TERRA House Tour

So, I'd just like to mention that I'm a print journalist, first and foremost. And frankly, I've always considered myself better with the writing end of things than the reporting end of things.

That being said, the world is multi-media and we're trying to do our part over here at 460 Tennessee St.

Below you'll find a link to a virtual video tour of the University of Memphis' TERRA House project. DPC's Eric Criswell was nice enough to take me on a tour of the house last week to show me all its environmentally friendly features. And there are a ton so, especially if you can't get to one of the tours in March, you should check it out.

But before you watch it, I think I have to also say, in my defense, that:

1. I am something of a spaz.

2. I have not used any movie editing software before.

3. Next time I will try not to say as much, seeing as how my mouth was right next to the video camera (since I was holding it and all). And I might try to get a professional voice-over person/coach.

4. I was filming at — essentially — a construction site. Not only was there a lot of background noise, sometimes workpeople had to move past me to get where they were going. And it is hard to move your feet without moving your arm.

But as they say, it's a poor carpenter who blames his tools (or, alternately, my dad's favorite, "Excuses, excuses").

So, roll 'em. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Update on TERRA

Went by U of M's TERRA house yesterday ... now that ground has broken, it's supposed to go up fairly quickly.

I've written about it a few times ... most recently for our Green issue. But also before that.

Here are some pics of what it looks like right now.

The view of the front of the house

Side view

A look at the insulating blocks on the back of the house. You can see them in the other pictures, too, but not as close up.

One of the things I love about this project is not only its physical greenness, but the greenness of its location.

For starters, it's on a reclaimed brownfield site. Secondly, the school thought about transportation when they chose the site — it's also only a few blocks from the end of the Main Street trolley line and MATA's North End terminal.

Oh, and here's a link to the live webcam for up-to-the-minute info.