Energy Efficiency Takes Root at Habitat for Humanity

Can low-income builders afford the luxury of building green? That question is being tested at some Habitat for Humanity affiliates.

The most common green building approach used in Habitat homes – many of which are three bedroom, one bath dwellings built for under $50,000 – is to meet Energy Star ratings. That’s the U.S. EPA’s standard that increases efficiency 20-30% by installing efficient appliances, lighting, super-insulation and by tightly sealing the building envelope. Affiliates also seek ways to boost indoor air quality by reducing or eliminating products that offgas volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Call this a “light green” approach.

“We want energy efficiency to be our standard model, not an upgrade,” says Nevil Eastwood, director of construction and environmental resources at Habitat for Humanity International in Americas, Georgia.

Each of the 1700 U.S. Habitat affiliates controls its own building practices, and some want to go further. “We’re open to that,” says Eastwood. “But we’re building homes for people who earn about 30% of the median income for the area, so that doesn’t leave much wiggle room.”

To get to “medium green,” says Kevin Sullivan, advocacy director for Habitat’s New York City affiliate in Brooklyn, the group considers practices that are good for the community, such as water efficiency and resource conservation. A “dark green” approach, he says, would include site selection and alternative energy.

Decisions mainly hinge on cost, as Habitat homes are built through a combination of fundraising, donated materials and volunteer labor. Products also must pass building codes and be readily available. Durability and maintenance are factors too.

“Affordability and energy saving measures fit perfectly with Habitat goals,” says Darryl Yankee, director of resource development at Habitat of Humanity of Ventura County, CA. “We sell homes to families for the cost of construction, so anything we put in that’s an additional up-front cost to the family needs to pay off in a reasonable amount of time.”

For most affiliates, that means getting the best possible performance from a heating system. “You can almost directly correlate energy costs and whether families can pay their mortgages,” Sullivan says.

Using low-emissivity-rated windows, a sealed-combustion boiler, extra air-sealing and better insulation, the Butte, Montana affiliate is building “super-insulated high-performance houses” with annual heating costs of $250, half of that for a typical home in the area.

Homes built by Almost Heaven Habitat in Franklin, West Virginia might cost $5000 more to make energy efficient, adding $20 to the monthly mortgage payment, says executive director Michelle Connor. “If we can cut that family’s utility bill from $60 to $20, we’re saving them $40 a month. We have to fundraise more, but it’s a net savings to the family, so it’s an easy sell.”

United Technologies Corporation just launched a new employee volunteer effort, “Team Green, which enables employees to benefit local environmental programs. Its first project takes place this Friday, Jan. 14, at a Habitat for Humanity New York City site in Harlem. 20 employees plan to help construct a house using green building techniques.

The project is part of NYC Habitat for Humanity’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. The celebration culminates Monday with the NYC Habitat for Humanity’s Building on a Dream Conference. A green building partnership between Habitat for Humanity New York City and Global Green USA, made possible by a grant from UTC, will be showcased at the conference.

Team Green is part of UTC’s Sustainable Cities initiative, launched in October, which furthers the use of green building practices in urban areas. UTC plans to award $500,000 in grants this year for the effort.

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This article was written in cooperation with E Magazine, a SustainableBusiness.com Content Partner