Over the next five years, approximately 5,000 Habitat For Humanity homes across the country will receive $30 million of greening thanks to Partners in Sustainable Building, a partnership forged by The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat For Humanity.
The program will allocate funds to help build 5,000 homes in compliance with Energy Star guidelines or national green building standards. The homes will feature energy-efficient equipment and water-conserving fixtures and uphold indoor air quality.
The Partners in Sustainable Building program was launched in 2008 through a pilot program, with more than 260 homes built by Habitat For Humanity affiliates. The pilot program demonstrated that various energy-saving features yield energy savings between 15 and 30 percent. Some pilot program homes built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standards are experiencing energy savings of almost 50 percent, Home Depot and Habitat For Humanity said.
“The Home Depot Foundation believes green building techniques are not a luxury – they aren’t exotic or expensive,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation. “By embracing the practical principles of green building, our partnership with Habitat for Humanity International is demonstrating that these techniques can actually make homes more affordable to own, maintain and live in from day one and for the long term. With health and economic concerns at an all-time high, this issue is more important than ever for the families who will purchase these homes.”
“The introduction of the Partners in Sustainable Building program has created excitement about the benefits of green building within Habitat for Humanity,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “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.”
Part of the program involves certain measures that any resident or homeowner can do at home. Five such measures The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat For Humanity suggest are:
- Save 10 percent or more on your energy costs by plugging tiny air leaks. Caulk and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to keep hot air outside.
- Clean or replace air filters. Dirty air filters cause the AC unit to work harder than necessary, increasing your energy use and bills.
- Install a programmable thermostat to save up to $180 a year in energy costs.
- Choose ENERGY STAR appliances which use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models.
- Install low-flow bathroom fixtures and save thousands of gallons of water a year.
