Since 1994, Austin's Casa Verde Builders have constructed more than 45 energy-efficient houses on the city's East side, a predominantly Mexican American and African American community. Administered by American YouthWorks, the program emphasizes hands-on learning and links schoolwork to everyday life. About 90 percent of Casa Verde's students have received a high school diploma or GED or have improved academically. Chester Steinhauser, program coordinator, says 361 of the 825 students enrolled since the program began have been awarded scholarships. The project receives support from Youth Build, a Housing and Urban Development initiative that targets inner city communities, the city of Austin Green Builders program and AmeriCorps, a national group that supports community-service projects.
Residents can print a receipt for their records when they finish.
Although the site is limited to passenger and small utility trailer renewals, plans to include commercial vehicles are in the works. Sixteen states offer some form of online vehicle registration. In Texas, the Department of Transportation began a pilot project in September 2000 to introduce Internet registration. The computer you bought today will probably need an upgrade tomorrow. IBM has a technology recycling program specifically for individual consumers and small business owners.