USGBC ALabama Chapter
Athens Limestone Habitat for Humanity Building Green
Habitat for Humanity, Athens-Limestone County, AL is very involved in a 'Green Build' program. After making the commitment to building LEED certified homes, we were very pleased that the Habitat for Humanity International has also adopted a mission statement that defines an affordable home as a 'green' home.
What does LEED do for Habitat?
With the cost of energy fluctuating wildly, petroleum resources dwindling, and the numbers of people with respiratory illnesses increasing, the need for an affordable, high-performance, and environmentally friendly home is needed now more than ever. In the past, considering the cost of a new home was usually looking at the purchase price of the house. Now, we must look at the monthly cost of home ownership -- the bottom line -- as the means to establishing the true cost of a home. Many studies have determined that the cost of owning a high performance "green" home is actually LESS on a monthly basis than a traditionally built one, when the cost of monthly utilities are figured in. An additional factor that makes the house even more affordable is the cost of medical services. While this savings is difficult to quantify, a healthier home will decrease doctor visits and medication. Our Habitat families must budget their moneys carefully, and when energy costs are unpredictable, making and sticking to a budget is very difficult if a home is not energy efficient. Since LEED certified homes substantially reduce energy costs for the home owners, the monthly utility bill will change less and make this home much easier to afford.
What is our affiliate doing?
Athens Limestone County is not only building LEED certified homes, but also we are teaching others about them. At the recent Blue and Green Conference in Auburn, AL, Debra Miller was a co-presenter at a session that described our methods in building green. Bottom line: These homes are CHEAPER than conventionally built ones to own ... average utility bills in the city of Athens are about $50-$60/month!!
Navistar helps out
Navistar is pitching in to help out with our current builds! They are sending us experienced workers who will help us out for several weeks. Thanks, Navistar!!
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