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February 2005
The Green Touch: Sustainable and Affordable
By Sunari Silva


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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