Where do I even begin?

We would like to build a sustainable, energy efficient, green home on a limited budget. I don’t even know where to begin. Are there contractors available who can do this for a set price using MIR blueprints? Any recommendations?

Hey Jessica,

Our houses are not built anywhere but the Lower Ninth Ward. All housing is region and site specific, and while you can take floor plans often and build them in multiple locations, construction methods are different depending on where you build.

First thing you need to do is research sustainable building practices in your area. You can do this by looking for architects, engineers, or general contractors in your area. You can also search for houses in your city or cities around you. Often really great sustainable designs have had some press, and this press typically will clue you in on who did the design.

Please let us know how this develops for you, and definitely share how your project is working out. We would love to see it, and make any comments that we can that may help you.

We live in Gentilly, New Orleans, which was also very devistated by Katrina. I would love to build in a sustainable way, but the options seem very limited when on a budget. It would be wonderfuyl if MIR could extend some of its fantastic resources outside of the 9th ward. Blueprints and perhaps lists of resources of contractors who are available to do the work .

To reiterate, Make It Right only builds the designs in the Lower Ninth Ward. The plans, although used through our project, are owned by the design architects who are local, national, and international.

Since you are local, I would gladly meet with you to discuss contractors and some methods to move forward.

That would be wondeful, and very much appreciated!!