TODAY IS THE DAY!

The Sensible Solar Home: A Gree Build Project's ground breaking ceremony happens today at 1 PM. Please check back soon for updated photos and a detailed account of what went on at the ceremony.

Ground Breaking Ceremony One Week Away!

There's just one week left until the ground breaking ceremony of the Sensible Solar Home: A Green Build Project. Will you be attending?

When: Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Where: 265 2nd Street, Willows, CA 95988
What: Refreshments and snacks will be provided. Speeches by those organizations involved in the project, photos, the "turning of the shove" will all take place, as well as documents and explanatory information packets to present.
Who: All of the interested public is invited. This is an excellent opportunity to come learn about a fascinating and innovative project designed to work collaboratively with the community in building affordable solar homes to those Eco-minded families living in rural areas.



Already work has begun in order to prepare for this exciting event. Posted are the most recent pictures taken just yesterday by David Provine of Oak Tree Construction. They show the project in its very first stages. Thanks David and Roger, for the great pics.




We look forward to seeing you at the ground breaking ceremony...NO EXCUSES!
For more information, please contact Casie Parrish, Project Coordinator at casie.parrish@gmail.com

As always, more updates to come...

Sensible Solar Home Ground Breaking Ceremony!

3CORE staff, Willows HRA, David Provine of Oak Tree Construction and Glenn County Planning & Public Works Agency have been diligently working for several months on the Sensible Solar Home Project and its finally time to turn the dirt!


You are invited by the Sensible Solar Home project team to join us December 8th, 2009 at 1:00 PM located at 645, 2nd Street in Willows, CA for a celebration of the launching of this fantastic project. There will be welcoming words, an overview of the project, documentation for those interested parties, photographs, and of course refreshments and snacks. The celebration will run approximately half an hour, just enough time to dig that shovel into the dirt and officially get this project underway.

We hope to have a variety of attendees including all those dedicated parties responsible for the project as well as participating local officials. Our attendance list is large and invitations are being sent out this week to the Willow's City Council members, the Willows Board of Supervisors, the Willows Chamber of Commerce, CDBG Re-Use Committee, the Willows Chamber President and Chair and the town Mayor. The is an impressive list and if you were there it would be ever better!

The press will also be notified. The Willows Journal, the Valley Mirror, Chico ER and participating local radio stations are all invited. If there is any additional information you would like to see presented at the ground breaking ceremony, please do not hesitate to ask. We are always open to suggestions and being this is the first sensible solar home project of its kind to go into affect in Glenn County, there's lots be learned, discussed and accomplished.

Please contact Casie Parrish, Project Coordinator, for any additional information requests.

casie.parrish@gmail.com

* We look forward to seeing you all there!!






The time is here and you are all invited!!

"The Future of Home Construction"

Background

For the past several months Oak Tree Construction has been working with Glenn County Human Resource Agency (HRA) staff, 3CORE staff, consultants, and the Glenn County Planning and Public Works Agency on the Sensible Solar Home: A Green Build Project. The purpose of the project is to build a modest home utilizing standard construction techniques, combined with simple and practical upgrades in energy efficiency, along with cutting edge green technology. This approach to construction is designed to minimize the impact on the environment, reduce energy and water use, and create a more comfortable and healthy indoor environment. The goal is to provide a home that combines extraordinary energy performance with affordability.

Progress to Date

The project team is composed of 3CORE staff, who have arranged for low interest construction financing; Glenn County HRA Housing Program staff who have prepared the necessary documentation for amending the existing Program Income Reuse Plan to include a First Time Homebuyers revolving account; Glenn County HRA Job Training staff, who are arranging subsidized training for youth and adults to build the home; David Provine of Oak Tree Construction, who has designed the home, will build the home, and train employees in green building practices; Glenn County Planning and Public Works Agency staff, who helped find an appropriate parcel for the home site and are working to further develop green construction best practices; and the Glenn County Community Action Agency staff and consultants who are facilitating the overall effort.

A project site has been selected in Willows, CA (unincorporated area), an offer has been made, and the property is in escrow with closing scheduled for October 30th. (Sewer, water, and power are already stubbed to the parcel). The construction loan has been approved. The agreements between the contractor/builder and the HRA Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Job Training programs are in process with youth and adults being interviewed for selection and employment. The draft update to the Glenn County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Income Reuse Plan has been prepared for consideration. (CDBG funds work as a silent second with a local participating bank).

As construction and job training proceeds, HRA will work with the pool of interested home buyer applicants and participating banks, so that the buyer is ready to move in upon completion of the home and receipt of a Certificate of Occupancy. This approach reduces risk to the builder and provides a home for a first time home buyer. The home will also provide a demonstration model for future Sensible Solar Home: Green Build Projects.

Meet the Organizations Involved...

For more information on participating organizations, please click on the links below to be redirected to their websites.

David Provine, Oak Tree Construction

http://www.oaktreesolarenergy.com/

"Cultivating Healthy Businesses Because People Matter"

http://www.3coreed.org/

http://www.hra.co.glenn.ca.us/

Colusa, Glenn, & Trinity

"People Helping People Help Themselves"


Important Dates to Remember:

• Ground Breaking/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony tentatively set for October 30, 2009.


• More information to be posted next week.