• Habitat for Humanity

Figure 5.  Habitat for Humanity energy  efficient home in Lakeland, Florida.

This partnership, formed in 1995 at Habitat's Environmental Initiative Kickoff, brought BAIHP into the design, construction, and evaluation process of nearly 600 completed Habitat homes across the nation.  (Please see Figure 5.)  Since this program began, the Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (BAIHP) has assisted 50+ Habitat for Humanity affiliates across more than 20 states by providing training, creating information factsheets, and developing easily implemented and replicable energy conservation home packages. Recommendations for Habitat homes incorporated volunteer friendly construction methods using readily available construction materials that can be easily maintained and repaired.  Implemented recommendations have improved the energy efficiency, durability, indoor air quality, and moisture control in these Habitat homes and resulted in strong relations with Habitat International (HFHI) and Habitat affiliates around the country. Many affiliates have achieved the Energy Star^® status (30% energy savings), with affiliates in Auburn, Alabama, Lakeland, Florida, and Denver, Colorado meeting the Building America goal of 50% energy savings.  (Please see Table 3 for completed home total.)

Table 3.  Completed Habitat homes built with BAIHP assistance.

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI):

$     HabiBOPs Energy Star Equivalency Program and Building America Level Affiliates:  In 2002, BAIHP worked with HFHI Green Team and EPA Energy Star Home Program representatives to lay the groundwork for developing an Energy Star Home equivalency program for HFH affiliates. Given the HFHI business model, an equivalency program similar to ones the EPA adopted with the Army and Navy, were reviewed and comments from EPA and HFHI Green Team leaders were gathered to determine programmatic and technical concerns.   From a draft program overview received from the HFH Green team with initial action items identified, BAIHP prepared 18 general examples of Energy Star packages usable for a  typical Habitat home - www.baihp.org.  Researchers continue to  provide one-on-one design assistance to affiliates who request help.  In addition, group training sessions were conducted at conferences and "blitz" builds with organizations like the Southface Energy Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Energy Efficient Building Association members.

FSEC researchers met with Habitat for Humanity International staff at HFHI headquarters in Americus, Georgia to discuss HabiBOP and a new Habitat initiative tentatively named "Habitat Better Built."  This new program will incorporate an energy package (HabiBOP, Energy Star Rating, local program, etc.), green building concepts, and expand the ventilation, and construction safety-related criteria to address the needs of small, affordable homes.  A program draft was submitted in 2002 and the US EPA Energy Star Home Program has committed to develop the technical option packages through ICF.  ICF and BAIHP discussed the project and anticipate work beginning in March 2003.

The BAIHP-HFHI draft included a request to analyze additional Builder Option Packages (BOPs) for various Climate Zones as test runs for adding BOPs that emphasize envelope improvements over expensive equipment improvements.  The Jacksonville affiliate, HabiJAX, volunteered to pilot the HabiBOP Program in Year 5.

$     Structural Insulated Panel Construction:  At the request of HFHI, BAIHP tested a home built by Home Front, Inc. in Sarasota, Florida. The house scored an 87.6 on the HERS scale.  Built with structural insulated panels (SIP), which contain a polystyrene core faced on both sides with a thin concrete board.  The exterior finish is stucco with Hardy board trim.  A structural steel wind-frame welded to steel plates imbedded in the slab was engineered to withstand hurricane force winds. The panels passed Dade County large missile impact and wind load testing. 

Figure 6.  Example SIP house built in Plains, Georgia

Interior ducts are housed in a central corridor and connect to a heat pump in a central closet. Return air is drawn from each room through extra registers on the duct chase. A whole house fan at one end of the chase provides ventilation during shoulder seasons.  (Please Figure 6 for example SIP home.)

2003 Jimmy Carter Work Project (2003 JCWP):  Habitat International Director of Construction and Environment requested FSEC assistance for all three Carter Project affiliates: Calhoun County, Alabama, and LaGrange and Valdosta, Georgia.

The construction manager and executive director would like to make this 2003 project an example of high performance, high quality housing for affiliates and other builders in the region and consequently asked BAIHP for assistance in reviewing construction techniques.

