Columbus Ohio's First Green Subdivision - A First in Affordable Housing

MiraCit Development Corporation Wins MEEA's Inspiring Efficiency IMPACT Award

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
announced today that MiraCit Development Corporation won the Inspiring
Efficiency IMPACT Award for Columbus, Ohio's first green subdivision called
Greenview Estates. The green development is part of Columbus Mayor Michael
Coleman's "Get Green, Columbus" initiative, in partnership with the Building
Industry Association of Central Ohio (BIA), the Affordable Housing Trust and
MiraCit Development Corporation. Homes in the subdivision are 25 to 40% more
efficient than standard homes. MiraCit Development Corporation will be honored
at the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference being held at the Drake Hotel in
Chicago, Illinois, on January 9-11, 2008 (http://www.mwalliance.org).
MiraCit (which stands for "miracle city") is a nonprofit community based
organization formed out of the vision of Living Faith Apostolic Church. Under
the leadership of chairman, Bishop Edgar Posey, MiraCit spearheaded the
redevelopment of its surrounding community. Greenview Estates has transformed
what was once a neighborhood brownfield into a "field of dreams fulfilled" for
many area residents and new homeowners.
The project dispels the notion that energy efficient homes are not
affordable, by providing attractive, energy-efficient and green technology
homes in the price range of $130,000-$180,000. In less than a year,
twenty-five of the thirty units are in contract.
All the homes in the neighborhood will be built to far more rigorous
environmental standards than typical homes. Homes are typically 40% more
efficient than traditional homes and homeowners in Greenview Estates can
expect to save about $900 per year in utility costs.
Mayor Coleman said, "The development will increase home ownership in an
area where traditionally that has been lacking and it will reinforce a trend
towards environmentally conscious building in Columbus."
"Greenview Estates project is a unique collaborative effort between local
and regional governments, non-profit organizations and builders to change the
mindset and behavior with regard to development, affordability of green
technology, energy use patterns and efficiency," said MEEA.
The goal of Greenview Estates is to demonstrate that high performance or
"green" housing can be built affordably achieving one of the following
objectives:
-- Increase energy efficiency
-- Reduce construction cost or waste
-- Improve indoor air quality
-- Improve building durability
-- Improve occupant comfort
-- Reduce the environmental impact of the building

SOURCE Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

Karen Andre of K Andre Consulting, +1-773-472-3200, for Midwest Energy
Efficiency Alliance