Habitat For Humanity, dedicated to the construction of low-budget homes without compromising on quality. Theirs is no mean achievement, having lent the joy, security and comfort of owning a home to nearly 12 percent of Americans—33 million people—living below the official poverty line (now $18,104 per year for a family of four). However, after the construction is done, the new proud home-owners are often unable to afford the maintenance of their homes. Habitat For Humanity has come up with a possible solution for this problem.
The name of the solution is ‘energy-efficient’ homes, put together by a dedicated team of volunteers belonging to Habitat, aptly christened the ‘Green Team’. They endeavor to achieve this end by providing extra insulation in the attic, solar powered hot water heaters, beefed-up insulation, super-efficient windows and overhangs to shade out the Summer sun, among other things.
Three principles guide Green Team building projects: 1) energy efficiency, including wise use of construction materials; 2) sustainability; and 3) maintenance of good indoor air quality. In this, the Team puts special emphasis on health and safety issues of the inhabitants and strives to use non-toxic materials. What’s better, these convenient, affordable homes also take care of the environment. Recycled materials are often used, to cut down on depletion of natural resources. As Green Team National Manager Graham Davis puts it,
The purpose of the Green Team is to help Habitat affiliates build the kind of homes that families could hand over to their children’s grandchildren.
If properly executed, the average heating and cooling costs for a 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom home will amount to no more than $25 per month or 81 cents per day.
Source: Green Daily
