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Follow us on TwitterHabitat for Humanity’s Future Is Green
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.
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Reader Reactions
So, the solution is to grow corn that the government guarantees to buy? A perfectly grown acre of corn will produce 100 gals. of ethanol per year. To produce the 100 gals of ethanol it takes the equivalent of 150 gals of oil to produce it. For this sorry government welfare plan for farmers the cost of food is going up because no one will grow wheat.
The solution is higher oil taxes and leadership. For only necessity will drive solutions and a leader will be needed to bring all of the parties together.
Your comments are full of typical right-wing us against them comments about these “people” who are getting all the money and not working.
There are solutions to our problem but we aren’t going to grow our way out of it. This is going to hurt and sacrifices will be made. Our way of life will change and it’ up to us whether the change will be positive or not.
Big, I’m not talking about someone that has been working and gets laid off or whatever. I’m talking about the people that never do anything and are the frist to collect a hand out. I’ve always said I’ll help someone who helps themselves and I will still. As for farmers they should be allowed to grow crops and not be paid not to.I know a few that get paid to let the land stand. MHO is that is stupid. We could grow more corn to convert for fuel,since noone wants nuclear power,noone wants to move a few hundred Caribou so we can get oil,let the farmers grow gain and corn so we can stop our dependence on foreign oil.
Dan
I think you use a pretty broad brush by labeling everyone not as good or as lucky as you as “people that sit on their butts and do nothing”.
In this day and time all it takes to be one of those people asking for help is one major illness or the loss of your job.
Plus your comment about giving him half your pay is pretty funny since the government doesn’t spend that much for social programs outside of Medicare and Social Security. If you want to see who gets the welfare, look at businesses and farmers.
Oh, by the way. You know that tax break you get for buying your house? Government welfare my friend.
Further, an estate of $350,000 wouldn’t even be taxed. It’s just too small.
Big, I didn’t say I should not have to pay for “it”.I said we have way too many give away programs.We need a certian amount of taxes to pay for schools,police,fire,etc. What we don’t is taxes on every dang thing we have or make. And I don’t think the Feds should take from the better off people and give to people that sit on their butts and do nothing. Why should I work to provide for my family and the guy up the road does nothing and thr Gov. says “hey you got more than he does ,now you need to give him 1/2 of what you make so you will be equal” I don’t think so! Yes I think $350,000.00 is a pretty nice sum.
Dan
You think $350,000 is wealth? Come on.
As to those with real money who get to hold onto it forever and not pay taxes, well that’s not realistic either.
As to government waste, it’s our government and we can change it if we wish, but someone has to pay for roads and infrastructure. It’s our system that gives you the security and opportunity needed to make your great living, but it’s folly to think that you shouldn’t have to pay for it.
So you guys think that if you work for say 35 years and save say $500.000.00 and live for 10 years and have $350.000.00 left when you die,your children should not be entitled to it?
You think the Feds should get it ! Bull Crap, I worked and saved for it and paid my share of taxes on it and it belongs in my family.The Feds waste enough of our money as it is , they don’t need anymore of mine to waste on all the give away programs. I belive one should get out get a job and earn money. Now saying that I will say this. There are people that would have nothing if it weren’t for inheritance and would not be able to survive , these people schould have been taught how to make it on thier own, and not have Mommy and Daddy bail them out of every situation that they foolishly get themselves into.
Habitat for Humanity is a private, christian organization, therefore, it doesn’t really matter if they want to further “socialism.“ That is their choice and opinion (personally I agree with the quote)
Cosmo,
I agree with you! The top 5% of wage earners pay 35% of the taxes. After a lifetime of paying tax on income, when someone dies and leaves it to their kids, the government should be there with their hands out to confiscate the inheritance, much as a buzzard eats part of the lions kill. Money doesn’t belong to the individual, ALL money belongs to the feds to give to lazy people in need of a handout…....
HfH does great work but you should hear some of the rich swells complain about what they call “habitat houses” with a sneer as they deride the creeping minor accumulation of wealth by the lower classes.
As to some method to divest ones self of an overabundance of wealth. What overabundance? There just can’t be too much money, can there?
The American system is supposed to reward hard work, but it is not supposed to reward it into perpetuity.
“We earned our money the old fashioned way, we inherited it.“
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