GREEN HOME TOUR SEPTEMBER 19

New This Year - Information Fair at Village Pointe, Goodwill Accepting Donations

OMAHA - Metro area residents will have the opportunity to learn how to green their living environments this month in conjunction with the 2009 Green Home Tour. The event, presented by the Green Omaha Coalition and the Nebraska Flatwater Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:00am to 1:00pm starting at Village Pointe.

The tour will showcase three west Omaha homes that have undergone a series of green home improvement projects. Free shuttle service to the homes will be available at Village Pointe. Tour goers are encouraged to carpool, walk, cycle or take the bus to Village Pointe and use the tour shuttle.

New to the 2009 tour is an information fair at Village Pointe in conjunction with its weekly farmers market. Vendors will include area businesses and nonprofits interested in green living. In addition, Goodwill Industries will be accepting donations on site at Village Pointe throughout the tour, and tax receipts will be available.

“We want the public to know that greener living techniques can be applied to homes of all ages, even those built only 10 years ago,” said Ron Duce, one of the tour’s co-chairs. The showcase of green projects ranges from new heat pump and furnace installation to weather stripping to the creation of a front yard rain garden.

The tour stops and themes are outlined below.
1804 N. 155th Ave.
Theme – indoor air quality, general energy efficiency

1422 N. 164th St.
Theme – materials and maintenance

606 S. 178th St.
Theme – family lifestyle and general energy efficiency

20832 Charles St.
Theme - new Energy Star home


Tickets, which are $5 per person, will be available the day of the tour at Village Pointe and at each of the homes. Please be prepared to remove your shoes and leave strollers behind.

The main sponsors of the 2009 Green Home Tour are the Green Omaha Coalition, the Nebraska Flatwater Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, Kiewit Building Group, RDG Planning and Design, Bemis Press and Village Pointe. Booth sponsors include Arcosanti Homes, Carlisle Insulation, Carmody Plumbing, CM Custom Lawn Care and Landscaping, Curbside Rewards, Earth Day Omaha, Energy Rescue, Energy Smart Company, Fluff Your Stuff Interior Redesign, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity – Restore, Hayneedle, Health and Energy Company, Hearthstone Homes, Home Energy Defense, Kelly’s Carpet Omaha, Kinghorn Gardens, Lifetime Home Services, Live Well Omaha, Metropolitan Utilities District, Nebraskans for Peace, Nebraska Furniture Mart, O’Daniel Honda, Omaha Family Magazine, Omaha Public Power District, Sierra Club, Natural Glow Soy Candles, Thermal Services, Todd Menard Homes and United Fixture Supply.

For more information, contact Brian Spencer at 402.679.7465 or Duce at 402.977.4500.