get personally involved with Greensburg?

My wife and I live 35 miles north. We moved from Denver six years ago, and we started a natural foods co-op that included six Greensburg families. After that, I was a rep for natural foods and local gifts from Kansas. Then, the tornado hit about two miles from our house. We were definitely shaken, but we weren’t hit, as our neighbors here in Greensburg were.

In thinking about what we could do, how we could be of service to the community, the idea came up of rebuilding Greensburg as a model green community.

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