Green Habitat Housing

Habitat for Humanity has been building housing for needy people for decades. Lately they have been buiding green as well. They are healty, efficient and affordable; according to this: [image from habitatriverside]

Habitat for Humanity Riverside builds GREEN, HEALTHY, ENERGY EFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE houses for families in need. They are "GREEN" because they are constructed from renewable building materials. They are HEALTHY because they use non-toxic products in the interior design. They are ENERGY EFFICIENT because they use the sun to create electricity used by the homeowner for energy saving appliances and lighting. They are AFFORDABLE because they are sold to a selected family for the cost of construction on a no-interest loan, the exterior of the house requires little maintenance, and the utility expense is more than 50% lower than average.

From treehugger:

Proving that a new house can be affordable, quickly built and green, even in the post-subprime recession era, Habitat for Humanity has built a sustainable house in just two weeks. Elise Rodriquez's new home, in Osceola County, Florida, was built by its future occupants, alongside volunteers. Built from recycled materials, the house saves money on construction costs and future maintenance requirements. Tinted windows and overhangs keep direct sunlight out of the house's interior spaces, keeping the interior cool in the summer and thus reducing future energy expenses. The keys to the new home will be officially handed over to the Rodriguez family on April 5.

Some houses will have solar cells installed:

Solar cell manufacturers Sharp will supply solar modules for several Habitat for Humanity homes in Suffolk County, Long Island, N.Y. Already, five such homes in the Brookhaven, L.I. area have been outfitted with Sharp modules, and based on the success of the program, Habitat for Humanity will continue fitting the homes with the energy-producing equipment. Up to 10 additional homes on Long Island will have solar modules installed over the next year on existing newly constructed homes. Each array of Sharp modules will be 3 to 4 kilowatts (kW) in size; enough to provide most of the electricity used by each household. In addition to the home installations, Habitat for Humanity will have Sharp modules installed on its own corporate offices in Suffolk County. For more information, visit www.sharpusa.com/solar.

Comments

[Boom Trucks]

The construction field always has it ups and downs and is always changing but progress will never stop.Even in a questionable economy there is always room for growth and expansion. The will and strength of the people is what makes us all able to move forward and accomplish great feats together. and construction has always been the backbone of this country no matter the economic status.