Omaha Green Homes Tour

Oct. 2 Omaha Green Homes Tour UNO, Mammel Hall, 6708 Pine St. 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $5, greenomahacoalition.org Most people know the reasons to go green: save the environment, save money, decrease dependence on foreign oil, etc. Despite positive reasons to reduce our carbon footprint, some people need a little help getting a green program going. Enter the Green Omaha Coalition, whose mission is to promote “a healthy, sustainable community through partnerships, policy, and smart solutions.” The GOC is sponsoring a tour of Omaha homes with modifications to reduce environmental impact. Patrick Wheeler, the official GOC spokesman, said, “The homes offer many different features, ranging from the practical steps we all can take to what a green home would look like if you started from scratch.” The tour starts and ends at UNO’s Mammel Hall, the first LEED certified building on campus. Mammel Hall will host a green expo full of vendors, speakers and presentations. The date and location for the expo were chosen very carefully, Wheeler said. “Mammel Hall provides the opportunity for our community to learn about some of the things UNO is doing to prepare our students and our community for living better and considering life-cycle costs of major projects. As Oct. 2 is UNO’s Homecoming, we hope to use this opportunity to broaden both audiences, to help familiarize those coming for Homecoming activities with what green homes and activities are, and to encourage those who are attending the Green Home Tour to stick around and enjoy a terrific football game at an excellent, affordable and Omaha-based venue.”