--- title: Hurricane Katrina Anniversary: Storm Led To Green Building description: A slew of nonprofits have committed millions of dollars to support the the sustainable construction of green homes in the city canonical: https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/ author: Justin Worland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-28T16:37:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:58:01.184Z article:section: Science og:title: Hurricane Katrina Anniversary: Storm Led To Green Building og:description: A slew of nonprofits have committed millions of dollars to support the the sustainable construction of green homes in the city og:url: https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc3b0bdc53e842aa4/698861388e06012c3c46217b/new-orleans2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5184 og:image:height: 2916 og:image:alt: Katrina Changing City New Orleans og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hurricane Katrina Anniversary: Storm Led To Green Building twitter:description: A slew of nonprofits have committed millions of dollars to support the the sustainable construction of green homes in the city twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc3b0bdc53e842aa4/698861388e06012c3c46217b/new-orleans2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 01:48 video:published: 2015-08-27 section: entertainment topics: MTV Video Music Awards, award show preview, celebrity performances, music videos, host lineup, Kanye West award speech, Justin Bieber comeback, Taylor Swift video preview genre: news preview, entertainment feature tones: anticipatory, playful, enthusiastic emotions: excitement (high), anticipation (high), amusement (medium) sentiment: positive audience: pop music fans, award show viewers, celebrity news followers, MTV audiences people: Garrett English, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, ASAP Rocky, Pharrell, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Scott Eastwood, Kanye West, Justin Bieber organizations: MTV, Entertainment Weekly, Twitter products: Wildest Dreams, Can't Feel My Face, What Do You Mean transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # The Green Rebuilding of Post-Katrina New Orleans > Sponsored content. 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Future Proof is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-futureproof-2026q3/newsletters?i=6baa2ff4-735b-4f15-bc98-e4326e328a86&cr=time-nl-futureproof-2026q3-v1) ## Video: The Potential Watercooler Moments of the 2015 MTV VMAs [Watch (HLS stream): The Potential Watercooler Moments of the 2015 MTV VMAs](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/UkVfmGtr.m3u8) (1:48)  _Published 2015-08-27. The MTV Video Music Awards are Sunday and there are a few potential watercooler moments we're already anticipating._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary The video previews potential talking points for the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, noting that executive producer Garrett English gave Miley Cyrus free rein as host and listing performers including Demi Lovato, ASAP Rocky, Pharrell, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and The Weeknd. It highlights three anticipated moments: Taylor Swift previewing her Wildest Dreams video, Kanye West receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and Justin Bieber performing a new single. The segment is framed around what viewers are likely to discuss the following Monday. ## Key points - Executive producer Garrett English told Entertainment Weekly he gave Miley Cyrus pretty free rein on how she hosts the show. (00:07) - Demi Lovato, ASAP Rocky, Pharrell, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are slated to perform during the show. (00:20) - The Weeknd will perform his hit single Can't Feel My Face. (00:26) - Taylor Swift is previewing her newest music video, Wildest Dreams, during the pre-show. (00:38) - Kanye West will be presented with a Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. (00:53) - The speaker wonders whether Taylor Swift will jokingly crash Kanye West's speech, as he infamously crashed her acceptance speech. (01:15) - Justin Bieber will perform his highly anticipated new single, What Do You Mean, and this will be his first time returning to the VMAs as a nominee since 2012. (01:23) - The show airs Sunday at 8 PM Eastern on MTV. (01:39) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:26] Show Hosting and Performer Lineup. The producer's comments on Miley Cyrus hosting and the list of scheduled performers are introduced. - [00:26 to 00:38] Performances Expected Before Headlines. The Weeknd's performance is noted, followed by the claim that some performers may not be water cooler topics. - [00:38 to 00:53] Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams Preview. Swift's preview of the Wildest Dreams video during the pre-show is discussed, referencing an Instagram sneak peek. - [00:53 to 01:23] Kanye West's Vanguard Award Speech. West's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award is described, with speculation about his acceptance speech and a possible Swift interruption. - [01:23 to 01:48] Justin Bieber's Comeback Performance. Bieber's new single performance and return as a nominee are highlighted, along with the broadcast time. ## Key quotes - [00:07] Garrett English: "he's going to let Miley be Miley." - [00:46] interviewer: "we're pretty stoked to see the video in its entirety." - [01:12] interviewer: "Will Taylor Swift jokingly crash his speech the same way he infamously crashed her acceptance speech?" - [01:42] interviewer: "this year's show is one you definitely don't want to miss." ## Questions this video answers - Who is the executive producer of the MTV VMAs and what did he say about the host? [00:03] - Which performers are scheduled for the 2015 MTV VMAs? [00:20] - What is Taylor Swift previewing at the pre-show? [00:38] - What award will Kanye West receive at the show? [00:53] - Why is Justin Bieber's return to the VMAs significant? [01:23] - When and where can viewers watch the show? [01:39]  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Aug 28, 2015 4:37 PM UTC  Empty lots and new buildings dot the Lower 9th Ward section of New Orleans on July 29, 2015. Empty lots and new buildings dot the Lower 9th Ward section of New Orleans on July 29, 2015. Gerald Herbert—AP  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Aug 28, 2015 4:37 PM UTC When Hurricane Katrina rocked the Gulf Coast in 2005, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents, many wondered what shape a rebuilt city would take—or whether restoring the city would be possible at all. But some experts saw an opportunity in the catastrophe of New Orleans. In the aftermath of the storm, a slew of nonprofits committed millions of dollars to support the construction of green homes in the city, which in turn prompted a green building trend in the city. Now, 10 years late, green building