February
2005
The
Green Touch: Sustainable and Affordable
By Sunari Silva
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Founded in 1984 as an independent affiliate of Habitat
for Humanity International, Habitat-NYC builds homes in four of New
York City’s
boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Building with
the “sweat equity” of homeowners who work side-by-side
with volunteers, Habitat-NYC completes about 25 houses a year. Recent
projects include 13 newly constructed row houses in the Mott Haven
neighborhood of the Bronx and a 10-unit condominium building in Harlem.
Acquiring land and buildings from agencies like the City’s Department
of Housing Preservation and Development for a nominal fee, professional
contractors
build the exterior shells to code, while volunteers and the future homeowners
see to the interior construction. Each year, more than 10,000 New Yorkers from
faith institutions, corporations, schools and civic groups volunteer and learn
more about how to help solve New York’s affordable housing crisis.
With a main goal of ensuring that every New Yorker has a decent, affordable home,
Habitat-NYC also advocates for affordable housing by calling on elected officials
to make it a priority. Taking on the responsibility for the communities they
build for—many economically challenged and afflicted with the highest rates
of asthma in the U.S.—Habitat-NYC also follows a mission to be a model
green builder, to not just build, but build better.
The Right Stuff
EnergyStar labeled homes are part of a national program designed to promote energy
conservation in consumer products and residential construction. A typical EnergyStar
labeled home uses 30 percent less energy than a conventionally built new home.
Partnering with the New York State Energy and Research and Development Authority,
the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing, and accepting technical
assistance from Steven Winter Associates, Habitat-NYC designs and builds EnergyStar
homes that incorporate items such as low-emissivity windows, compact fluorescent
light fixtures, sealed combustion boilers with hot water storage tank, programmable
thermostats, and extra air sealing to prevent air infiltration and heat loss.
Habitat-NYC homes also incorporate environmentally-friendly finishes that are
low-VOC, non-toxic and hypo-allergenic. Timer controlled mechanical ventilation
ensures an adequate supply of fresh air to maintain high indoor air quality.
Whole house natural ventilation reduces the need for air conditioning while proper
window specification and placement increases natural lighting and passive solar
heating.
Taking it one step further, over the next five years, Habitat-NYC will adopt
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification guidelines
for deconstruction, waste recycling and reuse, water management and energy usage.
Habitat-NYC proves that building green is not only affordable but fundamental
in creating healthy communities.
Sunari Silva is an architect who volunteers with Habitat for Humanity-NYC serving
as the green building coordinator in charge of their EnergyStar program. For
more information or to get involved visit www.habitatnyc.org. To learn more about
LEED see www.usgbc.org/LEED.
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