Press

For Immediate Release
Krista Pilot
917-528-0230 mobile
krista.pilot@gmail.com

GIMME SHELTER showcases next big idea in sustainability
Shelter Island home renovation brings together environmental building practices, creative talents and sustainable brands

February 24, 2010. (Shelter Island, New York)

When is a house more than a house? When it is re-imagining the way we approach sustainable architecture. GIMME SHELTER--the latest brainchild of environmental visionary Leslie Hoffman--transforms an ordinary house on Shelter Island, New York into a living laboratory for sustainable principles: extraordinary design, energy efficiency and eco-friendliness, with a focus on community and local participation.

Hoffman, executive director of Earth Pledge, the environmental non-profit dedicated to sustainability, has worked for decades propelling the idea of sustainable living into the mainstream through her leadership of efforts such as Farm to Table, Green Roofs, and since 2004, FutureFashion, working with designers from Stella McCartney to Diane von Furstenberg. The renovation plans, created by architect Steve Hoffman (no relation), feature solar panels for electricity, under floor heating for superior efficiency, a green roof, sustainable interior materials, energy efficient appliances and a rainwater catchment system to feed Hoffman's extensive organic food and flower garden. The project relies on craftsmen and product suppliers who will make it into a model for both the process – and the end product – that will inspire others and highlight the integration of products, systems and lifestyle choices.

Early supporters of the project include Benjamin Obdyke, Huber Engineered Woods, Warmboard Radiant Subfloor, Cancos Tile and Stone, Loewen Windows and Doors, Budurus, and Duravit providing products, with Nick Cope of Green Painting (interior painting and web design), Jared Seeger of Knightsbridge Strategies, and Krista Pilot of DKC Public Relations providing professional services.

GIMME SHELTER kicked off in August 2009 with one last pre-demolition party at the house, with Hoffman's friends on hand to offer their thoughts on community, sustainability and shelter that nurtures all. The project has progressed through demolition and into construction, with the new bits of foundation poured and the framing now in process. Construction is expected to be completed in early summer 2010.

GIMME SHELTER is intended as a story-telling vehicle to inspire conversation about community and sustainability. The project website, http://www.gimmeshelterproject.org/ provides extensive information about the project and the GIMME SHELTER blog. The project can also be followed on Facebook and @shelterhg on Twitter.

About Leslie Hoffman

LESLIE HOFFMAN, executive director of Earth Pledge, is a pioneer in the fields of sustainable architecture and agriculture.

Hoffman, who holds a degree in architecture and design, began her career as a green builder in 1979, starting out as carpenter's apprentice after college. She soon became a contractor in her own right, focusing on building sophisticated eco-friendly residences and saving the best of old buildings. Since joining Earth Pledge in 1994, Hoffman has spearheaded its core initiatives: Green Roofs, Farm to Table, Waste=Fuel, FutureFashion, Limit450, Guardian Trust, and Earth Pledge Consulting, all of which use research, education and demonstration to deliver viable models of sustainability to government, industry and communities.

Hoffman is a judge for the Home Depot Foundation's Awards for Affordable Housing Built Responsibly, an advisor to Village Reach, a board member of Batoto Yetu and a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. She is an avid gardener who has maintained a small organic coffee farm in Hawaii since 1990. She is also a lifelong transoceanic sailor.