Bike Tour Benefits Green Housing

The Ride Green Build Green bicycle trip departs Seattle, Wash. on Friday, July 25, at 9 a.m. from the Burke-Gilman trail at Pacific Avenue. Seven bicyclists are riding more than 1,000 miles — from Seattle to San Francisco — to raise funds and awareness for affordable green housing.
Ride Green Build Green was started by Elise Cope, a Habitat for Humanity of East King County Americorps coordinator, with the goal of raising awareness, advocacy and money in support of green affordable housing.
Each rider is raising $2,000 to support LEED certification for a home built by Habitat for Humanity of East King County. Fundraising has included benefit concerts, T-shirt sales, and donation solicitations before and during the ride. All donations are tax deductible through Habitat for Humanity.
The first day's riding will bring the tour to Habitat for Humanity Olympia, where the riders will stay overnight and then tour the facilities in the morning prior to their departure for Centralia. Those who wish to join the riders for the first day or provide meals at breaks are encouraged to contact trip organizers via email [email protected] or phone 508-317-0647.
Along the way, riders have opportunities to visit sites and organizations devoted to affordable and green housing and thus gain a greater understanding of the different methods, techniques, and plans for making both affordable and sustainable buildings and housing.
Stops include green affordable-housing projects, community potlucks and other events with local organizations, and meetings with advocacy organizations to learn about their work.
RGBG believes that some of the biggest impacts we have on the environment lie within the structures we build to accommodate our lives. Buildings in the US account for 40 percent of total annual US energy, 25 percent of water use, 20-30 percent of the municipal solid waste stream, 30-40 percent of wood and materials use, and 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.