Greening The Home Front

摘要

For builder John Gonsalves, it all started with news footage of Iraq soldiers reliving their experiences. "I remember watching the intensity in their eyes," he says. "It was the first time I saw any news reported by the people there." When he heard the veterans detail their horrific injuries, Gonsalves felt compelled to help. He searched online for an organization where he could apply his trade to provide homes for returning troops. No such program existed, so in 2004 Gonsalves created the nonprofit Homes for Our Troops to build specially adapted houses for disabled soldiers at no cost to the vets. Last summer The Sierra Club Foundation donated $1 million to help the group build green. "American military families have faced incredibly challenging times over the past seven years," says Peter Martin, the foundation's executive director. "Now, with Homes for Our Troops, we are enabling veterans to return to a healthier living environment." In addition to roll-in showers, keyless doors, and easy- access cabinets, the new Energy Star-certified houses will incorporate efficient appliances, extra insulation, and solar panels or geothermal heating systems, ensuring lower power bills.