An international design competition based in Virginia has yielded the first 'cradle-to-cradle' housing, made of sustainable materials able to be used and reused with no loss of quality and limited environmental impact.
Construction waste has been eliminated. Carbon emissions have been offset. And the new cradle-to-cradle housing slated to begin construction next month near Roanoke, Virginia, is even reasonably affordable.
"What C2C Home organizers hope to achieve in Gainsboro is to associate sustainability with affordability and tradition. 'We want to show that a green home doesn't need to cost more or look different from its neighbors.' "
"After mortgage incentives and product donations, the estimated cost of the house hovers around $95,000, within the ballpark of the median home price in Roanoke."
"Passersby will not be able to distinguish the 1,602 square foot C2C house from others lining the block, nor will they know that the structure is completely modular, Boyle says."
FULL STORY: Walking the Cradle

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie