# Habitat for Humanity Partners Up for Green Building Projects

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/08/habitat-for-humanity-partners-up-for-green-building-projects/
- Published: 2018-08-18T01:22:46-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

Every simple, decent, affordable house that Habitat for Humanity builds is the result
of partnership. Volunteers, families and donors come together to make those houses
happen. An increasing number of those Habitat homes benefit from another special
category of collaboration: expertise and support that results in sustainable and
energy-efficient construction.

Green building practices go hand in hand with Habitat’s mission of improving the
lives of low-income families. The [organization’s goals are to create healthy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/10/halloween-organic-milk-a-healthy-treat-alternative/)
living conditions and reduce home-related monthly and life-cycle costs. Durable 
construction, localized solutions and conservation of resources go a long way to
achieving those goals.

Across the United States and around the world, Habitat affiliates have forged special
partnerships to tackle a variety of [projects that are green](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/08/project-green-search-kicks-off/)—
and growing in number. A few recent and notable examples:

⌊Habitat for humanity partners up for green building projects⌉⌊Habitat for humanity
partners up for green building projects⌉⌊Renewable energy⌉⌊Renewable energy⌉

•Habitat affiliates throughout northern and central California have partnered with
Pacific Gas and Electric since 2007 to place solar panels on more than 400 Habitat
homes, most recently 12 homes built by [Oakland’s Habitat East Bay/Silicon Valley](https://www.habitatebsv.org/).
The panels are estimated to save homeowners $500 a year on their electric bills 
and keep more than 132,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the
atmosphere over the 30-year life of the system.

• In New Hampshire, [Pemi-Valley](http://www.pemivalleyhabitat.org/) recently joined
the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative to give volunteers hands-on experience
with sealing and insulating homes for maximum energy efficiency. The two organizations
held special build days, working on the first of four neighboring energy-efficient
homes.

• The St. Croix Valley [Habitat for Humanity](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/07/honda-partners-on-general-motors-next-gen-battery-development/)
Eco Village in River Falls, Wisconsin,

It draws on dozens of national and local partners who are helping to create the 
18-house community along a sustainable and integrated design plan. Elements include
Passive House principles, solar power and radiant heating, cisterns and rain barrels,
and edible landscapes and community gardens.

The beauty of these types of projectsis that they help families, but also demonstrate
that — when innovation meets partnership —efficient, ecological building practices
can be both beautiful and affordable.

By Shala Carlson. Shala Carlson is the editor of Habitat World, the flagship print
and online publication of Habitat for Humanity International.

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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