The Vision for a Greener Future

When Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, it wasn’t just the destruction that struck Larry—it was the silence. Poor communities, already struggling, were the last to know about the unfolding disaster. People didn’t have access to vital information that could save their lives. They were stranded, unaware of evacuation efforts, or emergency relief because they simply weren’t in the loop.

This was personal for Larry. As a broadcast technologist, he knew that real-time, localized information could make the difference between life and death. If the right message had reached the right people in time, the devastation might have been lessened. That’s when the idea started: what if every home had a set-top box, a TV network broadcasting real-time, localized information? Not just national news, but content directly relevant to the people living in those homes—their community, their weather, their emergencies.

The Haiti Earthquake: A Catalyst for Change

Five years later, disaster struck again. The earthquake that leveled Haiti on January 12, 2010, was a tipping point for Larry. Watching the overwhelming destruction unfold and knowing how vulnerable the people were left a profound impact. When his close friend couldn’t locate family members in the chaos, the reality of how fragile the infrastructure was became painfully clear. Haiti needed homes that were safe, secure, and could be built quickly to withstand future disasters.

Larry knew there had to be a better way—a way to build homes that weren’t just places to live but also hubs of real-time communication and safety. The vision expanded. He didn’t just want to provide shelter; he wanted to provide a way for people to stay informed, connected, and safe in their homes, no matter what disaster loomed on the horizon.

Green Homes for Haiti: The First Iteration

In the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake, Larry’s response was swift. Teaming up with partners from the construction, sustainability, and broadcasting industries, he developed a concept: Green Homes for Haiti. These homes would be affordable, fast to build, and resilient against natural disasters. They would be equipped with local broadcasting networks and first-responder communication systems, ensuring that families knew exactly what was happening in their communities at all times.

Building Beyond Borders

The success of the Haiti project proved that Larry’s vision was more than just a reaction to disaster—it was a blueprint for the future. As time went on, Green Planet Homes expanded its focus, building sustainable housing solutions in Kenya and creating tiny homes for veterans in the U.S. The idea wasn’t just to build houses but to build ecosystems that combined safety, sustainability, and real-time communication.

From his background in broadcast technology, Larry brought an entirely new approach to housing: homes as information hubs. Each home would be a safe, eco-friendly space, connected to a network that provided life-saving information and local entertainment, ensuring that communities would never be left in the dark during times of need.

A Vision Steered by Crisis, Fueled by Innovation

Green Planet Homes was born from the harsh reality of natural disasters and the glaring gaps in communication and infrastructure. But under Larry Witherspoon’s leadership, it has become so much more. It’s about creating homes that aren’t just four walls and a roof, but a space where safety, sustainability, and information come together. Whether it’s building in Haiti, Kenya, or here in the U.S., Larry’s vision has always been clear: to provide people with homes that protect, inform, and connect them to the world around them.

Today, Green Planet Homes continues to pioneer sustainable, resilient housing, changing the way we think about where—and how—we live.