SPECIAL TO THE RECORDER
Habitat for Humanity International and The Home Depot Foundation recently announced the national expansion of Partners in Sustainable Building.
The $30 million green building program will provide funds and resources over a five-year period to help Habitat affiliates build 5,000 homes that meet Energy Star guidelines or a nationally recognized green building standard. These features incorporate the use of energy-efficient equipment and water-conserving fixtures and help ensure good indoor air quality.
More than 120 Habitat affiliates across 45 states were selected to participate in the first year of the national rollout that begins at the end of this month. These affiliates will be granted $3,000 for each home built to Energy Star standards and up to $5,000 for each home built to a higher green standard. Nearly 1,500 sustainable homes will be built in 2009 and 2010 alone. The grant process is annual, which gives other Habitat affiliates the opportunity to participate in the program as well.
Partners in Sustainable Building (PSB) was established last year through a pilot program with 30 Habitat affiliates across a variety of climates in rural and urban areas throughout the United States. Habitat built more than 260 sustainable homes that met a green building standard during the pilot.
“From a new energy-efficient water heater and weather stripping to programmable thermostats and a low-flow toilet and bathroom fixtures, our family is already seeing savings in our monthly utility bills,” said Brian, a Habitat homeowner from the PSB pilot. “We’re so excited about our new home. To know it’s one that we can afford to maintain and live in for years to come means so much for our family.”
