Habitat for Humanity going green
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.”
Source: newsadvance.com