Habitat for Humanity gets the green light
Wed, Aug 05 2009 at 6:27 PM EST
Excellent eco-news for those supporting the efforts of Habitat Humanity, the wonderful nonprofit that stamps out poverty and homelessness with the construction of affordable, accessible housing: the organization, in a tag-team effort with the Home Depot Foundation, is expanding the $30 million Partners in Sustainable Building program.
The once-in-pilot-mode program entails the building of over 5,000 low-income homes that meet EnergyStar guidelines or other green building standards like LEED. The homes, to be built over the next five years, will be constructed with an eye toward water conservation, energy efficiency and indoor air quality. It’s expected that a whopping 1,500 of the homes will be completed across America over 2009 and 2010.
Says Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford:
“The introduction of the Partners in Sustainable Building program has created excitement about the benefits of green building within Habitat for Humanity. With the support of The Home Depot Foundation, we have a great opportunity to bring the economic benefits of sustainable building to our homeowners and to show our volunteers how easily and affordably they can make their own homes greener as well.”
Homes built to match EnergyStar standards cost about $3,000 more up front than Habitat for Humanity homes constructed without any green bells and whistles.
Big congrats to Habitat for Humanity and The Home Depot Foundation on the expansion of this most excellent partnership.
Photo: spshabitat
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even if the houses cost more...
it will save great money for the people who live in them. I love the idea of this not just being a rich man's hobby but a new way of building. Habitat has always been a cool job.