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 […]

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