Project Examples

Habitat is building energy-efficient, healthy and sustainable houses in communities around the world.

More than a decade of Energy Star building
Since 1995 Habitat for Humanity International has partnered with the Florida Solar Energy Center and the Department of Energy’s Building America program to produce thousands of houses that are energy-efficient, durable and have healthy indoor air quality. Without funding, support and professional guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, much of this work would not have been possible.

Building America works on numerous projects with local Habitat affiliates nationwide to improve the energy efficiency, comfort, durability and indoor air quality of new housing built with Habitat homeowners. One such recent project involving the Lakeland Habitat for Humanity affiliate of Florida reveals significant utility savings for homeowners living in high performance housing. Other research projects are below.

Building America’s partnership newsletter: Summer 2007 Newsletter

Building America’s multi-year history with Habitat for Humanity: http://www.baihp.org/partners/BuilderPartners/hfh.htm

To find design plans, visit Building America’s Affordable Housing Research Web site.

RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) encourages energy raters across the nation to offer rating services to local Habitat affiliates pro bono or at a discount. An energy rating provides an evaluation of how energy-efficient existing housing is. An energy rater will provide suggestions on how to upgrade housing to make it more energy-efficient. This is an important step for builders in the Energy Star process.

HFH of East Bay
HFH of East Bay (Oakland, Calif.) is building to Energy Star, LEED and the local Green Point Rated standards.

HFH of New York City

HFH of New York City is building to Energy Star and LEED standards.

Denver’s “green” program
Learn more about how Metro Denver (Colo.) Habitat for Humanity incorporates green design features into all of its houses.

Building with local materials
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Habitat affiliates are building homes with locally available construction materials like bricks and roof tiles made from fired clay.

Tree nursery
Habitat for Humanity Uganda has developed tree nurseries to replace trees used in house construction and to provide homeowners with a source of income.