$           Calhoun County HFH:  The Calhoun County HFH affiliate (Anniston, Alabama) plans to build 35 homes at two sites in 2003, all to Energy Star standards. To make initial recommendations, BAIHP tested one house duct system and inspected insulation and air-sealing details on another.  Based on the findings, BAIHP determined that the first step in achieving CCHFH's goal was through duct system leakage reductions.  BAIHP conducted training with mechanical contractors and duct installers in two side-by-side homes in May. (Please see Figures 7 and 8.)

Figure 7.  Failed duct tape attaching metal pan (top) to wooden floor joist.	Figure 8.  Return plenum repair using mastic and fiberglass mesh.

Initially the houses received HERS scores of 80.  Staff made recommendations about a wide range of energy improvements for future homes based on earlier home inspection findings.  After implementing FSEC recommendations, the HERS score increased to 85.4.  BAIHP also required that the affiliate address combustion safety issues created by the typical natural-vent, gas water heater installation.  After presenting the affiliate with five corrective options, the executive director chose to include a combustion closet detail that would resolve the negative pressure problems arising from housing a natural vent gas water heater in an inside utility closet.  Four other options discussed, included: gas instantaneous, electric, direct vent, and power vent water heaters.

$           Troup-Chambers HFH (LaGrange, Georgia):  The executive director for this affiliate adopted the Energy Star goal and plans to blitz build 32 Energy Star homes in 2003.  Four plans were submitted for rating.  Preliminary analysis, based on duct tests conducted in 2002, suggest that homes are about 10% below Energy Star level (HERS score about 84).  BAIHP conferred with the affiliate regarding window specifications and provided revised HERS ratings and window selection recommendations.  Homes score 86.9 with proposed new windows, duct leakage of Qn=0.05, and a whole house infiltration of ACH50=6 if recommendations are incorporated.

$           Valdosta HFH (Valdosta, Georgia):   BAIHP met separately with this affiliate's executive director and construction manager and conducted a home analysis on submitted plans.  Researchers made recommendations for upgrading to Energy Star, but due to budget and time constraints the affiliate has not yet become an Energy Star partner.

Alabama:

$           Auburn HFH : David Hinson from the Auburn University College of Architecture contacted BAIHP about a prototype "DESIGNhabitat" home.  This home was being built in partnership with the statewide organization of Habitat affiliates, Alabama Habitat Affiliates (AHA), and non-profit Design Alabama.  AHA requested indoor air quality and combustion safety testing plus design input on the prototype home in 2002 and 2003 and completed and registered this Energy Star Habitat home in 2003.  

$           Birmingham HFH : In 2001, BAIHP researchers tested homes for Energy Star rating, providing the local construction manager with energy analyses and recommendations to reach Energy Star levels. In August 2002, BAIHP received an Energy Star Memorandum of Understanding from this affiliate.

$           Calhoun County HFH: In 2003, Calhoun County submitted an Energy Star rating to a HERS provider.  Please see 2003 JCWP above for additional details on this affiliate.  

Florida :

$           HabiJAX:  This affiliate, located in Jacksonville, Florida, is one of Habitat's most productive alliances.  In anticipation of HabiJAX involvement in the HabiBOP pilot program, BAIHP completed preliminary HERS ratings on planned homes.  Follow-up test results indicate that HabiJAX is a good candidate for the program, particularly after the construction manager agreed to incorporate a ventilation strategy and energy efficient lighting into their home designs.

$           East Orange County HFH : After attending courses and seminars taught by BAIHP staff over several years, this affiliate's construction manager began building interior duct systems.  One of those homes was tested in April and found to be well separated from the unconditioned attic above as desired.

Georgia : 

$     Atlanta HFH:  Energy simulations were conducted for insulated concrete form (ICF) homes in Houston and Atlanta.  Comparative studies could be conducted in both cities since the same floor plans will be used to build ICF and wood frame homes in those areas.  Simulation results from the homes were evaluated to develop suggested improvements that would bring the homes to Energy Star levels. The Houston affiliate is planning a 100-home development and looking for home performance strategies that allow them to reach Energy Star at a minimum.  Simulations using the measured test data were conducted and recommendations made for their consideration.

