is now a model for going green. cnn s tom foreman explains in today s building up america segment. reporter: the tornado that ripped through greensburg three years ago was a swirling black cloud with winds exceeding 200 miles an hour. and it left this small town in ruins. it was a 1.7 mile wide tornado. and the town is 1.5 miles wide. reporter: but the storm of rebuilding that daniel and wallic has led since is proving just as powerful, only this one is green. and so this town knew they had to have a unique identity. reporter: that s what you set out to do with this plan? yes. reporter: with the strong backing of the local government, this town is being rebuilt as a model of environmental sustainability. at the new school, drainage systems capture and conserve rain water to feed the landscaping. salvaged wood covers the walls. cabinets are made of wheat
it was a 1.7 mile wide tornado. and the town is 1.5 miles wide. so 4 was just very little on the periphery that survived. reporter: but the storm of rebuilding that daniel and others have led since is proving just as powerful, only this one is green. and so this town knew they had to have a unique identity. reporter: that s what you set out to do with this plan? yes. reporter: with a strong backing of the local government this town is being rebuilt as a model of environmental sustainability. at the new school, drainage systems capture and conserve rainwater to feed the landscaping. salvaged wood covers the walls. and natural light pours in everywhere. superintendent darin hedrick is expecting much lower power bills. during the day we won t even turn lights on here to have classes and activities during
with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour. it left this small town in ruins. it was a 1.7 mile wide tornado. the town is 1.5 miles wide. so there was just very little on the peripheries that survived. reporter: the storm of rebuilding has proved just as powerful, only this one is green. so this town knew they had to have a knew identification. reporter: with the strong backing of local government, this town is being rebuilt as a model of environmental sustainability. at the new school, drainage systems capture rain water to feed the landscaping. salvaged wood covers the walls. natural light pours in everywhere. the superintendent is expecting
rebuilding that daniel wallach and others have led since is proving just as powerful, only this one is green. and so this town knew they had to have a unique identity. reporter: and that s what you set out to do with this plan? yes. reporter: with the strong backing of the local government, this town is being rebuilt as a model of environmentally sustainability. at the new school, drainage systems capture and conserve rainwater to feed the landscaping. salvaged wood covers the walls. cabinets are made of wheat harvest leftovers, and natural light pours in everywhere. superintendent darren hedrick is expecting much lower power bills. during the day, we won t even turn lights on here to have classes and activities during the day. our classrooms are the same way, we really don t know if we ll have to turn a light switch on during the day in the classroom. reporter: that s a big savings. well, we hope. reporter: one of the town s many new wind turbines generates up to 30% o
exceeding 200 miles an hour. and it left this small town in ruins. it was a 1.7-mile-wide tornado, and the town is 1.5 miles wide. so, there was just very little on the peripheries that survived. reporter: but the storm of rebuilding that daniel wallach and others have led since is proving just as powerful, only this one is green. and so this town knew they had to have a unique identity. reporter: and that s what you set out to do with this plan? yes. reporter: with the strong backing of the local government, this town is being rebuilt as a model of environmental sustainability. at the new school, drainage systems capture and conserve rainwater to feed the landscaping, salvaged wood covers the walls, cabinets are made of wheat harvest leftovers and natural light pours in everywhere. superintendent darren hedrick is