From Rubble to Sustainable Energy, the Story of Greensburg

The recent rash of tornados that ripped through much of the South reminds us of the awesome destructive power that is contained in these storms. I grew up in Nebraska. I’ve seen first-hand funnel clouds darting across the prairie. It is not uncommon to see stalks of straw driven completely through telephone poles.

Yet, power of wind can be reclaimed to remake a community devastated by these powerful twisters. The link below tells the story of Greensburg, Kansas. This small farming community was the unlucky recipient of the first tornado classified EF-5, the most powerful level of cyclone (greater than 210 mph).

Using mostly reclaimed materials and a great deal of determination, Greensburg is the greenest town in the United States. Their community has a 10-turbine wind farm generating 12 megawatts of electricity. There are more geothermal wells per capita than anywhere on earth. All city buildings are LEED Platinum certified (the highest energy efficiency certification available) and the brick used was reclaimed from the conventional power station destroyed by the storm in 2007.

Get the whole story by clicking here.