Habitat for Humanity builds first green homes

Habitat for Humanity built two homes in Henderson with eco-friendly features.

By Buck Wargo

Fri, Apr 30, 2010 (3 a.m.)

The Las Vegas chapter of Habitat for Humanity is going green in a big way.

The nonprofit organization, which provides affordable housing to lower-income residents who must participate in its construction and pay the mortgage, has for the first time unveiled two green homes based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria that result in lower energy bills and improved indoor air quality.

Habitat for Humanity has embraced green features in the past by equipping homes with energy-efficient appliances and incorporating water-smart features that reduce use.

But with financial support from the MGM Mirage Voice Foundation and the Lincy Foundation, along with materials donated by local building suppliers, Habitat has built two prototype homes in Henderson.

Not every home will be built to this standard because of the cost, but some of the features can be copied, said Guy Amato, the local chapter’s president.

“The whole idea was to make the house as totally efficient as we could as a learning tool,” Amato said. “We are not going to do that on every house, but we will take the best parts and apply them going forward.”

The homes’ features include a solar-powered hot water system and Solatube skylights for more daylight for interior spaces.

“We may not use this in a normal house because it is expensive, but we wanted to see how it works and make a decision on what we want,” Amato said.

The lighter-colored concrete tile roof reflects heat. The walls and attic have extra insulation.

The homes’ carpet and paints use low volatile organic compounds and have dual flush toilets, a high-efficiency heating and ventilation system and Energy Star-rated exhaust fans, ceiling fans and appliances.

The improvements will benefit the homeowner who will save on their energy bills by 30 percent to 40 percent, Amato said. When a family with two children makes $35,000 a year, a $250 to $300 a month electric bill can be costly and take away from other needs, he said.

The upgraded features, however, can’t be imitated on every Habitat for Humanity Home because the goal is to build a home that is affordable, Amato said.

A typical home costs $130,000 to $150,000, and the family selected by Habitat pays only what it costs without any profit margin for the organization, he said. The green additions add about 30 percent to 40 percent to the base cost of the home, he said.

Families must put in 300 hours of volunteer labor and have a full-time job to be eligible to purchase the home.