Habitat for Humanity’s Future Is Green

The News & Advance
Published: May 6, 2008

With the cost of energy rising almost daily, it only makes sense to focus on energy efficiency in homes built for Habitat for Humanity families. That’s exactly what they’re doing in Harrisonburg.
In fact, the Central Valley Habitat for Humanity chapter there is working on its fourth house built to higher energy standards that conserve resources. The program is one that would benefit Habitat programs here and elsewhere across Virginia.
The recently built homes are equipped with solar water heaters and solar panels. The water heaters use sunlight to heat water.
Although the systems cost thousands of dollars to purchase and install, they reduce electricity bills substantially, said Johann Zimmerman, a construction manager with Habitat for Humanity. At one house, he said, the panels and an attached system could reduce the family’s water-heating bills by 80 percent. That’s good for the family’s budget and for the finite energy supplies that fuel power generation across Virginia.
The panels, Zimmerman said, “are part of the design instead of an after-thought. It’s economically stupid not to do it.”
Since last year, as The Associated Press reported, Central Valley Habitat has received grant money from Richmond-based Habitat Virginia to build homes that meet voluntary, green building EarthCraft standards. Launched by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, EarthCraft teaches Habitat and other housing groups how to boost energy efficiency through eco-friendly methods.
Habitat Virginia has provided money for 13 Habitat affiliates to buy and install green technology, as efforts to conserve energy have been dubbed, and educate volunteers on meeting EarthCraft standards. That grant money, along with services donated by skilled volunteers, has allowed the Central Valley group to build four houses in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County that meet EarthCraft standards.
The state money was critical, said Claire Martindale, executive director of Central Valley Habitat. The state support, she said, made the EarthCraft standards possible.
The houses were also built to maximize insulation and natural heating and cooling.
Energy conserving solar panels are an appropriate response to rising energy costs affecting all Virginians. They are especially appropriate for needy Habitat families who are already stretching their dollars as far as they can. The energy savings in the long run will more than pay for the extra cost of the solar panels in the beginning. That’s the hope, anyway. In the end, the more energy efficient housing should pay dividends on both ends.