experts say the work rebuilding there can serve as a model for other communities. The Make it Right Foundation, founded by the actor Brad Pitt, has built more than 100 homes in the hard-hit Lower Ninth Ward for local residents. The residences built by the foundation included solar panels that reduce energy use from external sources and countertops made from recycled materials. All the homes were built to LEED Platinum certification standards, the highest-level designation for sustainable building offered by the U.S. Green Building Council. Green building offers low-income homeowners an opportunity to cut energy costs, says Make it Right senior advisor Taylor Royle. Green homes in New Orleans tend to have energy bills of around $30 per month, including gas and electricity, compared to more than $100 in conventional homes. Green building materials, which often replace materials that exacerbate respiratory disease, can also improve environmental health, especially in low-income communities where asthma is particularly prevalent. “It’s not just because someone in the environmental community believes in green building,” said Royle. “Green building means lower bills, fewer trips to the hospital for children with asthma.” The green building group Global Green has become a lasting presence in local New Orleans communities, offering workshops on green building and inspecting homes to help identify cost-effective improvements, says Michelle Pyne, a senior staffer in New Orleans for Global Green. Global Green has also moved beyond building green homes to advocate for public policy that encourages green building in the public sector and other solutions to make building in the region more sustainable. New Orleans public schools—110 of which were severely damaged—now have sustainability programs and any new schools must be built to at least LEED Silver standards, Pyne said. In addition to offering cost-saving and environmental benefits, green homes in the city have been built to better withstand hurricanes. Make it Right, for instance, builds homes elevated 5 or 8 feet off the ground. All homes include roof access to ensure that residents aren’t trapped in the attic during a flooding situation—as happened during Katrina. New Orleans has done much to prepare the city itself for the next hurricane, with a $14.5 billion, but homes that are themselves equipped to withstand storms and flooding is also a key element in preparation. Indeed, Louisiana’s master plan, which provides guidelines for how to protect the city from future natural disasters, includes provisions to help fund elevated homes for homeowners who may not be able to afford the expense. “Every dollar up front is more effective than five spent after the fact,” said Mike Foley, CEO of insurance company Zurich North America Commercial. “We need to shift the conversation from one of recovery to one of resilience.” _Read next:_ [_New Orleans, Here & Now_](http://time.com/new-orleans-here-and-now?iid=time%5Freadnext) ## Transcript [00:00] The MTV Video Music Awards are Sunday. And based on [00:03] the promos alone, it has a lot of potential and promise to be [00:07] completely out of this world. That's because the executive [00:10] producer of the show Garrett English told Entertainment [00:13] Weekly he's given Miley Cyrus pretty free reign on how she [00:16] hosts the show. he's going to let Miley be Miley. Demi [00:20] Lovato, Asap, Rocky, Pharrell, Macklemore and Ryan [00:23] Lewis are all slated to perform during the show. The [00:26] Weekend will also perform his hit single Can't Feel My [00:29] Face and even if none of them Those previous artists are [00:32] worth talking about at the water cooler Monday morning. [00:34] There are three moments that will most definitely make [00:38] some headlines. First, Taylor Swift is previewing her [00:40] newest music video, Wildest Dreams, during the pre- show. [00:44] We already got a sneak peek through her Instagram and [00:46] between the wildlife, stormy weather and Scott Eastwood, [00:49] we're pretty stoked to see the video in its entirety. Charity [00:53] and what would be a buzzworthy event sans Kanye West? [00:56] He'll be presented with a Michael Jackson Video Vanguard [00:59] Award following in the footsteps of other artists who push [01:02] the boundaries on music video creativity. Even though the [01:05] Vanguard award is a huge honor, we're more curious to [01:08] see what happens During his acceptance speech. Will he [01:12] elevate his self- proclaimed godly status to one of a [01:15] supreme ruler of rock? Will Taylor Swift jokingly crash his [01:17] speech the same way he infamously crashed her [01:20] acceptance speech? Only time will tell. Finally, Justin [01:23] Bieber will perform his highly anticipated new single, What [01:26] do you mean, and believers everywhere will cause Twitter [01:29] to crash. This will be Bieber's first time returning to the [01:32] VMA's as a nominee Since 2012. And this performance [01:35] also signifies the start of the Bieb making a comeback from [01:39] his bad boy days. So, make sure to tune in Sunday at 8 PM [01:42] Eastern on MTV because this year's show is one you [01:45] definitely don't want to miss. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/"},"headline":"The Green Rebuilding of Post-Katrina New Orleans","datePublished":"2015-08-28T16:37:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:58:01.184Z","description":"'Green building means lower bills, fewer trips to the hospital for children with asthma'","url":"https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/","keywords":["climate change","Natural Disasters"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc3b0bdc53e842aa4/698861388e06012c3c46217b/new-orleans2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Justin Worland","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/justin-worland/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc3b0bdc53e842aa4/698861388e06012c3c46217b/new-orleans2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Katrina Changing City New Orleans","caption":"Katrina Changing City New Orleans","creditText":"Gerald Herbert—AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/climate-change/","name":"climate change"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/","name":"The Green Rebuilding of Post-Katrina New Orleans"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Potential Watercooler Moments of the 2015 MTV VMAs","description":"The MTV Video Music Awards are Sunday and there are a few potential watercooler moments we're already anticipating.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/UkVfmGtr/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-08-27T16:06:20.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/UkVfmGtr.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/","duration":"PT1M48S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4014281/katrina-green-building/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```