The Atlanta home will incorporate substantial thermal mass with concrete ceilings and concrete interior walls.  Simulations on the thermal mass benefits were completed and conveyed.  These simulations focused on the use of thermal mass to reduce the size of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

$     LaGrange:   BAIHP visited the affiliate in July to discuss the Jimmy Carter Work Project goal of achieving Energy Star status.  FSEC staff gathered plans and specifications for preliminary rating and tested a recently completed house for air tightness and duct leakage (Please also see Alabama & 2003 JCWP above).

$     Sumter County HFH :   This affiliate attended several courses and seminars taught by BAIHP staff in recent years. As a result, in 2000 the Sumter construction manager began building interior duct systems.  One of those systems was tested in March 2002, as part of the Air Handler Air Tightness Study, and found to be connected to the unconditioned attic above.  These results were similar to findings in BAIHP's sister project on Interior Duct Systems. After discussions at the April construction roundtable, modifications were made to the construction approach.  These recommendations now are considered standard building practice for the affiliate.  A selection of Sumpter County's future homes will be tested to assure the implementation of correct construction procedures.

Ohio :  A utility grant program in Ohio spurred a broad interest among HFH affiliates in reaching  Energy Star.  Affiliate homes built to the Energy Star standard in the utility's service area will receive a grant that equals the cost of the home.  Several affiliates acquired the Example Energy Star Packages from HFHI's web site and called to discuss them.  In response to this interest, HFHI conducted a workshop in early July 2002 attended by sixty people.

Louisiana: FSEC arranged a partnership with Superior Environments in Metarie to provide support to the Baton Rouge HFH affiliate's April Energy Star home "blitz build." Four high efficiency homes were built during the 2002 blitz build. Though all home met Energy Star status, documentation has not yet been received that the homes were registered. (Please see Table 4.)

Table 4.  HERS scores for Baton Rouge Habitat Energy Star homes.

Nevada :  FSEC was contacted by Portland Cement Association (PCA) to collaborate on an HFH house planned for the 2003 Builders' Show in Las Vegas.  This collaboration will be a joint effort between BAIHP, PCA, and the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity.

New Mexico :  BAIHP completed an initial home design analysis for the Albuquerque HFH which was revised with feedback from the affiliate.  Final recommendations were submitted to Albequerque HFH to assist them in reaching Energy Star status.

Tennessee:   In partnership with Oak Ridge and Loudon County HFH, BAIHP and BABSC  worked toward construction of a net-zero energy Habitat village. BAIHP visited the affiliate and installed instrumentation in the first Zero Energy Habitat House constructed of SIP panels. Researchers installed 16 thermocouples, five temperature/relative humidity sensors, eight power measurements, two water flow measurements, and two solar radiation measurements. This house features a solar electric array, heat pump water heater with damper to harvest cool dehumidified air in the summer, a copper heat recovery coil on shower drain, high performance windows, optimum orientation, overhang shading, interior ducts, and SIP floor, exterior walls, and ceiling panels. Data is available on-line at www.infomonitors.com.

In Loudon County in the summer of 2002, Janet McIlvane of BAIHP addressed a crowd of 50 attending a project ribbon cutting ceremony for the County's first SIP house.  This home meets Building America specifications by achieving 50% energy savings.  The home will be monitored by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Texas: 

$           Ellis County HFH: This affiliate reports that they have been building Energy Star homes and now are interested in moving toward a Zero Energy Home similar to the Loundon County HFH project in Tennessee.

$           Houston HFH:  In 2001, BAIHP completed a preliminary evaluation of the concrete homes built in partnership between Houston HFH and the Portland Cement Association.  Staff tested and rated the homes in January 2002 and made recommendations for reaching beyond Energy Star to the Building America standard.  Later that year, the affiliate's construction manager reported that they were now implementing BAIHP energy efficiency, durability, and indoor air quality recommendations.  Final home design recommendations included construction of a passive ventilation system and an interior duct system.