May 7, 2024
If you’ve cooked a meal, fixed a car, or hosted a party, you know planning makes for a better outcome. The same is true for building houses. Habitat for Humanity has made it a priority to make homes sustainable and resilient for families.
Two strategies are especially applicable to Houston: creating energy efficient homes and resilient construction. Houston Habitat for Humanity builds with these goals in mind to ensure homes keep heating and cooling bills low, while also withstanding Houston’s extreme weather eventss. Planning with efficiency and resiliency in mind is beneficial to communities, as it maximizes affordability and allows for easier repair and rebuilding.
Through careful consideration of materials and calculated building methods, Houston Habitat builds energy efficient homes which are also environmentally friendly, safe, and low cost-to-own and maintain for Houston homeowners.
Houston Habitat for Humanity is proud to offer homes with the ENERGY STAR® certification. The ENERGY STAR certification shows your new home has been designed and built to standards well above other homes in the market today. Houston Habitat homes feature better quality, comfort, durability. The ENERGY STAR certification also means your new home is of higher value, and is an increased investment for tomorrow, as this label indicates an improved process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet the strict requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. In fact, Houston Habitat for Humanity is so committed to sustainability, we have earned numerous awards for sustainable building practices, including Energy Star Partner of the Year/ Sustained Excellence awards, since 1996.
According to ENERGY STAR, the typical US household spends over $2,000 annually on utility bills. In Houston, the average annual electricity bill is $2,705.04. Homes with ENERGY STAR certification often see 30% energy efficiency savings compared to a standard home – in Houston, Habitat homeowners could save up to $800 a year!
ENERGY STAR certification is better for the environment too. Most electricity comes from nearby power plants, which burn natural gas and coal. A byproduct of this process is the release of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate change. The emissions from these power plants also contribute harmful pollutants to the air such as sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides. Reducing the necessary electricity in your home decreases power plant production which lessens damaging emissions.
Wondering how our builders make a home energy efficient? It is a multi-step process. Because Houston experiences heavy rains and persistent humidity, which can damage foundations and structures, gutters are important to redirecting water away. DuPont Tyvek Home Wrap is also used to protect against mold and condensation. Radiant barrier roof decking reflects radiant heat away from the attic, reducing the hours of run time for the air conditioning system. Insulation is rated by an “R” rating; Houston Habitat installs high “R” factor insulation, which also lowers energy consumption and energy bills. Double pane windows are mounted to prevent heat loss, and use of low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint is a very important aspects of energy efficient Habitat construction.
Habitat for Humanity’s home resiliency connects closely with energy efficient building practices, as its aim is to keep homes affordable. Hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters are unavoidable, but we can utilize materials to protect our homes.
Houston Habitat utilizes Fortified standards as one of the ways to keep home maintenance affordable long term. The Fortified program is a listing of construction recommendations from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety which can dramatically reduce the damage a home suffers in a storm. Some examples are anchor bolts and oriented strand boards to protect against strong straight-line winds, which arrive during thunderstorms. Also used are hurricane straps, which secure the frame of the roof to the rest of the house and reduce the chances of the roof being removed by high winds. In an interview with Allison Hay, Chief Executive Officer at Houston Habitat for Humanity, she specifically noted that Robins Landing “homes will be elevated, our homes will have hurricane straps that will keep them from hurricane winds. We want to ensure that Robins Landing is resilient.” Habitat also offers homeowner resources, technical assistance and training to improve the resilience and durability of their homes.
As an international organization, Habitat for Humanity is committed to prioritizing climate resilient housing throughout the world. As a local organization, Houston Habitat for Humanity works to build a Houston where everyone has a place to call home; we also strive for sustainability and resilience for our homebuyers and our planet through build and repair methods to our work recycling, upcycling and reusing with the community through Habitat ReStores. We carefully consider FEMA Flood mapping (seen here) and the ever-evolving Houston Flood map (seen here) when selecting where to build in Houston.
Resilient and energy efficient communities boast many features outside of residential buildings which work towards the mission. One very important aspect, especially for Houston, is the use of retention ponds. These ponds are not for swimming or fishing, rather they serve as a holding place for stormwater when it falls quickly and heavily. These detention basins store this water instead of allowing it to flow as it falls, turning into damaging floodwaters. This temporary pond holds water until the channels can safely carry it away. Because Harris County is quite flat, most stormwater storage has to be created. New developments, such as Robins Landing, often use retention ponds to keep residents and their homes safe from harm.
Here are five ways you can reduce energy consumption at home right now.
The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to build and improve the places people call home.
By committing to careful planning, Houston Habitat creates energy efficient and resilient houses which are affordable through reasonable mortgages and lowered maintenance costs in Houston, Texas. Learn more about Houston Habitat’s homeownership program today!
